Technology in the Law Office
Technology in the Law Office
Throughout this course, many discussion opportunities come up where you need to respond to other people’s opinions and comments. Respond to your Discussion topic after you have completed your Reading.
For Discussion Board requirements, refer to your course Syllabus or to the Discussion Board Rubric, under Grading Rubrics.
Topic
Please share a few examples of various types of technologies that you use frequently.
How will your familiarity with these technologies help in your future career as a legal professional?
After reading Chapter 1 in the textbook this week please identify one type of technology used in the law office you hope to learn more about this term.
After answering the above questions, please respond to at least three of your classmates posts.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 2 Discussion
Technology and Legal Ethics
Review the ABA rules and comments to Rules 1.1 and Rule 1.6 for the most current changes in regards to a legal professional’s duty regarding technology.
Read the Article 36 States Have Adopted the Duty of Technology Competence
Part 1: Write a general summary of the ABA’s position in regards to technology.
Part 2: Create a fact pattern where a paralegal would be in violation of one of the new rules. Explain what part of the rule or comment to the rule was violated and why.
Respond to three of your classmates.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 3 Discussion
Computer Hardware, Software, and the Internet
Topic: Technology Wish List
Imagine you are a newly-hired paralegal working for an attorney in a sole practice. Similar to the paralegal discussed in the eBook, your attorney relies on you to manage the “technology” of the office. Based on your Web research and what you learned from the textbook, create a technology hardware and software wish list for the new law firm and state why you recommend each item.
Include in your list the basic computer system design needed for the office. This should include any hardware needed to connect to the Internet, hardware needed for each person at his/her station and basic hardware needed for common office tasks, like printing, copying, etc. In addition, include at least three types of hardware (Smartphone? Laptop?) the firm should have.
Conduct an Internet search for software that might be useful in a law office. What software programs would you recommend initially and why?
Upon answering the above questions please respond to three of your classmates.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 4 Discussion
Metadata and Word Processing Features
Topic 1: Metadata
Your supervising attorney receives an e-mail from opposing counsel containing a settlement agreement. The document is quite short, so the attorney wonders how long it took to draft it. The attorney clicks on the properties tab and sees the document was open on opposing counsel’s computer for 3 hours. The attorney opens the metadata scrubber utility on his computer. In a few moments, he is reviewing the revision history of the document. It looks like several documents were combined and then a lot of deletions were made at the end. The attorney pulls up a large block of deleted text and begins to read, “Notes: client is desperate to recover anything and not face damaging publicity if she receives nothing at trial. Offer $300K but get it settled before the end of the month no matter what.” The attorney wonders what he should do with this new information.
Please answer the following questions with supporting information from bar association’s ethics opinions, rules, and/or guidelines:
Was it appropriate for the attorney to examine the document’s metadata?
Is the attorney required to either disregard the document with metadata or reveal the discovery to opposing counsel immediately? Why or why not?
Make sure to use the readings below to answer the above questions. Once you have answered the questions respond to at least three of your classmates.
Source: American Bar Association. Metadata Ethics Opinions Around the U.S. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources/resources/charts_fyis/metadatachart.html
Topic 2: Word Processing Features
Starting from a template, prepare a flyer or pamphlet in Microsoft Word about how to engage security features in that program. Add security features to your Word document, save the file to your computer and upload it as an attachment to your post. Be sure to provide instructions on how to unlock the security features and state which version of Word you used to create your document.
Be sure to indicate which version of Word you used to create your document. Documents created with the most recent version of Word (2013) are not always viewable in older versions of the program. It is possible to save your document in the older version of the program, but sometimes some of your formatting may be lost if you do this.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 5 Discussion
Topic: Technology in the Law Firm
The managing partner at your firm has come to you with an issue that he believes technology could help. It seems that the firm you work at just keeps growing and growing, which is a good problem to have. As the firm grows, it is attracting clients from farther and farther away, including many corporate clients. In order to maintain their growth and keep the clients happy, the firm must figure out a way to be more efficient and charge lower fees. Also because the firm’s client base is so spread out they must figure out a way to collaborate on cases from around the country. The partners are interested in bringing in more business, while also working more efficiently. They are also interested in keeping travel costs down and giving employees the option to work while traveling or from home. Also with the majority of courts moving to Electronic filing they need to look into the availability of software and hardware to conform to court and client electronic communication and document systems.
You just started working as a paralegal at this firm. You are super excited to begin your new job and really want to impress the partners with your knowledge of current technology. Please answer the following questions based on your reading this week and research on the internet.
What are some of the tools that the law office can use to reduce cost and maintain efficiency?
What are the issues that the trial team must address when operating remotely or from home?
After answering the above questions please respond to at least three classmates.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 6 Discussion
Topic: Office Management Software
Review the various case management systems. You can also review the information provided by the publisher of your textbook at: Goldman Online Resources (Pearson).
Source: American Bar Association. Practice and Case Management Software. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources/resources/charts_fyis/casemanagementcomparison.html.
Please select one type of case management or office management system. Watch any tutorials that you can locate and visit the website of the system. Give the name of the system you selected. Describe the system and share what it can be used for by the law firm. Also share any other important information on the system you selected. Compare your system with others selected by your classmates.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 7 Discussion
Topic 1: E-Discovery
Read the article Breaking Into E-Discovery.
Source: Kane, S. (2012). Breaking Into E?Discovery. Law Practice Today. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/law_practice_today/breaking-into-e-discovery.authcheckdam.pdf.
Use this article along with your reading this week to answer the following questions:
How has electronically stored information (ESI) changed the discovery process?
What aspects of ESI make discovery easier and what aspects make it more challenging?
As a future legal professional how do you see your role in working with E-Discovery?
Please respond to two of your classmates.
Topic 2: Legal Apps
Research Legal Apps for Paralegals. Find an app that you think would be helpful in your career as a legal professional and share some information about it with the class. Please include the name of the app and what it can be used for.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 8 Discussion
Topic: E-Discovery in your State
Please review the E-Discovery Law.
Locate the E-Discovery rules in your state and review them.
Locate ethics opinions on E-Discovery from your state. Upon review of this information, share with the class an overview of your state’s policy in regards to E-Discovery.
How do the rules of your state compare to the rules in the Federal Courts?
Compare and contrast your state’s rules to those of your classmates by responding to three other posts.
Source: K&L Gates E-Discovery Law. Current Listing of States That Have Enacted E-Discovery Rules. Retrieved from http://www.ediscoverylaw.com/state-district-court-rules/.
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 9 Discussion
Topic: High Tech Courtroom
Please read the following articles:
Dixon, H. (2011). The Evolution of a High-Tech Courtroom. National Center for State Courts. Retrieved from http://www.ncsc.org/sitecore/content/microsites/future-trends-2011/home/Technology/1-4-Evolution-of-high-tech-courtroom.aspx.
New York Supreme Court. Courtroom for the New Millennium (New York). Retrieved from https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/ny/newyork_millennium.shtml.
Answer the following three questions:
List and explain some of the advantages to the use of technology in making courtroom presentation
Give three examples of how technology can make evidence clearer to a jury and increase the impact of evidence.
Research on the internet to find information on the electronic courtroom in your area. Give some specific resources that are available
PA230 Introduction To Legal Technology
Unit 10 Discussion
Course Reflection
What prior knowledge did you bring to this course?
What were the most important new ideas you encountered and how did they change your understanding of the paralegal profession?
What have you learned from your Discussions and collaborations with your fellow students?
In what specific ways can you use the knowledge you have gained in this course in your chosen profession? What are your strengths and opportunities for growth in this area?
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