Solo Practice University® » Rush Nigut

When Lawyer Meets iPad It’s Good Lawyering

Rush Nigut — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:34 +0000

Since the iPad's introduction in the Spring of 2010, more than 40 million units have been sold, and although coming a bit late to the party, the avalanche of other tablets are beginning to sell briskly with 1.2 million sold in the first 10 months of 2011. This cultural phenomenon has quickly come to our profession, much faster it appears than some other technology and cultural trends.

According to the International Legal Technology Association’s recent purchasing survey , 25% of the responding firms with 50+ attorneys indicate that iPad purchases will be in the budget for 2012, augmenting the 11% of their attorneys already using an iPad. In firms with more than 500 attorneys, the percentage planning purchases jumps to 26%.

I couldn’t find statistics for solo lawyers but my informal research leads me to believe the iPad is equally popular with solos and small firm lawyers since I see an ever increasing number of lawyers here in Iowa showing up at CLE and other conferences toting around iPads as well. Laptop computers, available in increasingly smaller and more portable formats, have been around for more than 30 years and yet the iPad, and related tablet competitors, available only for little more than a year has rapidly achieved a level of ubiquity surpassing the laptops.

I have to admit that although I am rapidly becoming inseparable from my iPad (as my wife often reminds me), I underutilize its capacity in many regards. Initially, I used the iPad only for web connectivity and retrieving emails. Owing to its extensive battery life (up to 10 hours on a charge) and inboard internet connectivity, I am instantly connected to my e-mail and the web (unlike my laptop) and the large screen and high speed processor allows me to quickly open web pages and documents with great visibility (unlike my iPhone (which is of course another indispensable piece of technology)). This means that not only can I receive read and respond to e-mail from virtually anywhere, I can further view, edit and return any document forwarded me in that e-mail. Through our office voice mail software I also access missed calls on my office phone on my iPad and iPhone, meaning that however a client might try and reach me, I am always available. This can dramatically reduce my response time, and while we could certainly discuss whether it is wise to establish such expectations with clients, the reality is that responsiveness is a key component to customer service, and is already an expectation, particularly in the practice of business law.

Some innovative law firms are even going as far as providing an iPad to some clients so they can stay in touch better. USA Today reported a personal-injury law firm in Arizona, whose clients tend toward lower income and do not have the high tech access, has been providing clients in their most important cases with an iPad during the course of their case, serving as a sort of hot line to keep in touch with the attorneys and follow the progress of their case, including Skype conference calls.

Recently, I’ve tried to expand my horizons and have begun to utilize the many capabilities of the iPad. Through my online document management system, I am now able to access all the documents I work on from the cloud. Think for a moment what this means. When going to court we often feel compelled to bring a mountain of information with carts and boxes full of papers, all of that now reducible to 1.3 pounds in less than .02 cubic feet. And with apps like WestlawNext and Fastcase on your iPad, research is inconspicuously at your fingertips anywhere including right in the courtroom.

That sort of access is helpful in negotiations as well. David Sparks, author of iPad at Work, tells of a contract negotiation in which he advised the participants that failing to reach an agreement would invoke the attorney fee clause. The opposing attorney loudly protested there to be no such clause. Sparks removed his iPad from his briefcase, opened GoodReader (a robust pdf reader for iPad which among other things allows you to write notes on a document and return it to your assistant for edit), went to the cloud, pulled down the pdf, hit a bookmark tab and displayed the highlighted clause in moments, ending the opposition’s objection to agreement.

Second to Web connectivity, note taking is a function enhanced by iPad utility. Penultimate, another popular iPad application literally does turn your iPad into a legal pad, allowing you to handwrite notes, diagrams, or doodles if you so desire directly on your screen and then save them for later use. Perhaps the most impressive note taking app is Notability . This incredible utility makes an audio recording of the conversation while allowing you to take handwritten notes simultaneously. All this time the app is indexing the recording against your notes, allowing you to move through the recording by selecting key words in your notes. Consider its utility during your next deposition.

Document management is the next category of work management afforded anywhere by your iPad. Apps like GoodReader and ReaddleDocs allow you to access, view, edit and return most traditional documents from on-line storage or e-mail. Documents to Go and QuickOffice also allow you to originate all manner of Microsoft Office documents (although with somewhat limited formatting options) as well as pdf. My use of QuickOffice and a blue tooth keyboard have essentially caused my laptop to gather dust.

