Author Archives

    Bryan Sims

    Posted on

    Tech Must Haves

    by

    I was recently interviewed for an article in the ISBA Bar Journal about must-have tech tools for solo practicioners. The article comes out in the September issue. In the meantime, you can find see a preview at Illinois Lawyer Now, the ISBA’s blog. I talked with the author for over an hour during the interview. I think she has done a good job condensing what I said into a solid article.

    For a more expanded version of what I have to say on this subject, I am speaking on the issue at the ISBA Solo and Small Firm Conference, which is October 22-24, 2009, in Springfield.

    Posted on

    An Interesting New Extension for Firefox

    by

    Nerino Petro points us toward a new Firefox extension that is designed to help make public records freely accessible. The extension works by saving a copy of each document you download from PACER into a free database. This is an interesting concept and I am wondering how well it will succeed.

    You can find out more information about the extension (called Recap) here.

    Also, if you have not been to Nerino’s website recently, you should stop by. He recently updated the site with a new theme that looks absolutely great. I find it much easier to read than the old design.

    Posted on

    A Primer on Netbooks

    by

    One piece of computer equipment that people have been talking about a lot lately are netbooks. These are ultra-portable laptop computers that combine the power of a laptop with ultra convenient portability. Many people have questions regarding what netbooks are and how they differ from laptops. Ross Kodner has posted an overview of netbooks that provides a short primer on what they are and what the differing options are. For example, Ross explains:

    • Netbooks ARE laptops! They can do everything any laptop can do BECAUSE THEY ARE LAPTOPS!
    • Netbooks are just a category, like ultralights, powerlights, gaming laptops, business laptops, desktop replacements, etc. etc.
    • Netbooks have to be viewed individually to look at the specs involved, just as with any new system being considered – while there are certain very common specs, others can vary such as storage situation, operating system, and screen size
    • A very common “standard” specification for many currently available netbooks, regardless of vendor is 10″ diagonal (actually either 10.1″ or 10.2″ if you want to be precise) display, 1 Gb RAM standard (usually upgrade to 2 Gb by replacing the single standard DIMM – often for around $25 from suppliers like crucial.com), Windows XP Home, 160 Gb drive (although 250 Gb drives are just starting to appear), Intel Atom N270 single-core processor, Intel graphics chipset, 6 cell battery good for anywhere from 3-10 hours depending on model/vendor, and about 2.5 to 3.5 lbs. Also no optical drives included (CD/DVD) so plan on $35-$85 for an external slimline USB CD or DVD burner (mine is a DVD burner I bought new on eBay last Fall for $55 shipped) so you can load disc-based software.

    Check out Ross’s post for all of the details that he provides. If you are considering buying a netbook, Ross’s post is a great place to start your research.

    Posted on

    A FAQ for Microsoft Word

    by

    Often people do not use Word correctly because they do not understand how the program works. If people knew how the program worked, I believe that more people would use the myriad of features found in Word.

    For those who are interested in learning some of those tricks, I have found a great resource posted by Charles Kenyon. The page includes a tutorial, downloads, helpful links, and a host of other aids.

    The resources on this page are invaluable and I urge you to check them out.

    Posted on

    Closing a Client’s File

    by

    One of the things I have noticed is that most attorneys don’t bother to think about file storage and retention until they start running out of room to store their files. The key, of course, is to address file retention, storage, and destruction at the beginning of your client relationship, not years after it has ended and you are trying to clean out your file room.

    For some good tips on creating a good file retention policy, check out Jim Calloway’s recent article on Closing the Client’s File.

    Check out Jim’s article and start putting your file retention policy together now, not when you are out of storage space.

    ___________________

    I am traveling right now and wouldn’t normally be posting. However, I am giving Sean’s challenge the college try.

    Posted on

    Blogroll Update: The Nutmeg Lawyer & TaxGirl

    by

    I was pleasantly surprised to see that a couple of my favorite bloggers were also participating in Sean Carter’s drive to create a regularly blogging habit. At the same time, I also noticed that my blogroll was out of date and missing some bloggers that I regularly read and enjoy. One of those is The Nutmeg Lawyer.

    If you are not regularly reading his blog, you should be. It is irreverent and spot on funny. For a taste of his humor, check out his post: Saving Old Glory from Obama. Are the Birthers Right. It’s great stuff.

    One of my other favorite bloggers that blogs regularly, even without Sean’s influence, is Taxgirl. Despite the fact that I have less than zero interest in tax law, I often find her posts entraining and interesting. She posts about real world tax issues and the effects of taxes on regular people. So, even if you aren’t a tax fan, check out Taxgirl, as her blog page says: “Why TaxGirl? Because paying taxes is painful… but reading about them shouldn’t be.”

    Posted on

    What’s in My Travel Bag?

    by

    I recently received an email from someone asking what they should include in their travel bag. Without knowing their specific situation, that is difficult for me to answer. However, I can tell you what I travel with and explain why I have what I have.

