Tag Archives: mobile technology

Monday Clicks: 2 Years, Technology and Time to Leave

Posted on January 21, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Some things (like Mondays) never get easier. From the continuing debate about law school to the use of technology and how to reduce stress, sometimes all you really need is to leave the office.

  • The debate about moving to two-year law schools in New York continues. A judge found it “intriguing,” others think it’ll in “add to the lawyer glut,” and a commentary says law schools should earn that third year.
  • On the other hand, there seems to be demand for an even higher-level degree in law. Yale Law School announced a first-ever Ph.D. in Law in July that’ll prepare lawyers for careers as legal scholars and teachers. The result? There were 82 applications for the five openings.
  • It turns out one computer can do the work of many lawyers—and save a load of dough—in the document discovery process. A Virginia company used predictive coding to sift through about 2 million documents in seven months at a cost of $200,000; a process that could have cost well over $1 million in the conventional way. About 80 percent of the documents found by the program were deemed to indeed be relevant.
  • Technology is a beautiful thing…when it works. An article on Law Technology News (sub. required) details how due to the lack of cross-device syncing of timekeeping software, lawyers aren’t recording all of their billable hours. But that lost time can be found.
  • If technology (or document discovery) gives you a headache, you may want to check out these seven stress-reducing exercise trends. From pole dancing to Zumba, FindLaw’s Greedy Associate offer group exercise ideas to help lawyers stave off that next migraine.
  • But if all you really need is to get out of the office, this flowchart from Rob Pollak helps answer the eternal question: “Can I go home now?”

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Ignore the Consumerization of IT at Your Peril?

Posted on November 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The American Lawyer released its annual law firm technology survey last week, which revealed that (can it really be true?) “consumer-friendly technology is in; enterprise-centric gear is out.”  In a big break from the past, firms are acknowledging that smartphones and tablets now have a place at the table alongside laptops and BlackBerries.  In one of the survey’s most surprising results, nearly 90% of the firms surveyed expect fewer BlackBerry users in the next 12 months at the expense of Android- and Apple-based devices, the use of which is expected to grow.

“The marketplace has spoken,” says Dana Isaacoff, chief information officer at Williams Mullen, which had approximately 500 BlackBerry users a few years ago and now has about 40. “Consumers have learned that smartphones are more attuned to their needs, and it would be irresponsible for us to stand in the way of that. To the contrary, we want to usher in an era of user-friendly, flexible devices.”

Another big change from just a year ago is the sudden proliferation of tablet computers.  Last year, when firms were asked if they supplied their lawyers with tablets, a resounding 93% said no.  This year, when firms were queried about their plans for new hardware, 37% of respondents plan to include a tablet into the mix, either in combination with a desktop (25%) or a laptop (12%).

The survey, which gathered responses from 83 AmLaw 200 CIOs and technology heads, indicates that security continues to be a concern for firms, especially as they grapple with the proliferation of mobile devices, both personal as well as those issued by the firm.  For firms that allow users to bring their own devices to work, 82% said that data security was their chief concern.  Even so, in a seeming contradiction, only 19% of firms restrict application downloads to mobile devices.

The same confidence is not exhibited, however, in cloud-based storage services used on mobile devices.  Sixty-five percent of firms prohibit the use of cloud-based storage and file synchronization services such as Dropbox and iCloud.

But firms themselves are making more use of cloud computing, with 74% of firms responding in the affirmative this year, up from 65% in last year’s survey.  The biggest uses have been for e-discovery and litigation support (63%); email management (38%) and human resources (37%), with cloud-based storage (13%) and document management (8%) taking a back seat, in results that were startlingly similar to the findings of last year’s survey.  For firms that have embraced the cloud, security is a top challenge (68%) as well as for those firms that have not adopted any cloud technology,  91% of which cite security as a concern.

