The Kennedy-Mighell Report: Recent Episodes
Legal Talk Network
Hear how technology can help attorneys, legally speaking, with two of the top legal technology experts. Authors and lawyers, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell host this Legal Talk Network show.
Nick Rishwain joins the guys as another fresh voice on the current happenings in legal technology. Nick shares his approach to helping attorneys understand and make the most of legal tech and discusses areas where competence still has a long way to go. Later, Dennis & Tom pick his brain on AI, blockchain, collaboration, exciting new startups, social media, and much more. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Nick Rishwain is Vice President of business development and relations at Experts.com. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #346 Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #346 A Segment: Fresh Voices on Legal Tech - Nick Rishwain Experts.com B Segment: More with Nick Rishwain Parting Shots:
Experts.com
Readwise Reader
Getting Things Done Method
A new Kennedy-Mighell Report game has begun. The premise? Dennis has a whole lot of ideas, and Tom just loves pointing out their flaws. The guys introduce a new segment called “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?” Dennis, in his ever-springing optimism, shares his latest notions, and Tom uses his practical, skeptical reasoning to determine whether they have merit or need to be thrown out the window. And, there’s no time like summertime to return to Dennis and Tom’s “Hot or Not?” segment. So, should you revise your law firm’s strategic plan in view of new AI developments? The guys talk about whether tech-focused planning should be the hottest thing on your to-do list. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #345 A Segment: Ideas Ideas Ideas
Time for a new MacBook Air?
Is Microsoft Copilot worth the price tag?
Ask Me Anything Webinars on Zoom
New Signal-Tracking for Legal Trends?
Privacy Certifications - CIPP, etc.
New Law School Tech?—Climate Technology Law
Are Substack Newsletters a good way to monetize content?
B Segment: Hot or Not: Law Firm Strategic Planning Parting Shots:
Wonderboom 3 Bluetooth Speaker
PatternBuilder MAX demo from NetDocuments
What makes it so difficult for some lawyers to embrace technology? Fear, confusion, and that feeling that they just can’t ever catch up create a wall that many attorneys can’t seem to break down. Dennis and Tom bring on Amani Smathers, another “fresh voice,” to learn how she encourages technology adoption among legal professionals. She also covers the AI hype, her favorite collaboration tools, her unique niche in legal tech, and more! As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Mentioned in this Episode: Power Automate’s Copilot Casetext’s CoCounsel
Despite Tom’s attempted prohibition of ChatGTP on this podcast, it’s weaseled its way in once again. The guys take a hard look at where ChatGPT is really at right now, discussing both its capabilities and its limitations as of yet. Dennis shares insights from the hundreds of experiments he’s tried with ChatGPT and explains where this tech still falls short in its results. They also discuss generative AI in the legal profession and whether its current uses are cause for concern or optimism. Later, are the guys officially calling it quits with Twitter? Dennis & Tom talk through the latest Twitter annoyances; new social media possibilities like Bluesky, Mastodon, and new-to-scene Threads; and where they think the future of these platforms is headed. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Mentioned in this Episode: Google Magic Eraser KMR Episode: Demand-Side Sales with Bob Moesta — How Quitting Selling Helps You Create a Better Client Experience Dennis’ Latest Articles: Legaltech Hub KMR Episode: Hypes and Lows: Breaking Down the Technology Hype Cycle
We hate to say it again, but tech competence in the legal profession is still significantly lacking. Dennis and Tom talk with Ivy Grey about her unique approach to helping lawyers understand and use technology. Ivy connects tech with substance to help the less-than-tech-savvy lawyer embrace necessary tools and fulfill their ethical responsibilities. Ivy also shares her optimistic take on the latest happenings in legal tech, with a particular focus on leveraging AI in legal writing. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Ivy B. Grey is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for WordRake. Mentioned in this Episode: WordRake Jennifer Marsh of Being Legalytical Jack Shepherd of iManage Navigation Pane
Legal technology is essential to the fight for access to justice, opening up a multitude of new possibilities for addressing legal needs. Dennis and Tom continue their “Fresh Voices” series by talking with Tiffany Graves about her knowledge of the pro bono space and how tech-powered solutions are helping expand access to legal services. Tiffany discusses the current landscape of pro bono tech, the importance of collaboration, and what emerging technologies could have in store for future pro bono work. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Tiffany Graves is Pro Bono Counsel at Bradley Arany Boult Cummings LLP. Mentioned in this Episode: The Justice Technology Association Law school introduces hologram witnesses in mock trial — ABA Journal All Microsoft’s PowerToys for Windows 10 and 11, Explained — How-To Geek
This year, instead of spreading Christmas Cheer, the guys offer a resounding “Bah, humbug!” to all the tech stuff that irks them. So, tech giants, listen up – don’t mess with Dennis’s defaults; make your operating systems smart enough listen to Tom’s every need; quit with the ads, already; make bluetooth actually work… bleh; etc., etc., and etc. Humph.Later, after an apparent visit from some Christmas Spirits, the guys’ hearts grow three sizes and they’re ready to talk about tech products they’re excited about this gift-giving season. So, Happy Holidays, after all!As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.Mentioned in This Episode:A Segment:Bah, Humbug to All the Annoying Tech Stuff in the World TodayB Segment: Gifts We’d Like to Give (or get)Ember MugSchlage Smart LockElgato Facecam ProInsta360LinkElgato Wave MicrophoneLogitech Brio WebcamHelix Geometry TemplateEcho ShowAirPods ProCalendlyParting Shots:Zoom Spots and other new features
Uh-oh, the robots are gunning for your jobs again. Or… are they? Generative AI has the ability to analyze existing knowledge and then produce its very own creative content, with varying results thus far. Dennis and Tom talk through what’s happening in this sphere of technology, recommend tools to try out, and examine whether real live content creators need to worry about losing work to these AI usurpers. With the possible self-destruction of Twitter, is a return to RSS a viable alternative? Listen in as the guys run RSS through their “Hot or Not?” filter. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Even though the concept of digital twin technology has been around for several decades, it has recently started to make waves in the world at large. Businesses of all types are using real-world data to figure out how their systems and products will perform in a simulation. The guys delve into the many uses of digital twin tech, from testing building products to supply chain mapping and much more, and then discuss how it might be implemented in the legal profession. Later, Elon Musk now owns Twitter, and reactions are ranging from uproar to “who cares?” amongst the Twitter populace. Dennis and Tom share their thoughts on the change and what they plan to do with their accounts. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Mentioned in This Episode: A Segment: Are You Expecting Digital Twins? B Segment: Elon Musk Owns Twitter - Now What? Parting Shots:
What’s That Charge?
macOS 13 Stage Manager
The votes are in (all two of ‘em!), and Dennis and Tom agree that Microsoft Teams wins the best collaboration software award by a landslide. It’s been awhile since the guys have highlighted Teams tips and tricks, so tune in for up-to-date, magical insights that can turn you into a Teams wizard in no time. Later, in keeping with the spooky season, Dennis and Tom creep through the Google product graveyard. The Big G is well known for snuffing out its own creations, much to the dismay of users, so the guys examine the whys and wherefores of these murders and whether you should hesitate to invest your time into new Google offerings. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode: A Segment: Tips to Make You a Microsoft Teams Wizard
The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition
Mike Tholfson on YouTube
Microsoft Teams Adoption
B Segment: The Google Graveyard Killed by Google Parting Shots:
7 Mesh Router Mistakes to Avoid
2022 LTN Tech Survey
Dennis and Tom’s new book, “The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition,” is available now! Debbie Foster hosts this episode to chat with Dennis and Tom about their writing process for this new edition and specific tools lawyers need to make the most of modern legal practice.
As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #323
A Segment: Debbie Foster Interviews Dennis and Tom The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/424883450/
B Segment: Interview, Part II
Parting Shots:
Calendly - https://calendly.com/
Law Department Innovation Library - https://www.ldilibrary.com
More likely than not, your tech stack isn’t enabled to its greatest functionality. Why? Well, sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. Dennis and Tom talk about maximizing the potential your tools, platforms, apps, and software have to interact more collaboratively to improve the day-to-day operations of your law firm. Connecting your components improves not only your human interactions, but lets your technologies work together to their greatest capabilities.
