Apps In Law

My guest today is Heidi Alexander, who is the Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Group Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (or LCL). This is such a commendable group since their mission is to confidentially promote well-being and resilience in the legal community. In her role at the LCL, Heidi also leads the Law Office Management Assistance Program that we usually shorten to LOMAP, and since she’s in Massachusetts, we just usually say MassLOMAP. And the purpose of LOMAP is to help attorneys, or soon-to-be attorneys, implement professional office practices and procedures, through the site’s wealth of resources on technology, workflows, and consulting services. Heidi also serves on the ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board, and was gracious enough to invite me to present on Macs in Law at this year’s conference, which is where I also heard HER presentations and HER wonderful infatuation with Apple products … I just had to invite her on the podcast. Oh … and she also wrote a book on Evernote for the ABA called “Evernote as a

My guest today is Evan Kline, an attorney at Katherman Briggs & Greenberg LLP in York, Pennsylvania where he advocates for his clients and their families in complex and severe injury claims. Evan is also the author of the excellent 40tech blog at www.40tech.com. I’ve gotten to know Evan over the years when we have crossed paths at legal technology conferences such as the ABA TECHSHOW and MILOfest, now known as Mac Track Legal. Evan was also the evil trial attorney that represented the Galactic Empire in a fantastic CLE for the York County Bar Association there in Pennsylvania, where they held a mock trial of the Galactic Empire vs. Han Solo to ultimately determine … who shot first? Here is a link to the video on YouTube. Apps (and products) mentioned in this podcast: Dropbox (this is a referral link that will give you an extra 500 MB of bonus space) DEVONthink from DEVONtechnologies DEVONthink Pro Office DEVONthink To Go ($14.99 for iPad & iPhone) NetDocuments PDF Expert ($9.99) Things 3 for macOS ($

My guest today is Howard Lenow, partner at Lenow & McCarthy in Wayland, Masschusetts. Howard has been a union side labor lawyer for 38 years and is referred by his clients as a “pitbull with a sense of humor!†Howard is what I would call one of the godfathers of Mac-using lawyers, since he’s been using Macs since 1984 waaaaaaay before many of us even considered using Macs, AND when it was extremely difficult to collaborate with others who were all using Windows! Howard has tirelessly been teaching unions and lawyers how to use Macs and iPads at national ABA conferences, Massachusetts State Bar groups, the National Employment Lawyers Association, and many other professional organizations. Apps mentioned in this podcast: Timeline 3D (FREE with in-app purchases) Timeline 3D: Education Edition ($9.99) TrialPad ($129.99) Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com. I reviewed Timeline 3D for iOS and you can watch the video below:

My guest today is Michael Polk, an attorney at Belser & Belser, P.A. in Columbia, South Carolina (NOT Mike Polk the comedian). I had the honor of speaking at a legal tech conference for the South Carolina Bar Association in Columbia, and Mike was so generous and kind to come up, shake my hand, and tell me how much he enjoyed the Apps in Law podcast … which meant, of course, that I had to invite him to be a guest. Mike’s practice there in Columbia focuses on probate administration and litigation, estate planning for individuals, and does some bankruptcy work as well. After attending Virginia Tech, Mike served as a First Lieutenant and Communications Officer in the Navy, stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. Mike is also a blue belt in aikido … so don’t mess with him. Apps (and products) mentioned in this podcast: Focus Keeper Pro ($1.99) Focus Keeper Free (with in-app purchase of $1.99) Explanation of the Pomodoro Technique from Larry Port at Rocket Matter HabitBull for iOS (free with in-app purchase o

My guest today is Robin Meadow, who is a partner at Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP, an appellate law firm in Los Angeles. Robin handles all kinds of appeals at the firm, but has a focus on business disputes, real estate, partnerships, probate and entertainment law. I think it would be safe to say that Robin is a technologist at heart, having been a pioneer in the use of electronic records and e-briefs, and co-authored the California Second District Court of Appeal’s first protocol for electronic briefs (since adopted by other California Courts of Appeal). He’s also the author of a chapter on technology for appellate lawyers, published in the Law Journal Press Appellate Practice in Federal & State Courts guide. Apps mentioned in this podcast: Microsoft OneNote Evernote Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Neil Squillante who is the founder and publisher of TechnoLawyer which offers some of the best FREE newsletters for legal professionals including LitigationWorld, SmallLaw, TL Serendipity, and several others. I am always amazed at the sheer amount of content and helpful information that Neil publishes in the TechnoLawyer newsletters and I encourage everyone to visit www.technolawyer.com and sign up for one or several of the free newsletters there. Neil was my guest on episode 8 of the Apps in Law podcast where we discussed the Airmail software and app. But I have the privilege of having Neil back as a guest for a very special opportunity to hear about the Top 25 Products and Services from 2017 as selected by readers of the TL NewsWire newsletter. The TL NewsWire newsletter discusses the hottest products and services for lawyers, and has a helpful link to each product. When a reader clicks on that link to get more information about the product, that counts as a “vote” which Neil and his team