And the deployment of Windows 8, Microsoft’s new attempt to straddle both the PC and tablet environments, can wait.  A stunning 93% of firms are not planning to migrate to Microsoft’s new operating system in the next 12 months.  One reason cited is the touchscreen-centric design, which “A lot of people won’t go to it until they actually have a [Windows 8] notebook with a touchscreen,” notes Ken Kroeger, CIO at Kutak Rock.  In addition, many firms have recently migrated to Windows 7 and are not ready to upgrade to the new version of Windows so soon.

In keeping up with the ever-changing technology employed by firms, firms were surveyed for the first time about a relatively new type of application known as Mobile Device Management (MDM).  This type of software from providers such as AirWatch, MobileIron and Zenprise, enables firms to manage the large-scale deployment of a diverse fleet of mobile devices.  The software gives firms the ability to configure and update device settings, enforce security policies, and enable secure mobile access to firm resources.  Sixty-eight percent of firms use MDM software, and of those users, only 27% report a positive experience and another 27% report a “somewhat” positive experience, possibly reflecting a few kinks in the new applications that still need to be smoothed out.

For more survey results, including responses to questions on CIO compensation, technology budgets, and social media click here. 

Posted by Marianne Purzycki

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A Turning Point in the “Tech World”?

Posted on April 11, 2012 by | 1 Comment

One of the invariables confronting law firm CIOs and IT departments is how to keep up with the ever-changing face of the technology used or being considered by their firms.  And nowhere is this clearer than in the mobile segment of the industry.  In the wake of the blockbuster announcement that Facebook is buying the photo-sharing network Instagram for $1 billion, The New York Times is reporting on the increasing trend of developing applications directly for mobile devices.  This is in contrast to the old model, which was to develop a Web presence first, followed later by a version for mobile.  “It is a major change from just a few years ago, underscoring how the momentum in the tech world is shifting to mobile from computers.”

The article reports that venture capitalists are eagerly backing the mobile trend.  According to research firm CB Insights, “mobile apps and companies attracted 10 percent of the total investment dollars from American venture capital firms in last year’s fourth quarter, and 12 percent of deals were mobile-related, up from 7 or 8 percent in previous quarters.”   Venture capitalist Ben Lerer said he preferred to back these types of companies because “businesses that are thinking that way are planning for the future.”

Another related industry report by mid-market investment bank Berkery Noyes reveals that the value of transactions in the software industry in Q1 2012 increased 10 percent compared to the previous quarter.   Companies within the infrastructure software segment offering security solutions are driving a good number of the deals – transactions focusing on security increased 75 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011.  A number of the deals involved security solutions for mobile devices, including Symantec’s acquisition of both Nukona and Odyssey Software.

So what does this mean for lawyers and law firms?  All of this deal activity underscores the growing significance of an increasingly mobile workforce, the importance of which is not lost on law firms.  We previously wrote about the proliferation of mobile devices in law firms, as lawyers are increasingly using iPads and other tablet devices, in particular.  But the new technologies also bring up concerns regarding the security of the firm’s data.  A survey of legal professionals and law students that was conducted last year reported that almost half the respondents chose Apple hardware because they felt the “technology was more reliable and secure.”  

The challenge facing many CIOs and IT departments is how to protect the firm’s data (and the client’s) while devising a mobile strategy that allows lawyers to work efficiently using their iPads, smart phones or other mobile devices.

The Hildebrandt Institute and West LegalEdcenter will be exploring this issue (and others) in its Mobility Strategies and the Future panel session at the 10th Annual CIO Forum in New York on April 24th.   The panel moderator and conference co-chair is Neeraj Rajpal, Managing Director & Chief Information Officer, Morrison & Foerster LLP.  Panelists include Peter Lesser, Director of Global Technology, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates; Karen Levy – Director of Global Technology, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; and James Paterson, Senior Director of Product Line Management, LexisNexis.