Though not yet widely available, Twitter’s edit function is out in the wild for a small group of users. The guys put this edit button through their “Hot or Not?” filter, considering the negative and positive possibilities enshrouded in an editable tweet.
As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode Segment A: The Collaboration Layer of Your Technology Stack The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/424883450/
Segment B: Hot or Not - Twitter’s New Edit Function
https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/3/23335692/twitter-edit-button-platform-bluesky
Parting Shots:
Movemap - https://www.movemap.io/explore/us
LTRC Roundtable Discussion: Personal Knowledge Management https://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2022/08/ltrc-roundtable-discussion-personal-knowledge-management/
The concept of the workplace has evolved rapidly over the past two years, and many are now opting for a hybrid work approach rather than a complete return to the office. Does this choice work? Yes–as long as your collaboration tools are on point! Collaboration connoisseurs Dennis and Tom talk through effective strategies for communication, socialization, and remote workspaces to help today’s hybrid workers thrive. Find out more in their latest book: The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition Later, on “Hot or Not?” – the guys chat about whether legal tech conference hashtags are still “a thing” or trè passé. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode A Segment: Collaborating in Hybrid Environments The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/424883450/ B Segment: Hot or Not - Hashtags at Legal Technology Conferences Parting Shots:
Google Pixel Buds Pro - https://store.google.com/product/pixel_buds_pro?hl=en-US
ThoughtTrace - https://www.thoughttrace.com/
PatternBuilder - https://www.netdocuments.com/resource/patternbuilder-document-and-workflow-automation
It’s here! The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition just dropped, so your favorite authors/podcast co-hosts are giving listeners the inside scoop on how this new edition helps lawyers make smarter choices for home-based legal practice. Later on, Dennis and Tom bring back their Hot or Not? segment to analyze whether foldable devices are cool or just plain silly. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode: A Segment: What’s the Latest in Collaboration Tools & Technologies The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/424883450/
B Segment: Hot or Not - Foldable Devices?
Galaxy Z Fold 4 - https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold4/
Galaxy Z Flip 4 - https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-z-flip4/
Parting Shots:
Deepl https://www.deepl.com/translator
What to do when a friend’s Facebook account is hacked or duped - https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/what-to-do-when-a-friends-facebook-account-is-hacked-or-duped/
Web 3 has been picking up steam in the past year, but there are still a whole lotta people who struggle to wrap their heads around how this internet concept will impact the web as we know it. Dennis and Tom talk through definitions, uses, problems, and new developments to help listeners gain a better understanding of Web 3’s growth and influence to date.
In their second segment, the guys answer a listener question regarding whether Pinterest would be effective as a public-facing platform for a Second Brain. Do you have a question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning questions.
As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
As we look back over its history, artificial intelligence has been lauded as the “next big thing” for decades. In some ways, it has developed by noticeable leaps and bounds, but in others, its slow, steady integration into our lives has gone largely unnoticed. Dennis and Tom take a look at its progress overall, its particular uses in the legal industry, and then share thoughts on where AI is headed in the future. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode: A Segment: Checking the Pulse of Artificial Intelligence
The Best Definitions of Artificial Intelligence You can Read Today
DALL-E
We asked GPT-3 to Write an Academic Paper about Itself
B Segment: Checking the Pulse of Artificial Intelligence
The Calendly-Twitter Debate
Calendly
Doodle
FindTime
Parting Shots:
Schlage Encode Plus
Work Clean
Tom’s a big fan of the Power Platform, both for its versatility and ease of use. To take a deeper look, the guys welcome Joe Camp of Microsoft to give listeners perspective on how to learn and use the Platform to aid their professional lives. From automation to app-building to data analysis and more, they discuss use cases for lawyers and the best ways to get started. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Joe Camp is Product Marketing Manager, part of the Power Apps Advocacy team, and a consultant to Microsoft at Derflan, Inc.
Mentioned in This Episode A and B Segment: All About the Power Platform - interview with Joe Camp
Power Platform Udacity Course
Power Platform Fundamentals
Microsoft Learn Power Apps - Free learning provided by Microsoft
Microsoft Learn Power Automate - Free learning provided by Microsoft
YouTube – April Dunnam
Power Automate Community - Forums
Power Apps Community - Forums
Joe Camp - Twitter
Joe Camp - LinkedIn
Parting Shots: How to Use the Scenario Manager in Microsoft Excel
Billions of devices are now internet-connected and collecting data at a prodigious rate, and there seems to be no end to the development of smart things we didn’t know we needed. With data being collected by everything from your refrigerator to your toothbrush… is your privacy at risk? Dennis and Tom discuss how internet of things devices track information about us, how to live life with that in mind, and what new and existing privacy laws do to give us an understanding of the extent of data-gathering going on around us. Later, it’s been quite a few years now, but how much do you really know about what Dennis and Tom do in the real world? They guys each give an update on their professional lives and current projects. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.
Mentioned in This Episode A Segment: The Internet of Things is Watching You B Segment: What’s Up with Dennis and Tom? Parting Shots:
Bionic Reading
Legal Innovation as a Service
Post-Covid, the work-from-home lifestyle has become a lot more permanent than many of us thought it would. With this shift, many are realizing their home office setup might need some tweaks to become an effective workspace. So, where to begin? Dennis and Tom talk about their own experiences, lay out ideas for approaching your upgrades, and recommend products for lighting, desks, chairs, monitors, sound equipment, and more. Later, the rollout for Windows 11 sort of came along at a snail's pace. Why? Dennis and Tom introduce a new segment – “Bug or Feature?” – to discuss whether Microsoft’s slower software release schedule is a good or bad thing for its users. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Mentioned in this Episode: A Segment: Upgrading Your Home Office B Segment: Slow Rollout of Windows 11: Bug or Feature? Parting Shots:
Music/Voice Separation
10 Online Tools and Apps to Improve Memory for Seniors
How to Make a Venn Diagram in PowerPoint
If remote work is part of your new normal, it’s best for your colleagues and clients if you have an audio setup that makes your communications clear and professional. Dennis and Tom welcome David Tewksbury to talk through the steps of creating an effective workspace that meets your audio needs. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. David Tewksbury works with Product and Application Sales Support at Harman International.
Elon Musk might buy Twitter, and a lot of people aren’t sure if that’d be good, bad, or bonkers. Dennis and Tom give their two cents on the possible takeover, hashing out the changes Musk might bring to the platform and whether users might just call it quits en masse. Later, treachery! Some lawyer is claiming that collaboration tech is bad for him and his fellow attorneys. Gasp! Don’t worry, your favorite authors of The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies are here to hash out whether this guy has a point or is just plain uninformed. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Embroker.
Choices can be complicated, but decision-making tools can help! Dennis and Tom talk through the concept of “decision trees” and explain a variety of methods for modeling out choices and outcomes to help you make better decisions. Then, the guys revisit their “Hot or Not?” segment to hash out their thoughts on the Apple Watch. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Embroker.
With different priorities and approaches, Dennis and Tom have found that—just like real brains—their Second Brain projects are unique! Listen in for updates on the latest iterations of their diverging strategies and the tech tools bringing their Brains to life. And later, how big is too big? The fellas hash out whether some of today’s massive monitors are just too much. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Embroker.
A Segment: An Update on our Second Brain Project
Notion
Second Brain Summit
B Segment: Can a Monitor be Too Big? Dell 49” UltraSharp Monitor Parting Shots:
How to Turn Off AutoFit
Why Global Supply Chains May Never Be the Same
Arriving Today
Time to be honest with yourself. Are you, quite possibly, wasting other people’s time with meandering, life-sucking meetings? Or, is your inbox full of languishing emails, much to the frustration of your coworkers? Dennis and Tom certainly hope not, but, just to be safe, they’ve got a whole show devoted to helping you understand the nuances of both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration modalities. Learn how to pick the right tools for each scenario and curate purposeful, effective communication with coworkers and clients. Later on, the guys share their personal recommendations for improving the VR experience for those with prescription glasses. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company.