My guest today is Jeff Alford of the Alford Law Office in Paducah, KY, which is waay over in WESTERN Kentucky (also the home of the National Quilt Museum). I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jeff for many years since we both attend the “formerly known as” MILOfest Conference (Macs in Law Office), now called MacTrack Legal. Jeff focuses his practice on Divorce and Family Law, as well as Criminal Defense. He’s licensed in both Kentucky and Illinois and currently the President of the local McCracken County Bar Association. Apps mentioned in this podcast: – TextExpander – TextExpander for Mac and Windows – TextExpander for iPhone & iPad Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com. You already type a lot, so why not save time while you type? As you hear in the podcast with Jeff, that’s what TextExpander does for you. All you need is someone to show you exactly how to use it effectively and that’s what you’ll get from my new TextExpander for Lawyers online course at www.textexpanderfo

My guest today is Rick Robertson, who is the Managing Shareholder and President of the family law firm Koons Fuller based in Plano, TX, just north of Dallas. Rick is one of DFW’s best-known divorce attorneys and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Rick for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and crossing paths at the ABA TECHSHOW and other conferences. Rick has published many articles on family law matters as well as given many presentations not JUST on family law, but also on the use of technology in the practice of law. Rick discusses how he GoodReader to organize and manage files on the iPad, and even compares it to the Bindertek system that he formerly used. Apps mentioned in this podcast: – GoodReader Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com. If you’re interested in learning MORE about what Rick covers in this podcast, then my new iPractice on an iPad course is PERFECT for you. You can read all about it at www.ipracticeonanipad.com and watch a short video

My guest today is Todd Hendrickson, an attorney in the St. Louis, Missouri area that specializes in medical malpractice and personal injury. Todd is licensed in both Missouri and Illinois, and practices in both State & Federal Courts. Todd is an experienced appellate attorney, has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court, and named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Here’s a link to an October 2016 presentation Todd did for the lex|Port conference entitled “iPad in Trial: How To Use Readily Available iPad Applications To Streamline Your Trial Practice, Both In And Out Of Trial.” Todd will also be speaking the 2017 lex|Port conference on October 26-27 so if you’re anywhere near the St. Louis area it’s worth checking out! Apps mentioned in this podcast: – TrialPad Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com. If you’re interested to learn how to integrate your iPad better into your practice, take a moment to check out my new iPractice on an iPad course. You’ll

My guest today is Sean Harris who I have known for many years going back to our first year in law school together in 1997. Sean is a name partner at Kitrick, Lewis & Harris Co., L.P.A. in Columbus, OH, where as a well-respected trial lawyer he focuses primarily on wrongful death, product liability, and personal injury. Sean is also very active in the Ohio Association for Justice and is the incoming president of the organization. About a year ago, Sean and I also recorded a podcast for Civilly Speaking, the monthly podcast for the Ohio Association of Justice. Here are links to Part 1 of “Using an iPad in Your Practice”  (transcript) and Part 2 called “Using an iPad for Trial Presentation” (transcript) Apps mentioned in this podcast: – Notability Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Patrick “PJ” Best who is an attorney at ARM Lawyers based in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The firm may possibly have the best tagline of any law firm I’ve heard: ARM Lawyers – the Strong ARM of the Law! PJ works on social security and disability claims, and is also an experienced bankruptcy attorney which is how we came to know each other (not that I’ve declared bankruptcy yet). I recently spoke at the annual conference of Pennsylvania Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association, which is where I met PJ. I gave a presentation about lawyers using iPads in their practice, and PJ was one of the only attorneys in the room with a mega, 12.9” iPad Pro so I had to say hello and I invited PJ to join me on the podcast. Apps mentioned in this podcast: – iAnnotate Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Stephen Embry who is a member at Frost Brown Todd LLC. Steve is based in Louisville, KY, and practices in the Class Action, Privacy, and Mass Tort groups there at the firm. Stephen is a member of fbtTECH – the firm’s technology industry group that focuses on how technology is impacting the legal system and issues facing their clients. I frequently cross paths with Steve at legal technology conferences and get-togethers, most notably the ABA TECHSHOW since Steve is active in the Law Practice Division of the ABA. Steve and I also serve on the Board of the Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC) of the ABA. Steve mentions in the podcast that the LTRC hosts the excellent Law Technology Today blog and suggests that it’s an excellent opportunity for young lawyers (and all lawyers!) to get published (contact the editorial team here). I’ve always enjoyed talking with Steve since he practices at a large law firm, but still finds time to focus on leveraging technology for the practice of law. I just a