I would be remiss if I did not mention an all important function of the iPad that far too often goes unheralded in the professional discourse that abounds. In a profession noted for stress and burnout, stress management programs and techniques are of utmost importance. That being said, the visceral release found from flinging the head of a displeased fowl into an unstable structure and the resultant destruction should not be discounted. And the cost of Angry Birds is far less than professional counseling, and is available everywhere, all the time, play as needed.

Are you using an iPad or tablet in your practice? Any particular applications you find useful? Please detail in the comments!

Suggested Reading:

Sparks, David, iPad at Work, Wiley, 2011
Mighell, Tom, iPad in One Hour for Lawyers, ABA, February 2012
Kennedy-Mighell Report
Paul, David, iPad apps for Lawyers, Part I
Paul, David, iPad apps for Lawyers, Part II

Written by Rush Nigut

Are You Ready for the Mobile Revolution?

Rush Nigut — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:30:57 +0000

Brick Gentry Regular

A big change is coming down the pike and solo lawyers have a great opportunity to get in front of the curve before bigger law firms get fully on board. If you haven’t noticed it already, the world is switching to mobile. Essentially we all have “supercomputers” in our pockets. And the upcoming technological changes are expected to be the fastest in human history.

According to a Morgan Stanley report:

"It is expected by 2015 that the majority of users will access the Internet by a mobile device first.

It’s not that desktop searches are falling but rather the searches via mobile devices are exploding. Amazingly, 98% of searches by mobile devices reportedly go through Google. In the last year alone, Google mobile searches quadrupled."

But there is a problem. Google’s research indicates that nearly 80% of websites are not optimized for mobile users. (I’d argue it is probably less for law firms). That means that 80% of the time, a user has to pinch and zoom for information on their mobile device. Mobile searchers expect fast-loading websites formatted for their phones. They want an easy-to-use mobile experience. Law firm websites, however, are usually the opposite. They often contain lots of information with long professional biographies, detailed accounts of practice areas and may contain blogs with hundreds of posts. All that content is difficult to read on a mobile device. This means if your law firm isn’t optimized for mobile searches, you may lose out on potential clients.

Brick Gentry Mobile

But while bigger firms are forming committees to discuss the benefits of a mobile site and what information should be contained on them, solos can get moving to gain a competitive advantage over competitors that do not have a mobile site. (I ought to know, I am trying to please over 20 lawyers in developing our mobile version right now – see image). When a lot of people think mobile, they think apps. But apps are often expensive to develop, and truth be told, it can be hard to get an app approved by Apple in a timely fashion. Instead, I’d recommend initially you make a mobile-optimized version of your website that loads automatically when someone accesses your URL via a mobile device. Some of the advantages include large buttons for one hand use, easy-to-read text, vertical navigation, directions and maps to the office, click-to-call, and click-to-email capabilities. If someone is looking at your phone via a mobile device, there’s a pretty good chance they are looking for a quick phone number or email address, or just want a quick glance at your bio. Don’t try to put too much information on the mobile site. Think of it as the express version of your full website. Be sure to include a link to the full website from the mobile version so users can access the detailed information if they need to.

The mobile version is about providing options to your clients and prospective clients. It’s also about providing fast and easy ways for people to contact you. And of course the easier it is for people to contact you, the better the chances that you can get business from your mobile traffic.

Have you made your website mobile-friendly? If so, please share images and we'll happily post!

Written by Rush Nigut

The Art of the Elevator Pitch

Rush Nigut — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:30:04 +0000

If you search the Internet you’ll see nearly a million hits for “lawyer elevator pitches”. The elevator pitch is an introduction of who you are and what you do. It’s your chance to make a good first impression. The elevator pitch of course doesn’t happen all that much in elevators, rather it happens at all kinds of networking events including cocktail parties, trade shows, fund raising events, conferences and sometimes just walking down the street (or the skywalk in Des Moines during cold winter days).