What are non-fungible tokens, and why should you care? Dennis & Tom break down the definition of these unique digital objects (art, video, and much more) and outline the issues surrounding their current hype and value in the real world. NFTs have the potential to engage a surprising variety of legal angles, so lawyers in any area of the law need an understanding of this new trend in virtual property. Later on, the guys chat about the established tradition of tech announcements and whether they are still necessary or useful for consumers. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company.
The real world has been a bit too much for Dennis and Tom lately, so tag along as they take a little trip to the metaverse! They discuss what exactly this expansive virtual environment is, possible personal and professional uses, and what the future may hold for this growing technology. And, for all you lawyers out there, they consider how this tech could be applied to the profession. This time on the “Hot or Not?” segment, the guys air their opinions on the return to in-person conferences. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company.
News stories of late have been riddled with concerns over international infrastructure attacks that indicate a growing potential for cyber war. Should you be worried? Dennis and Tom discuss some of the most recent events in this arena and bring their conversation around to what legal professionals should do to prepare for this eventuality. Later, the guys talk about text-to-speech technology and whether its current generation of tools are worth your while. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, Colonial Surety Company, and Nota.
Is the complete Microsoft 365 experience worth your while? A lot of lawyers really aren’t aware of all of its capabilities, and the 365 universe just keeps expanding. Dennis and Tom help listeners gain a broader understanding of the possibilities available through this software and its particularly useful applications in legal practice. Later, the “Hot or Not?” segment is back as the guys take the temp of Windows 11 and whether you should jump on the upgrade train. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Colonial Surety Company, and ServeNow.
From access to justice to efficiency in practice, tech holds endless possibilities for helping legal matters run more smoothly. With so much potential to be tapped, law schools are developing programs aimed at exploring creative ways to bring tech and law together. Dennis and Tom discuss the varying approaches seen throughout the legal education sphere and their potential impacts on the future of the profession. Next, the guys remember Wendy Werner, admiring her conservative, but purposeful approach to technology and her ability to use it wisely. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, and ServeNow.
Last year’s goals may or may not have been realized, but it’s time to look ahead to a bright, shiny new year! Dennis and Tom talk about what has drawn their attention for 2022 and what they hope to achieve through their tech-related resolutions. They also share podcast goals and hopes for making deeper connections with listeners. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Debbie Foster joins Dennis and Tom once again for their yearly “Pardon the Interruption”-esque recap. The trio examine oodles of issues and advancements (or lack thereof) in both legal tech and the profession in general. And, miraculously, even though there seems to be no recognizable competition going on, Tom wins the day! Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Debbie Foster is the managing partner for Affinity Consulting, and is a nationally recognized thought leader on efficiency and innovation in professional legal organizations. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Can certain audio experiences actually enhance your energy and focus? Dennis thinks so. Tom’s a skeptic. The debate ensues! Later, the guys lay out their personal tech wishlists this holiday season. If you’re looking for a few gift suggestions for the techies and/or favorite podcast hosts in your life, tune in! As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
The year is rapidly drawing to a close, and some of us might just be feeling the crunch of too much to do in too little time. Never fear! Dennis and Tom are here with their favorite personal productivity tips to help you plow through that to-do list. They share simple strategies you can put to work both professionally and personally. Next, the guys respond to a listener’s podcasting question! They chat about how to podcast for the long haul by focusing on consistency, authenticity, and content you really care about. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis and Tom have hit their 300th episode! Join in on the fun as special guest host Adriana Linares grills the guys on technology, podcasting, and—after all these years—just how well they really know each other. And, Adriana sticks around for the parting shots! Stay tuned for that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Adriana Linares is a law practice consultant and legal technology coach, president of the Kennedy-Mighell Report Fan Club, and host of the New Solo podcast!
Mentioned in This Episode A Segment: Questions from Adriana
Dell UltraSharp 49” monitor - https://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop/dell-ultrasharp-49-curved-monitor-u4919dw/apd/210-ARNW/monitors-monitor-accessories?AID=8984087&cjevent=6559f6b2fe2011ea808d00330a24060c&gacd=9694607-23736398-5750457-266319267-127795103&dgc=af&VEN1=12578053-8984087-ArsWFH2020&dclid=CLyciqj9gOwCFQ9CAQod0_UCsg
MacBook Pro https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/
Pixel 6 https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6?hl=en-US
Pixel 6 Pro https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6_pro?hl=en-US
B Segment: More Questions from Adriana
Shure Microphone
Sennheiser MKH416 - https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLWZGVB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Logitech Brio - https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/webcams/brio-4k-hdr-webcam.960-001105.html
LastPass - https://lastpass.com
Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software
Notion https://www.notion.so
Apple Watch - https://www.apple.com/watch/
Galaxy Watch 4 - https://www.samsung.com/us/watches/galaxy-watch4/
Parting Shots:
Virtually Legal - https://austinbar.muradbid.com
Dennis is on TikTok - @dkenntt
How to Film and Edit a TikTok Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCEKDqAm3uc
Episode 275 of TKMR - Will We all be Video Stars? https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/kennedy-mighell-report/2020/12/will-we-all-be-video-stars-exploring-the-covid-era-video-surge/
New Solo Podcast - https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/new-solo/
Client portals have been around for quite some time now, and they have absolutely thrived since the onset of the pandemic. But, of course, there are still those in legal practice that have yet to make use of this increasingly essential service in their law firms. Dennis and Tom chat about what portals can do for your legal business and offer tips on how to best implement them for your clients. On Hot or Not?, Dennis and Tom offer their opinions on Google’s latest tech—the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro—and scrutinize whether these new offerings are worth your interest. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
According to Tom, to-do list apps are actually the most important productivity tools out there. Essentially everything we do relies on a to-do list, even if we’re not particularly organized about it. So, Dennis and Tom talk about how to-do/task-management apps can help us do work better and share some of the most popular offerings amongst these types of tools. During “Hot or Not?”, the guys discuss the recent update of Word for Mac incorporating Microsoft Editor, and whether unexpected updates like these can do more harm than good for the users. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? They’re angling for listener calls for their 300th episode! Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
It’s been awhile, but the guys have been hard at work on their Second Brain projects! They each share the progress they’ve made and hash out their diverging opinions on the ultimate goals of their respective projects. Next, Microsoft recently announced their newest Surface. Is this new tech hot, or not? As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? With their 300th episode quickly approaching, they’d love to feature some listener queries. Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
A Segment: Dennis and Tom’s Second Brain Update
August Bradley: https://www.youtube.com/user/augustbradley
Save to Notion: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/save-to-notion/ldmmifpegigmeammaeckplhnjbbpccmm?hl=en
B Segment: Hot or Not
Surface Laptop Studio - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-laptop-studio/8srdf62swkpf?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab
Surface Pro 8 - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-pro-8/8qwcrtq8v8xg?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab
Surface Duo 2 - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-duo-2/9408kgxp4xjl
Microsoft Adaptive Kit - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-adaptive-kit-guide-cfd6dd86-ea74-4eed-b5b7-3c6baecbc828
Surface Pro X - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-pro-x/8xtmb6c575md?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab
Surface Go - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-go-2/8pt3s2vjmdr6?activetab=pivot:overviewtab
Parting Shots: Feeds Mage https://www.feedsmage.com
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a special alert in September to warn companies to be on guard against alarming increases in ransomware. With major concerns cropping up amongst law firms big and small, Dennis and Tom talk about how these cyber attacks work and what lawyers should do to protect themselves. Next, our dynamic duo discuss Apple’s latest announcement and gauge the hotness of their new tech offerings. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
The idea of “productizing” legal services may seem like a fad, but really the concept of turning something you’ve created into a useful tool for clients has been around for longer than you might realize. Tom taps into Dennis’ expertise, asking questions to get a deeper look at the history of legal service productization and learning how modern lawyers utilize it to streamline their legal practices. Later on, the guys take the temp of hybrid legal conferences to decide if the latest developments in this area are, you guessed it—“Hot or Not?” As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Mentioned in this episode: A Segment: Practicing Productization B Segment: Hot or Not ILTACON 2021: https://www.iltacon.org/home
Parting Shots: Exponential.Legal - https://www.exponential.legal/
Michigan State Law School Center for Legal Technology & Innovation Video Page: https://www.law.msu.edu/lawtech/video-resources.html