My guest today is Neil Squillante who is the publisher of the outstanding TechnoLawyer collection of FREE newsletters including TechnoRelease, LitigationWorld, BiglawWorld, SmallLaw, and several more. Neil started writing TechnoLawyer as a hobby in 1997. I started law school in 1997 and I remember receiving some of those very first text-only newsletters since it was one of the ONLY publication that was focused on how technology was being used in the practice of law. Before TechnoLawyer became a full-time job for Neil in 1999, he practiced at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in New York City where he mostly focused on commercial litigation. I’ve personally known Neil for several years now and have had the honor of writing several articles on e-discovery and iPad-related topics. Before jumping into the Airmail software and app, Neil boldly explains why we are living in a GOLDEN AGE of email which makes for an interesting discussion. Neil and his team also put together a fantastic e-book called “The Lawyer’s Guide t

My guest today is D. Todd Smith who is a civil appellate lawyer in Austin, Texas, being the Founder and Managing Partner of the Smith Law Group with a nifty website at www.appealsplus.com. Todd is also very active in the Austin Bar Association there in Texas and authors the Texas Appellate Law blog giving insight & commentary on civil appeals and litigation. I first encountered Todd in a guest post he authored for the iPhone J.D. blog where he described how he generally incorporates his iPad Pro into his practice and using it during appellate arguments. He mentioned how uses the innovative app iThoughts to map out his arguments. That article was so good that it got picked up an published in the January 2017 issue of the Texas Bar Journal. (I just posted my review of iThoughts so this is great timing!) Apps mentioned in this episode: – iThoughts Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Ernie Svenson, aka “Ernie the Attorney” who started a legal blog (blawg) by that name many years ago, before many of us even knew what “blogging” was! Ernie is a tremendous friend that I’ve known for many years, and we’ve crossed paths many times at legal technology conferences where he and I have presented on going paperless, cloud computing, mobile lawyering, etc. Ernie runs Paperless Chase where he specifically helps lawyers understand how to create and maintain a paperless office. He is also the mastermind behind Small Firm Bootcamp where he offers an online course called “Law Firm Autopilot” (free course available) because Ernie has thought a LOT about running a law practice and he has condensed everything down into easily digestible lessons. Apps mentioned in this podcast: Notability Evernote OneNote Other links mentioned in this podcast: “How a paperless law practice may be right for you” by Ernie Svenson in the April 2017 issue of the ABA Journal Evernote Essentials by Brett Kelly

My guest today is Nicole (Niki) Black who is a licensed lawyer in the state of New York and is the Legal Technology Evangelist at MyCase, an intuitive cloud-based law practice management software platform for solo and small firm attorneys. Niki also blogs at Sui Generis – a New York Law Blog and has written a couple of books for the ABA on cloud computing and social media. Niki also authors a legal technology column at Above the Law. You can find out more about Niki at her website lawtechTalk. Apps mentioned in this podcast: – Slack Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Jeff Richardson who is a treasured friend, and litigation partner at Adams and Reese LLP based in New Orleans. Jeff is also the author of the iPhone J.D. blog which the ABA Journal recently moved to their Blawg 100 Hall of Fame which recognizes outstanding legal blogs. I’ve presented with Jeff several times and always enjoy his energy and knowledge bank of all things iOS related. Apps mentioned in this podcast: 1Password Links: 1Password website (AgileBits) 1Password pricing 1Password for Families 1Password for Teams (great for law firms) Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Nerino Petro, a practicing lawyer who WAS the Chief Information Officer at the Holmstrom & Kennedy law firm when we recorded this podcast episode, but is now President at The Erickson Group in Rockford, Illinois. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Nerino for many years, and served with him on the ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board for several years. I first knew Nerino from his Compujurist blog, as well as his long stint as the Practice Management Advisor for the State Bar of Wisconsin.  In fact, Nerino and I have given several iPad presentations for the State Bar of Wisconsin which were a ton of fun. Apps mentioned in this episode: Trello Microsoft OneNote Duet Display Personal Kanban Website Personal Kanban Book Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Neil Tyra of the Tyra Law Firm in Rockville, Maryland. I’ve known Neil for several years through the “Macs in Law Office” community. Neil also recently stared The Law Entrepreneur podcast at www.thelawentreprenuer.com, which is a fantastic podcast focusing on the business of law. I was privileged to be a guest on episode 23 where we talked about the ethical use of of mobile devices by lawyers. Apps mentioned in this episode: Daylite 5 Daylite 6 Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.

My guest today is Chad Burton, a long-time, good friend and [former] practicing lawyer in Dayton, Ohio. Chad is the CEO of CuroLegal, a legal technology consulting and development firm working with law firms on selecting and optimizing technology for their practice. Chad’s virtual law practice has been featured in many publications and he accesses his practice from his Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Apps mentioned in this podcast: Notability The “stock” Mail App from Apple Gmail App Inbox by Gmail Spark from Readdle Trello Microsoft Outlook Google Drive Box PDF Expert Links above may be affiliate links to the iTunes App Store or Amazon.com.