Posted by Marianne Purzycki

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Apple of Their Eyes

Posted on December 22, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Last month we wrote about the growing proliferation in law firms of tablet devices, especially the iPad, and how their adoption is being driven in large part by lawyer demand.  The latest Macs in Law Survey shows that Apple products, particularly the iPad and iPhone, are gaining momentum with lawyers over competing technologies such as RIM’s BlackBerry.  This survey, now in its second year, was conducted by Vancouver-based Themis Solutions Inc., the developer of Clio, a cloud-based practice management system designed for solo practitioners and small firms.  Survey results were based on responses from 763 legal professionals and law students, 76% of whom were lawyers at firms with 10 attorneys or less. 

So why the preference for all things Apple?  Almost half the respondents chose Apple hardware because they felt the “technology was more reliable and secure.”  Over one-third mentioned usability.  And with specific regard to the iPad, 52% of respondents report using an iPad in their law office in 2011, a big bump up from 26% in the 2010 survey.  And for those contemplating buying an iPad for their law office, 70% are considering a purchase next year, compared to 40% in 2010.

In terms of mobile devices, the iPhone is clearly the winner, chosen by 61% of respondents, followed by Android-based devices at 21% and the BlackBerry at 11%.  And users for the most part are pretty happy with their current choices – 77% do not plan on switching mobile devices next year.

And while only 10% of respondents stated that familiarity with Apple/Mac products due to home use was a reason to choose it for the workplace, over three-quarters of law students plan on choosing a Mac platform for their office when they graduate.  This suggests a very bright future for Apple hardware and devices in the legal industry.

The Hildebrandt Institute will be exploring technology issues at its annual CIO forum in New York on April 18, 2012. If you are interested in attending or participating in the forum, please contact us at hildebrandtinstitute@thomsonreuters.com.

Posted by Marianne Purzycki

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Lawyers love iPads. Law firms are working on it.

Posted on November 10, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Today, Legal Week is reporting on the proliferation of mobile devices, particularly iPads and other tablet devices, at UK law firms.  According to DLA Piper International CIO Daniel Pollick, the adoption of new devices is being driven by lawyer demand:

Firms are under pressure from lawyers to use devices such as iPads and smart phones at work. These devices were never designed with enterprise in mind, so the big challenge is dealing with this consumer-driven demand without compromising IT security.

It is unsurprising that lawyers are the ones pushing to incorporate iPads and similar devices into their firm’s technology offerings.  Mobile devices are a perfect fit for busy professionals who are often working on the train or from airport waiting areas.  And tablets may be particularly appealing because they eliminate the inconvenience of reading or typing on a tiny screen while still offering the convenience and portability of a smart phone.

But Legal Week notes that the new technologies bring risk management concerns regarding the security of data.  Those same concerns once led law firms and other businesses to simply reject the iPhone as a Blackberry alternative.  But due in large part to the preferences of their attorneys, law firms are now accepting new technology as a business reality and taking the necessary precautions to safeguard their data.

However, those precautions may place a real burden on firms already contending with rising expenses.  At the Hildebrandt Institute’s 10th Annual CFO & COO forum last month, a panel of experts that included Peter Lesser (Director of Global Technology for Skadden Arps) and Kenneth Heaps (CIO at Latham & Watkins) discussed how firms can accommodate the devices their lawyers want to use while still ensuring that information is not accidentally exposed.  Some fixes, like requiring password protection for devices, are relatively simple and inexpensive.  Other can be more burdensome.  Lost or stolen devices can be wiped remotely, and many firms have policies in place that will do this automatically.  But the practice isn’t failproof – it won’t protect data accessed before the device is reported as missing.  And there are costs associated with replacing and restoring devices when these losses inevitably occur.

Striking the right balance may be challenging when partners and associates are clamoring to incorporate their newest gadget into their legal practice.  Law firms are working to oblige these demands, but the challenge of truly integrating the technology is still a work in progress.

Posted by Emily Fisher

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