As we come to the 18-month mark of this pandemic, Dennis and Tom feel it’s time to take a look at how legal tech has progressed throughout this crazy time. They welcome returning guest Debbie Foster to get her real-world perspective on how law firms have—or haven’t—adapted their practices to embrace technology. Later, on “Hot or Not?”, Dennis, Tom, and Debbie offer competing views on whether Salesforce is a good platform for law firms. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Mentioned In This Episode: A Segment: On the Ground Status Update from Debbie Foster B Segment: Hot or Not
Salesforce.com - https://www.salesforce.com
Litify - https://www.litify.com
Parting Shots:
Things I want - https://techiwant.com/
Motion - https://www.usemotion.com/
Anker PowerCore Essential 20000 PD - https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Essential-Portable-High-Capacity/dp/B07SQ5MQ6K
Document automation might seem like a simple or even dated topic, but, in reality, fresh takes on this tech just keep on coming. Dennis and Tom discuss the evolution and capabilities of these tools and offer insights on what you should be using in your law firm. Next up, Dennis and Tom test the temperature of the Metaverse to determine whether it could be considered hot… or not! As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
How exactly are we supposed to keep all this information in our lives organized and recallable? Hide things in folders? That’s probably not the best course. Dennis and Tom dive into the subject of tagging, both in terms of its strengths and weaknesses, so that all the information you need is available when and where you need it. In the “Hot or Not?” segment, the guys explore the current climate of legal tech investment and discuss whether the current glut of funding is sustainable. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Mentioned In This Episode: A Segment: Tagging Your Way to Productivity
Notion - https://www.notion.so/
Raindrop.io - https://raindrop.io
B Segment: Hot or Not - Venture Capital in Legal Tech AngelList List of Legal Tech Startups - Remote Job and Startup Job Search | AngelList Talent
Parting Shots:
DuckDuckGo Email Protection
iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duckduckgo-privacy-browser/id663592361
Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duckduckgo.mobile.android&hl=en_US≷=US
Nasty Windows Printer Driver Vulnerability - https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2021/07/nasty-printer-driver-vulnerability.html
Learn how to develop a personal legal tech learning plan with Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell’s helpful tips. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell hash out the pros and cons of returning to the office and why a hybrid approach might be best for both employees and employers. Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer up simple tips to help you make the most of your time and technology.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
In keeping with tradition, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share their top book recommendations for the summer!
Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell examine today’s cyber threats and give their take on why rapid evolution in cybercrime tactics leaves many law firms in a precarious position.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell examine existing legal publishing and the need for innovative new platforms for legal content.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the many ways law degrees can pivot toward unique new professional opportunities.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Colonial Surety Company, ServeNow, and Nota.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their unique perspectives on the “sharing” pillar of their Second Brain projects.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their experiences at this year’s entirely virtual TECHSHOW.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the vast potential of APIs in the world of legal.
Dennis and Tom hash out plans and the challenges to be overcome in making their Second Brain projects ready for action.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell hash out how lawyers are really doing in their use of collaboration tools and offer guidance for making smarter choices.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell explain how niche social media platforms can provide users with more meaningful, purposeful interactions.
And the winner is… Notion! Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell explain why they’ve picked this particular tool for their knowledge management project, the Second Brain.
Happy New Year! Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share their tech- and podcast-related goals for 2021.
Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and Colonial Surety Company.
For their annual year-end recap, Dennis and Tom look back on the craziness of 2020 with returning guest Debbie Foster.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell examine the growing use of video and whether lawyers should take advantage of this trend.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the top tools under consideration for effective and efficient data organization in their Second Brain project.
Dennis and Tom discuss the exciting ways VR technology has been used in legal matters and its potential to become an essential tool in the practice of law.
Karuana Gatimu shares how Microsoft Teams is well-equipped to serve the unique needs of law firms.
Bob Moesta discusses his book, “Demand-Side Sales 101: Stop Selling and Help Your Customers Make Progress,” and challenges lawyers to rethink their perspective on selling legal services.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell dig into the potential uses lawyers may find in low-code/no-code applications.
Gina Bianchini discusses opportunities for reinventing the legal profession through the creation of online communities.
Dennis and Tom share the content capture tools currently under consideration for their Second Brain project.
Kelly Palmer shares tactics for developing a culture of continuous learning in your law firm.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their steps toward organizing the “capture” element of their Second Brain project.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their latest endeavor—capturing information with a second brain.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share their favorite strategies for sharing and developing new ideas.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share strategies for crafting a better online presentation experience for your audience.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share tips for improving your audio and video capabilities while working from home.
In this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss wellness tech and lighting tips for online meetings.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer tips for making wise tech choices and saving money.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer guidance for lawyers struggling with the shift to online work.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the evolution of remote collaboration tools and offer tips for the best ways to use them.
Dennis and Tom share their most current tech tips and thoughts on the trends at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show.
Through a round of Pardon the Interruption inspired games, hosts Dennis and Tom look back on 2019 with the help of return guest Debbie Foster.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell bring listeners a brand new list of cool tools just in time for the holidays!
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the hottest topics from the 2019 ACC Annual Meeting.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the hottest topics from the 2019 ACC Annual Meeting.
Dennis Kennedy shares concepts from his new book, “Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law: A Practical Guide for Law Firms, Law Departments, and Other Legal Organizations.”
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss trends in the blogging world and whether blogs remain a relevant content medium for lawyers.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell caution lawyers against hanging on to old technologies that could pose risks to their firms.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the legal industry’s growing cybersecurity issues and the vital things lawyers should do to improve their security practices.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss what lawyers need to know about the current state of 5G technology.
Dennis Kennedy & Tom Mighell discuss the pros and cons of unconferences and whether they could replace traditional conference structures.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell explore the benefits of implementing personal quarterly off-sites.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell explore the 2019 Internet Trends report created by venture capitalist Mary Meeker.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell’s share their summer reading lists, discuss thoughts on how reading is changing and whether it's affects the reader’s experience (i.e. digital, audio, or paper).
How easy has it become to fake photos, video, audio, and other data, and how will this affect your practice of law? In this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss what lawyers need to know about the deep fake phenomenon.
Special thanks to our sponsors ServeNow and TextExpander.
Hosts, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, share their thoughts on why a tech detox, even just for the duration of a vacation, is overkill compared to addressing the problem with digital mindfulness. They discuss tools available to help you manage your device usage and how they prefer to compartmentalize the use of digital devices in their own lives to afford the greatest benefit while minimizing the social harm.
Those in the legal tech space have struggled to find an easy way to collaborate on current issues–is now the time for the creation of a global legal tech community? Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer their ideas for bringing the legal tech community together in a collaborative online space. They detail the current issues and general disjointed state of legal tech community and share their thoughts on answering why, what, and how the creation of an online space could come about.
In this edition, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss emojis and gifs and the implications of their use in the legal profession. They talk about how helpful pictorial language can be in adding nuance and emotion to written word, give a primer on emoji/gif literacy, and discuss legal industry applications. In their second segment, they explore the definition of podcasts and consider how things may be changing for podcasters.
We all have certain tools that make life easier and become essential to our daily routine. In this edition, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about cool tools— the tools they can’t live without. They discuss what makes a tool “cool” and talk about some of their favorites. They also want listeners and lawyers to learn about new tools, gadgets, and websites that will help get the job done easily, and they’re not just talking about tech tools.