    • Computer power adapter: This is something you want to make sure you do not forget. You don’t want to get somewhere and realize that you used the last of your computer’s battery during your flight.
    • Power Strip. I have been in way too many hotel rooms that have only one or two outlets. This makes it difficult to plug in everything that you need to power or charge. Some hotels have started including power strips in their rooms. However, I still take one with me.
    • Wireless Travel Router. I actually use one made by Linksys that is no longer available. I got a great deal on it when CompUSA was closing. Many hotels offer wired only internet access. I don’t like having to be tied to the desk to access the internet. A travel router makes it easy to create your own secure wireless cloud so you are not chained to the hotel desk.
    • Network Cable. I have a short piece of cat 5 networking cable (about 6 feet) just in case the hotel does not have a cable or in case the hotel cable is not long enough.
    • USB Connector Kit. One of this pretty much guarantees that you are able to connect your computer to just about any USB device. This is just very handy to carry around. Cables to Go makes a very nice kit.
    • Keypad. I hate trying to enter numbers on a laptop keypad. Therefore I always keeps a keypad in my bag. They also make wireless versions. I just wish someone would make a bluetooth version.
    • Headphones. If you are flying, you probably want a set of noise canceling headphones. Otherwise, I always keep a set of headphones in my computer bag in case I want to listen to or watch something on my computer.
    • MP3 player. It’s always good to have some tunes available to you when you are traveling.
    • Camera. To take pictures.
    • Kindle. I love mine and wouldn’t travel without it.
    • Chargers for the rest of your devices. Make sure you take what you need to charge all of the other devices you are carrying (phone, camera, mp3 player, etc.). Fortunately, most devices can be charged via USB, if you have the right connectors. Make sure you get those and lessen the number of power cords you have to carry.

    Assembling a travel bag is not something that happens overnight. It takes time (and sometimes a trip where you say to yourself, “I can’t believe I forgot to bring X.”) As I mentioned above, I picked up my travel router at a store closing sale, my wife grabbed my keypad for me at an after Thanksgiving sale for less than $5, I picked up my USB kit at a Tiger Direct sale.

    The trick is to know what you want and just keep your eye open for good deals to stock your travel bag.

    I am curious as to what I missed. What do you carry that I don’t. Alternatively, does anyone think I am crazy for carrying what I do?

    —————————

    On a positive note, I have made my first post in Sean Carter’s attempt to get people blogging regularly.

    Posted on

    Blogging–Survivor Style

    by

    Sean Carter has proposed a Surivor-style blogging challenge in an attempt to build a habit of posting a blog entry each day. As Sean explains:

    If you’re like me, then every Sunday afternoon, you say to yourself, “This week is the week that I start blogging regularly! I mean it this time!” However, before you know it, it’s Thursday and you haven’t posted a single entry on your blog. So you say to yourself, “Next week is the week that I start blogging regularly! I mean it this time!”

    I know that I have had weeks like this and I like Sean’s idea of trying to get in a habit of posting daily. Hop over to Sean’s blog to see the full details.

    Posted on

    What to do if you Have Been Defamed Online

    by

    The big news story, at least in social media circles, has been the lawsuit filed by Horizon Group Management LLC against Amanda Bonnen for her tweet about her apartment. Several comments that I have read relating to this matter have taken Horizon to task for filing suit over a tweet by a person who had only 20 (or so followers).

    That, however, is not what I want to address. I presume that Horizon is doing what it wants to do and that it has both a legal and business reason for pursuing the course of action that it has taken. Thus, I am not here to criticize Horizon’s actions, but instead to address the question of what people or businesses should do if they believe that they have been defamed online (especially in a social media situation).

    Any such discussion must first begin with an acknowledgment that businesses have been able to turn customer service problems into positive experiences by monitoring social media and responding to complaints. One of the best stories I have seen on this was one in which a Kabuki manger saw a tweet an apologized to the person while she was still in the restaurant.

    On the other hand, there have also been situations in which companies have fired off a cease & desist letter that has been ridiculed. In fact, the EFF along with a variety of universities has compiled a database of cease & desist letters.

    The qustion thus becomes, what do you do if someone online has said something about you or your business that you don’t like.

    One option, of course, is you can try to correct the problem by contacting the person directly. As can be seen from the above stories, not only can that work out well for you, it can also lead to some good PR. Keep in mind, however, that not all feel-good stories make it to the mainstream press.

    If you can’t satisfy the person’s problem or (for whatever reason) do not want to satisfy the person’s problem you can, of course, start your own PR campagn to dispute the posted info, you can ignore the posted information, or you can take action against the poster.

    If you decide to take action against the poster, I urge you to search for an attorney who understands how social media works and what the service is. Sometimes, a lawsuit is a legitimate option to take. However, you should find an attorney who understands the pitfalls that arise at the intersection of litigation and social media.

    Sometimes, to achieve the result that the client is looking for, a lawsuit is the only available option. Other times, however, familiarity with online sites and their working may allow a problem to be resolved, short of litigation. I once represented a client who was concerned about some critical comments that had been made about his business on a online forum. After reviewing the posts and the applicable terms of service, I realized that the posts violated the forum’s terms of service. I contacted the forum operator, pointed out the terms of service violation, and the forum operator removed the postings.

    Of course not all problems can be solved this easily. However, the key thing to remember is that if you decide that you are considering taking action with respect to a defamatory comment posted on a social networking site, weigh the consequences of taking action against not taking action, and look for an attorney familiar with social media and its potential affects on your litigation.

    Posted on

    Making Google Docs More Useful

    by

    Notwithstanding the confidentiality concerns found with Google Docs, I know that there are plenty of people who use and love Google Docs. Don’t get me wrong. I think it is a very neat application and I have used it before for personal, nonconfidential stuff.

    Anyway, for those who use Google Docs, Dumb Little Man has a post that provides 10 Google Docs hacks. From the list, my favorites are the bulk uploader, as well as the bulk download options.

    Although I don’t know that I would keep my finances on Google Docs, the tip describing how you can easily keep track of your finances is pretty neat.

    Also, I didn’t know this, but you can easily create polls using Google Docs. Now that is a cool application.

    Check out the post for all 10 tips.