The key to the elevator pitch is preparation. But not in the way many lawyers think. It’s not about memorizing lines that describe your practice like, “Hello, I’m Rush Nigut. I am a business lawyer. I do blah, blah, blah.” Rather it’s much more about turning the conversation into something that is helpful and meaningful to your prospective client than about you. It’s important to be flexible and conversational rather than give rigid practice descriptions that might appear on the typical law firm Web site. For example, what I say to a start up entrepreneur will be much different than to a general counsel of a publicly traded company. I’ve represented both types of clients in different capacities but I might miss out on potential work if I have just a standard elevator speech.

Plus, most solo lawyers have experience in more than one area of practice. But giving multiple areas of practice may make you sound like a jack of all trades and a master of none. The prospect may want to know that you have expertise in a particular area rather than just someone who dabbles in a particular practice area. As a result, I have found one question to be particularly successful when presented with a pitch opportunity:

“What kind of lawyer do you need?”

This simple question does wonders. First, it allows the prospect to open up and tell you about their issues and needs. Second, it allows you the opportunity to respond in a way that shows the prospect that you have expertise that will help them. Alternatively, if you can’t help the prospect you may be able to refer them to someone who can. In my experience getting someone to the right lawyer can pay big dividends down the road. Networking as a lawyer is a marathon, not a sprint. And you’ve got to be careful not to oversell your services.

As any good networker will tell you, it’s about being interested, rather than interesting. Learn how you can serve others to help them succeed and you’ll see your elevator reach the roof.

Recommended Reading:

Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch (ABA Law Practice Management)
Elevating the Elevator Pitch (Lawyerist)

Written by Rush Nigut

Best Advice I Received as a Lawyer: Don’t Forget to Take the Time to Think

Rush Nigut — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:30:36 +0000

We are very fortunate to be bringing on board a new member to our family of columnists, Rush Nigut. Rush is a recognized authority in the area of business law who also happens to really have a handle on the importance of utilizing technology in practice. From his unique perspective as a business lawyer, he is going to be writing a monthly column called 'Business Law and Tech'. Of course, he'll add his experiences as a long time practitioner to showcase implementation and how technology, when used properly, improves the overall effectiveness of your practice and benefits your clients, too.

Best Advice I Received as a Lawyer: Don't Forget to Take the Time to Think.

I was fortunate as a young lawyer to work with a terrific mentor when I started in the practice of law who taught me the importance of regular “think” sessions. He owns a small three-lawyer firm in Des Moines, yet represents a stable of clients that would make most in BIG LAW envious. Many of these clients weren’t big clients when he started representing them. But by studying and truly analyzing his clients’ issues, he was able to position himself and more importantly his clients for opportunities. Most lawyers I know hope for the big client or case. Instead, he has the uncanny ability to often turn the small client into a big client.

The result is a career that I joke Walter Mitty couldn’t have dreamed up. Some of his highlights include winning multi-million dollar verdicts, representing international corporations, chairing six different presidential campaigns in Iowa, owning a championship professional basketball team and even watching his horse run in the Kentucky Derby. If asked about the keys to his success, he could easily say he was blessed with a gift for public speaking, loves his work or perhaps has been lucky. But I’ve always felt he had a much more profound reason for his success. He takes the time to think.

Lawyers, particularly solo lawyers, have a lot on their mind. Solo lawyers must develop a client base, somehow get the work done and then run the business too. With these demands, it’s hard not to have a myopic viewpoint and focus only on the task that lies directly ahead.

But it’s critical to take time to think. It isn’t a waste of time. In our fast-paced professional practices where moving from client to client is the norm, our thoughts can easily become scattered and unfocused. Focused, uninterrupted time spent thinking can help lawyers immeasurably. Think about the practice of law and how it’s changing. And definitely don’t forget about where your clients’ industries are headed and how you can best position your clients to take advantage of opportunities.

So schedule time each day or week to think about and focus on the future. Start with setting aside an hour or two each week. Keep notes of your ideas and in my experience it works best to use the same journal or notebook to record your thoughts. During each week, make notes of things that come to your mind as well as the challenges and problems you run into.

One of the best things to remember is that just because something has been done a particular way, or because no one else does it that way, doesn’t mean you can’t do it your way. Be innovative and resourceful. Think of ways to come up with better, more productive solutions, both for your law practice and your clients. If you do, I have a feeling you’ll find your practice rewarding, not just from a monetary perspective, but also a personal perspective. It’s the best advice I ever received in the practice of law and it’s made a big difference for me.

Written by Rush Nigut