Technology competence has become an absolute necessity in the legal industry. But really — how is the profession doing with its utilization of needed legal tech? Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk to Debbie Foster about her perspective on the current state of lawyers and technology. They talk about the paths forward for learning technology, and encourage lawyers to collaborate with young, tech-fluent lawyers to help them stay current.
Times are changing for legal tech conferences — how do they need to adapt to stay relevant and offer meaningful content to legal professionals? Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell bring you this episode from ABA TECHSHOW 2019 in Chicago. They discuss the current state of legal tech conferences and the need for balance between highly innovative content and essential training content at these conferences. They also discuss the pros and cons for the possibility of moving to more virtual conferences in the future.
What performance measurements are important for lawyers to consider in their law firms? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss measures and metrics and how lawyers can use them to better their practices. Measuring performance helps lawyers manage their firms with greater efficiency for greater profitability, and metrics create platforms for strategizing new areas of growth.
Quantum computing may seem incomprehensible, but could it bring some great benefits for lawyers? In this edition, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss what lawyers need to know about quantum computing. They talk about the possible applications in the legal field and whether they think lawyers will need to gain technical competency in this area. Also in this episode — answers to a listener question on privacy issues with virtual assistants.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell decipher the meaning of “legal technology” in 2019 as well as legal tech vs. illegal tech. In addition, they talk about what they found interesting from CES 2019, and end the show with their Parting Shots where they give that one tip, website or observation that people can start using immediately. If you have a technology question for Dennis and Tom, call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 — Your questions could be featured on the air!
How can technology resolutions help lawyers grow in their practice? In this edition, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell announce their technology and podcast resolutions for 2019. They give advice on how to make a good resolution, encouraging listeners to carefully consider how measurable and manageable their goals are.
What is the hottest new technology or tech trend of 2018? And should legal professionals be taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach to technology? On this edition, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell recap legal technology in 2018 in “Pardon the Interruption” style.
In today’s technology-driven world, trying to keep up with technology with the traditional lawyer mindset and resistance to change, are just a few of the challenges within the legal industry. On this edition, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about what they consider to be today’s biggest challenges in legal tech. Later in the program, Dennis and Tom take a look at the odd practice of tweetstorming.
What lurks in the dark corners of the internet? Will you, as a lawyer, ever need to access the dark web on behalf of a client? Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the need for lawyers to have a basic understanding of the dark web – both its uses and dangers. They give an overview of the types of content that exist on the dark web and caution lawyers to utilize experts when navigating it for their clients.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the College of Law Practice Management Futures Conference and cybersecurity. In addition to sharing their own conference experiences, they discuss their own presentation topics including how to develop a cybersecurity-focused culture, making learning about security fun, and creating consequences for poor security practices. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about how the personalization of technology has made it hard to make recommendations about technology solutions. They discuss how different technologies accomplish different goals for people and how some have increasingly stronger opinions about which technologies they will and won’t use. Tom and Dennis also share a moment of silence for the death of Google Plus.
As the internet has matured, the way we use websites has gradually shifted. Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how they use websites and how RSS and social media are eliminating the use of destination sites. They share some of the websites they use, what they use them for, and the shift websites have made from just sources of information to tools you can use. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Before running out and buying the new iPhone XS, there are a couple things to consider besides its being the newest and shiniest thing. Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss buying new technology like laptops, tablets, and phones and what should drive your purchasing decisions. They talk about how different technology has different capabilities so it’s important to find the tech that fits you and the job to be done.
One employee with bad cybersecurity habits can leave your whole firm in danger which is why, as important as collaboration is, it’s important to share and communicate wisely. Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk how the use of collaboration tools can impact your cybersecurity. They cover the different aspects of collaboration that have the potential to leave your firm vulnerable and share basic tips on how to prevent cyber attacks.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the technology hype cycle and why you should be wary about the excitement surrounding emerging technologies. Specifically, they discuss the different phases of the Gartner Hype Cycle from inflated expectations to the trough of disillusionment. They also share tips on how you can avoid getting sucked into the cycle yourself. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell update their conversation about the internet of things (IOT). They discuss not only how the IOT has grown and developed, but the problems with it and how it has affected our expectations about smart technology. Dennis also shares about his entrepreneurial lawyering class that will be part of Michigan State University College of Law’s LegalRnD program this fall.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk to guest Whitney Johnson about disruption, the s-curve of innovation, and how these techniques can help you manage your law firm effectively. They discuss how to mentor employees based on where they land on the learning curve, including building up their strengths and pushing them to take risks. And as always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss best practices in deleting and destroying data. Whether maintaining an organized filing system or using software deletion tools, Tom and Dennis review what it looks like to effectively get rid of information you no longer want or need. They also share what stood out to them in Mary Meeker's 2018 Internet Trends Report. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
After a couple weeks of collecting connections, it’s time to declare the winner of the 2018 LinkedIn Connection Competition! Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell announce the winner of the competition as well as what they learned about LinkedIn while participating in the contest. They share what surprised them most, their best connection stories, and advice for other attorneys looking to use LinkedIn as a tool.
Having a disorganized computer can slow down your whole system but storage is more than a set it and forget it issue. Hosts Tom Mighell and Dennis Kennedy talk about both manual and automated processes to clean out the storage on your computer and mobile devices. They discuss reasons not to hoard files and the importance of finding your own method of organization and storage and sticking with it.
When it comes to incorporating technology into a business, there are three aspects to consider in order for the solution to be successful: people, process, and technology. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the pros and cons of the commonly used technology phrase, “people, process, and technology.” They talk about the three different elements of the phrase, why they are each equally important in the adoption of new technology, and the prioritization of the different aspects based on the problem at hand. They also explore the growing popularity and efficiency of facial recognition and the potential end of the password era. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell introduce a LinkedIn connection competition with guests Julie Tolek and Laurence Colletti. While explaining the game, Dennis also shares LinkedIn tips, from investing in premium to using groups, and the various benefits of dedicating time into growing your profile. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the reorganization of Microsoft and the implications of their shift in focus. They also share tips for unsubscribing from pesky emails and what makes a newsletter worth receiving. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Facebook and its relationship with Cambridge Analytica have swept through the news and sparked questions about whether Facebook can be trusted with your information. Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss why deleting Facebook altogether might be unrealistic and tricks that will help make your Facebook account more secure. They also talk about Instagram and how it both is and isn’t a reliable alternative to Facebook.
Reddit claims to be the front page of the internet but what does that look like and how does it apply to lawyers and other business professionals? In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about Reddit, what it is, and how you can and should use it as a tool in your business. In the audience question section, Dennis and Tom answer an audio question about cybersecurity for solo and small firms from ABA president-elect Bob Carlson. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
Finding news that is accurate and easy to access is a challenge in the era of “fake news,” but there are still ways to find the news you want on a daily basis. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the best and worst ways to consume the news. They cover mediums like newspapers, newsletters, apps, and the functionality of algorithms meant to provide you with relevant stories. This month on parting shots, Tom talks about travel apps and Dennis shares about Scribd. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
The amount of information humans go through every day is fairly overwhelming. From social media posts and online articles, to podcasts and emails, how can you store and organize all of this information so that it’s actually usable? Enter personal knowledge management. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their own personal knowledge management systems, analyzing what works and what doesn’t. They also explain the three basic characteristics of a successful knowledge management system. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
Ten years ago, Dennis and Tom released their co-authored book, The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together, about the techniques and technologies lawyers can use to collaborate with both clients and colleagues. A lot has changed in ten years and, in response, Dennis and Tom are releasing a second edition of their book. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how technology has changed since the first edition of their book was published and what collaboration tools are most commonly used today. They also talk about what has not changed including the strategies lawyers should use in order to collaborate successfully. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
A new year means new resolutions for Dennis and Tom. In the final 2017 episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about whether they kept last year’s resolutions, their suggestions for how to keep resolutions throughout the year, and what technology goals they have for 2018. Like their resolution episode last year, they group their goals into themes and share how they want these themes to shape the year. Dennis also makes an important announcement that heralds change for his future. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Dennis and Tom also have a resolution for their listeners! It’s an easy one too, just call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow and TextExpander.
For the final 2017 episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell host an annual recap show in three segments inspired by ESPN’s podcast “Pardon the Interruption”: Toss Up, What’s the Word, and Big Deal, Little Deal, No Deal. In these segments, Dennis and Tom discuss topics like augmented reality, voice-activated technology, and cryptocurrency. They finish up the show by rapidfire answering 6 questions in 60 seconds. Remember, if you have technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
It's incredible how far we've come with technology, but what are some everyday favorites we take for granted? In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share some of the things they are most thankful for when it comes to technology. From passwords managers and voice enabled technology to biometrics and ebooks, they talk about some of the apps and gadgets that have recently served them well. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Remember, if you have technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Although technology enables lawyers in many ways, nothing is perfect. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their biggest tech annoyances. From iPhone charging cords fraying to overzealous tech reviews, Tom and Dennis talk about all the technology apps, products, and users that drive them crazy. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience response to a previous episode about document assembly. If you have your own technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
A lot of lawyers use document assembly, but it hasn’t turned into the game-changing technology that some predicted it would be. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss why lawyers aren’t using document assembly and why this should probably change. In addition, they discuss both the benefits and pitfalls of using this technology, why standardized templates don’t really work as a replacement, and tools that make diving into document assembly software more manageable. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. If you have technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In celebration of their 200th episode, this special Kennedy-Mighell Report is composed entirely of listener questions. Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell answer questions about a wide array of topics like client portals, misused technology, and (Tom’s favorite) Bluetooth speakers. They also talk about why they continue to podcast and what motivates them to share their legal technology knowledge. Tune in for questions from Sharon Nelson, Patrick Palace, Chad Burton, Bob Ambrogi, Kevin O’Keefe, Andrew LeGrand, Liz McCausland, Scott Bassett, Adam Lockwood, Franklin Graves, and Jim Calloway. And, as always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. If you have your own technology question, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Dennis and Tom may currently be podcast pros, but there was a time when the Kennedy-Mighell Report was just an idea created in hopes to teach the latest technology trends to the legal industry. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, in anticipation of their 200th episode, reminisce on the origins of the show, including how they know so much about legal technology, getting picked up by Legal Talk Network, and the evolution of the B segment. They also discuss the direction in which they want to take the show in the future. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. For their 200th episode, Dennis and Tom would like to make the entire episode centered around audience questions. If you or a friend has a technology question, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries.
There are lots of good ways for lawyers to learn about technology, but what’s the best way? In this Kennedy Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the most effective ways to introduce technology to lawyers. They also discuss what makes a successful technology conference including lecture styles and necessary topics to cover. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience question about how to propose updates to senior partners and how to justify the expense. If you have your own technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Since interest in law school has been significantly lower than usual, lawyers have been brainstorming why this is and how to fix it. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the effect technology education could have on lower attendance numbers and the industry as a whole. They discuss the importance of teaching basic technology skills and including some of these lessons into regular classes. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience question about Consumer Reports withdrawing their recommendation from Microsoft Surface devices. If you have your own technology questions, call Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Even tech gurus can experience failures of technology or tech projects. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how to deal with failed tech projects, including when to see a struggling endeavor to the end and when to let it go. They also share the biggest causes of project failure based on their experience. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience question about collaboration tools like time zone calculators. If you have your own technology questions, call the Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Can’t afford a vacation or can’t get the time off of work to explore the world? Maybe there’s another way to transport yourself... without actually transporting yourself at all. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss virtual and augmented reality including the tools that give you the best virtual experience. They also talk about the different ways you can use virtual reality besides video games. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience question about social media etiquette for lawyers and their clients. If you have your own technology questions, the new Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline is up and running! Call 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Are drones a relevant technology for lawyers? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about drones, how they affect the legal market, and the opportunities they create for lawyers. They also discuss a lawyer’s ethical duty of competence and what it means to understand the technology involved in your cases. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. This episode features an audience question about what technology enables lawyers to work from home. If you have your own technology questions, the new Dennis and Tom’s Tech Question Hotline is up and running! Call 720-441-6820 for the answers to all your tech inquiries. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Since technology and the internet are changing at such a fast pace, it’s important to keep track of what’s shifting and how it impacts your practice. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about 2017 internet trends by reviewing the highlights of Mary Meeker’s Code Conference Report. They discuss topics like smartphone use, online advertising, the future of internet searching, and much more. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Nowadays, you can 3D print almost anything, from piggy banks and food to prosthetic limbs and replacement organs. But how can lawyers use 3D printing technology? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about 3D printing, including what it is, how to get started, and why lawyers should be interested in this growing technology. They also answer a listener question about Apple’s new HomePod and how it compares to other voice activated technology. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
While dealing with cords, adapters, battery life, and public wifi, traveling with technology has the potential to be very stressful. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer tips for traveling with technology like iPads, laptops, and phones, including their favorite travel apps. Inspire by Tom’s recent trip to Japan, they discuss using VPNs, acquiring cell phone service, and bringing the right kind and number of adapters. They also answer an audience question about how soon we’ll be able to feel the effects of artificial intelligence. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
When it comes to video conferencing, 58% of companies use some form of video chat in their daily activities. As it turns out, most lawyers fall into the remaining 42%. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the advantages of video conferencing for lawyers. Their conversation includes how lawyers are using video chatting, important security aspects, and what reliable software is out there to try. Dennis and Tom also answer an audience question posed by Deborah Savadra of Legal Office Guru about how many lawyers actually use Macs. And, as always, stay tuned for the parting shots, including one that features Heidi Alexander and the women of legal technology. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
With recent legislation targeting net neutrality, questions of how to maintain internet privacy have become increasingly relevant. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, host Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell define what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is and why it might be a good idea to invest in one to ensure your online information is secure. They also talk about fake VPN services to avoid and share which VPN services they use. In the second segment, they answer an audience question from the Honorable Joseph C. Adams regarding how to motivate lawyers to use the technology offered by a court. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Didn’t make it to ABA TECHSHOW 2017? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about what ABA TECHSHOW is, what they did at this year’s conference, and what to look for at the show in 2018. From networking to legal AI (artificial intelligence), this year’s show included classic TECHSHOW topics along with a lot of change, including hosting more women speakers than men. Next year promises to herald even more change and, in their conversation, Tom shares an exclusive announcement about ABA TECHSHOW 2018. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Snapchat and Instagram are household names, but do they belong in law firms too? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss Snapchat, Instagram, and their role in legal marketing. In the episode’s second segment, they answer an audience question from Tom Lambotte (CEO of Global Mac IT), about document assembly in the cloud and which applications function best for solos and small firms. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Nowadays, it seems like everyone, from your neighbor who writes about her nine cats to your teenage daughter who writes about makeup brushes, has a blog. Lawyers often see blogging as a means of marketing and getting to know their clients. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about what blogging looks like for lawyers and how those without blogs can start one. Their discussion includes where blogging started, how it has evolved as different mediums have developed, and tools that take some of the work out of the posting process. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom answer an audience question about diversity within technology and why there isn’t an established diverse attorney search tool. This episode’s parting shots include Data Selfie, a tool that allows you to track and analyze your social media usage, and Scribd, a “Netflix for books.” Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Sometimes, technology just doesn’t work. Whether it’s files not downloading correctly or the internet crashing, technology issues can interrupt the flow of your law firm or business. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss troubleshooting, including their own four step approach to fixing technology problems. They also talk about the importance of backing up your files and what to do when absolutely nothing else works. In their second segment, they answer an audience question about artificial intelligence and its potential in the professional world. This episode’s parting shots include the call to listen to the Note to Self podcast, specifically their privacy initiative entitled the Privacy Paradox, and a list of the top ten ways to extend your laptop’s battery life. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Whether it’s playing music, reading legal articles, or answering your question about how much sugar to put in a batch of snickerdoodles, voice-enabled technology is quickly growing in capability and popularity. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss voice-enabled technology like Amazon Echo and Google Home and the potential uses this technology has for legal professionals. They also talk about the Legal Hackers movement which is bringing together legal and tech professionals in order to create legal technology innovations. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots in which Tom describes his experience with bluetooth headphones and Dennis suggests taking a scenic train ride. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Resolutions can either herald a new, better you or remind you about all the goals you forgot you had last year. Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell address their 2016 and 2017 resolutions in this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report. Along with advice to lawyers and legal professionals about keeping their professional resolutions, Dennis and Tom share their approach to making and keeping attainable goals. As usual, they revolve their goals, both tech-related and personal, around three key words; Tom’s words are experiment, master, and learn and Dennis’ are prune, master, and learn. While expanding on what these words mean to them, they also share advice on making and keeping your own resolutions for 2017. However, the new year isn’t just about the future, it’s about looking back. From Sunrise, Meerkat, and the New York Times Now app, Dennis and Tom look back at the technology trends that breathed their last in 2016. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Inspired by accusations of over-agreement, Dennis and Tom decide to shake things up with this annual recap of 2016. In true “Pardon the Interruption” style, this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report queues up three segments designed to put hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell at odds with each other. Listeners are in for a real treat as Tom declares a winner for each stage... but is he right? Was there actual “smack talk” during the episode? Will Dennis and Tom ever agree again? You decide! Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Most internet savvy attorneys use search engines to supplement their law practice resources. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how search engines have changed over time, semantic and voice search, and the impact mobile search has had on search engines in general. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss their favorite gadgets to give as gifts this holiday season in their 2016 tech toy list. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Identifying the necessary changes to improve your law firm can be difficult. It can be even more challenging implementing those improvements and transitioning your company's culture toward a new direction. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the importance of change management and how these techniques can help attorneys improve their law practice. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss the rise of contract automation and whether or not a contract system can be fully automated. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
When discussing legal technology many attorneys perceive their cyber security risk as low and easily manageable. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the recently distributed denial of services attacks that disrupted hundreds of websites, what makes you vulnerable to these attacks, and how lawyers can better defend themselves. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss an artificial intelligence concept known as “human in the middle” and how AI will augment the future practice of law. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Many attorneys and law firms are turning toward digital content creation to better market their companies and connect with potential clients. One type of content that is increasing in popularity among legal practitioners is podcasting. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their nine years together creating podcasts, the benefits podcasting can provide to your legal career, and a few tips for attorneys interested in creating their own podcasts. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss drones and how this technology might affect the practice of law. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Ensuring that your law firm’s technology is functional, secure, and up to date requires tech savvy and constant vigilance. One of the toughest decisions, and a fairly common one, is whether you should upgrade your firm’s existing operating system to a newer one. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss popular operating systems and the risks and benefits of upgrading your software. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss how Twitter has evolved over time and the recent rumors that Twitter will be acquired. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
It is well known that there is a tech proficiency skills gap within the legal industry and that lawyers tend to be resistant to new technologies. However, is the solution to this problem simply encouraging attorneys to utilize current and new tech or should lawyers actually know how these technologies work? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the cloud, how it has changed, and whether it is more important for lawyers to implement or learn about new tech. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss apps, their popularity, and if they are still actively sought after and downloaded. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
As firms build and grow it can be hard to accurately gauge how your business stacks up against similarly sized competitors. Furthermore, with the rapid pace of technological advancements it can be challenging to stay on top of current marketplace trends for even the largest firms. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the ILTA/InsideLegal Technology Purchasing and ABA LTRC Tech surveys, what they say about current tech trends, and how law firms can use this information to gain an advantage in the marketplace. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss Blockchain technology, smart contracting, and how this technology can help law firms build trust and increase security. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their dreams for future tech innovations, the ways technology is currently failing us, and the strong reactions consumers are having to the rumors that the new iPhone 7 will not have a traditional headphone jack. Dennis shares that the catalyst for this show topic was a recent experience with aggressive drivers that made him recall a traffic accident he was in. The recklessness of the drivers and the distraction that resulted in his crash made him think that perhaps the world needs driverless vehicle technology more than ever before. Tom further emphasizes this sentiment by referencing several recent stories of individuals who, while driving, experienced heart attacks or other medical emergencies and utilized driverless car technology to safely and expediently reach the hospital. He states that humanity has to get use to the idea that computers can do things as well as, if not better than we can, and driving might be one of the last places that this occurs. Both hosts provide their wish lists of tech innovations that could improve their everyday lives, including intelligent voice recognition software that understands the context of spoken requests and a dashboard that provides sophisticated multi-platform social media management. They end the first segment with their thoughts on how these advancements could greatly benefit lawyers. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom explore why consumers are having such a negative reaction to the rumors that Apple’s iPhone 7 will not come with a headphone jack. Dennis remarks that traditional tech is disappearing faster than ever before and wonders if this is another sign of our technological future that society will have to get use to. Tom thinks that consumers are concerned about their previous tech investments, like top quality headphones, becoming obsolete and reminds us all that technology always changes and that you can either accept that evolution or give up the technology altogether. They both speculate how removing the headphone jack and utilizing the lightning port could potentially innovate the headphone as a platform. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss whether it is beneficial to take a break from technology and if increased tracking of consumers through their technology is inevitable. Dennis and Tom were both recently on vacation and during this time of seclusion Dennis started to rethink his relationship with technology. His decreased use of email and sporadic access to social media led him to question if a controlled break from technology was beneficial in simplifying one's approach to tech use. Tom stayed much more connected during his vacation and came to the conclusion that he doesn’t want to take a break from technology. Leveraging the maps, apps, and entertaining content tech provides, in his opinion, helps him to supplement the activities that he likes to do. They both encourage anyone feeling overwhelmed by tech to take an audit of their use and find ways to be more efficient and remove unsustainable habits. They end the segment with an analysis of how a complete break from technology can affect a lawyer’s practice and their relationship with their clients. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom take a look at the concept of tracking consumers through their technology and whether or not the growth of this trend is inevitable. Dennis admits that he is wary to enable tracking on his devices and that this caution is also why he doesn’t use social media often when he travels. However, he also recognizes that the services he relies upon like browser searches and mobile applications would be greatly improved if he enabled more tracking. Tom does feel that tracking is inevitable but also emphasizes that transparency over what is collected and control over how much you share is incredibly important to him. They both analyze what this complex social contract might look like as tracking capabilities and the categories that are tracked continue to increase. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell consider the increased popularity of artificial intelligence, the usefulness of chatbots, and how both innovations can impact the practice of law. Tom speculates that the current data age and the large volumes of information available for analysis have helped to enable the advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Dennis explores exactly what machine learning means and explains the three current learning types: unsupervised, supervised, and reinforced. Tom finds the technology perplexing and uses the definition of Tenser Flow to illustrate how grasping these advanced concepts requires more education and technology knowledge than the average lawyer possesses. They both discuss the AI lawyer Ross and if legal professionals should gain technical knowledge in order to influence future ethical regulations with emergent technology. They end the first segment with a list of possible ways that these advancements in tech can aid lawyers in their everyday lives. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about chatbots and how they can help lawyers with their daily tasks. Dennis proposes that they get a chatbot for the show and Tom strongly disagrees. Tom emphasizes that there are two ways to create a chatbot: programming one manually or allowing one to learn via data analysis and that he is fine observing what innovations programmers create. They both discuss how chatbots can help lawyers automate their scheduling needs and how utilizing this technology can save law practitioners valuable time. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Mobile applications are varied and cover a wide range of functions and services. What recent developments have been made with mobile apps and what are the current download trends within the industry? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about recent developments within the mobile applications industry. Dennis begins with a discussion of the mobile app economy and Apple’s move towards allowing all apps sold through their store the ability to offer auto-renewable subscriptions. Tom expresses his concern with this change in model and states that for this to be successful the app experience must provide ongoing value worth the recurring payment. He pivots the conversation to an analysis of the application boom and statements that this period has ended, and shares that 65% of smartphone users download exactly 0 applications per month. They both end the first segment with an evaluation of The ABA Legal Technology Research Center data, which found that a small percentage of lawyers have even downloaded a legal app to their phone or tablet. In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about Microsoft’s recent acquisition of LinkedIn and what this might mean for lawyers who are heavy LinkedIn users. Tom was not initially impressed by the acquisition but eventually realized that Microsoft is transitioning into a company that is selling online services to business customers. They both speculate the many ways LinkedIn and its subsidiary Lynda.com can be integrated into Microsoft’s existing product ecosystem. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Attorneys handle and process huge quantities of data each year. As data becomes more digital it will become even more important for legal professionals to have good, regimented email tidiness, or what we're calling "email hygiene." What are some data management best practices and how can lawyers maintain good inbox cleanliness? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell provide guidance principles to help lawyers improve their email hygiene. Tom challenges lawyers to identify how they perceive their emails, either as simple communications or possible business records, and encourages them to adopt an email retention policy. He emphasizes that keeping emails forever can be a liability, specifically if you are sued, and talks about the risks, costs, and productivity problems that can develop as a result of excess clutter. Tom and Dennis also analyze two types of email management styles; filing and piling, and explore practical ways to more efficiently search and manage their data for each style. They both end the first segment with application suggestions to help attorneys manage the clutter and helpful habits to keep the disorder at bay. In the second half of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about what you can do to get rid of your old cords, adapters, and other miscellaneous computer parts. Tom admits that he has major cord clutter in his garage and that he replaces these types of items immediately if he can’t find them. Dennis shares his system of storage and identification for assorted computer parts and encourages others to donate old tech gear to charity. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
More than 50 percent of internet searches today is not done by humans but rather by bots. What exactly are bots and how can industry professionals use them to improve the practice of law? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss bots and how attorneys can utilize them to improve their everyday lives. Tom explains that bots, short for web or internet robots, are applications that run automated software or scripts over the internet. This software can do relatively simple things but much faster than any human can. Dennis talks about search engines employing specific bots, known as spiders or crawlers, that read website pages and other information to create entries for their indexes. Both hosts then discuss cutting edge uses for bots like Microsoft’s Tay, an artificial intelligence chatterbot created for Twitter, and how attorneys can use simple bots for everyday tasks like creating stand-up meetings, checking deposition schedules, or aggregating case information. They then close the first half of the show by analyzing the use of customer service bots by lawyers and Tom provides some of his concerns that clients may be misled by not understanding when the bot interaction stops and the human interaction begins. In the second half of the podcast, Dennis and Tom reflect on their time at ABA TECHSHOW 2016. Dennis shares that he thinks the most interesting things that happen at conferences occur at dinners, in the halls, and at events like LexBlog and The ABA Journal’s Beer for Bloggers event. Tom views TECHSHOW as a great educational service to lawyers, providing them with resources that matter, and reveals that he would like to attend more panels than he was able to attend at this year’s conference. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Virtual reality is one of the most intriguing and highly anticipated technological advancements on the horizon. With companies like Facebook spending billions of dollars to invest in such tech, could there be applications for VR within the legal profession? How could immersion in virtual worlds improve the practice of law? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss virtual reality, the current tech on the market, and how this tech could be used in the courtroom. Tom and Dennis first provide a definition of what virtual reality is (mainly using technology to create a simulated three dimensional world that you can interact with) and explain how this technology differs from augmented reality. They both then take a look at early forms of the technology, such as Epcot Theme Park’s centrifugal motion simulator Mission: Space, and compare those experiences with current tech options like The Oculis Rift and the HTC Vive. Tom and Dennis end the first half of the show with an analysis of the best use of virtual reality for lawyers, courtroom applications, and common concerns about this technology. In the second half of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about their tips to follow when using public wifi. Dennis reveals his dislike for airplane wifi and gives his suggestions, such as tethering your phone to create a wifi hotspot and using a virtual private network, to make using these services more enjoyable. Tom also gives his advice on things you should never do, like personal banking, when using public wifi. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
More and more lawyers and business owners are noticing and implementing the new collaboration tool Slack, described by its founder as “a messaging and search platform that creates a single unified archive accessible through powerful search.” But why is this particular application gaining traction among all other options including Facebook, LinkedIn groups, or even email? Furthermore, why should lawyers pay attention?
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell noticed Slack gaining momentum in startups, nonprofit organizations, and even small and medium sized law firms, so they tried it. In their 2016 technology resolutions, Dennis and Tom both decided to learn to use Slack, and implement it in their management of this very podcast. So, after a couple of months, what was the result?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis and Tom discuss the rise of Slack, its advantages and disadvantages, and what lawyers need to know about this collaboration tool. Dennis talks about Slack’s different communication mediums including channels, direct messaging, and starring or pinning conversations and whether these mediums can actually replace email. Tom explains that Slack shines by integrating with other applications like your calendar, to-do lists, and Dropbox. But he finds issue with the pricing models and limited control over user restriction. The hosts end the segment by emphasizing that litigators and those in records management can’t ignore Slack in discovery.
In the second section of this podcast, Dennis and Tom lightly touch on the recent subject of back doors in Apple products, the FBI, and private encryption. How will Apple vs. the FBI affect data security and confidentiality? And why aren’t more lawyers using encryption today? As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
The technology lawyers use at home can differ greatly from that at work, especially in medium or large law firms. This can result in two separate technology worlds that are at best difficult to manage. Many lawyers have multiple smart phones, calendars, computer operating systems, or even versions of Microsoft Office. For some, commingling systems can be the answer, but this can cause security and organization issues. So how can we effectively bridge the gap between our dichotomous technology lives?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss managing multiple tech personalities, how to bridge the gap (or not), and ways lawyers can organize their technology. Tom mentions how iPads and other popular home devices mean people have better personal hardware. Because of this, we might need more workarounds including bring your own device (BYOD) policies at law firms, but we need to be aware of the risks and benefits. Dennis talks about the three tech crossover scenarios: totally synced, partially synced, and independent systems. Dennis and Tom then discuss how partially synced lawyers can effectively organize their tech to reduce chaos in areas like passwords, contacts, calendars, and website bookmarks.
In the second half of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about Twitter’s move away from reverse-chronological order. They talk about feed relevance, events playing out in real time, and whether they’re happy with Facebook and Amazon’s algorithm. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Notifications and reminders are useful when they remind you about your daughter’s soccer game, an upcoming meeting, or a software update. But are lawyers (and everyone else) being bombarded with too many notifications all day long? There is a difference between a calendar alert and having Omnifocus remind you what you haven’t accomplished today. Furthermore, with the development of smartwatches, notifications can constantly distract you all day long. Are we as lawyers using reminders and notifications on our programs and devices as effectively as we can? Where do we draw the line?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the life-encompassing emergence of reminders and notifications, how to control them effectively, and their benefits to lawyers’ personal and professional lives. Dennis discusses personalizing notification settings and mentions that the default settings on most apps are overkill, yet many people never modify them. Tom talks about the changing mobile platform, how email notifications can distract and drain lawyers at work, and the difference between necessary reminders and optional notifications. They finish the section with recommendations for trimming down and properly filtering your notifications so that they work for you rather than distract you unnecessarily.
In the second half of this podcast, Dennis and Tom go over the subject of application updates; should we install them the day they come out? They discuss the benefits (security) and downfalls (bugs) of automatically updating your apps and other software. Stay tuned for a Parting Shots segment with several useful podcast recommendations.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Even lawyers start the new year with at least a few resolutions. Some are predictable, falling into the usual categories like exercise or diet. However, creating legal technology based resolutions can really help your practice and overall happiness. Have you been thinking about trying a new app or learning to use one you’ve already downloaded? Does the idea of starting a blog or finding a new podcast interest you? Do you need some ideas?
To help listeners with some ideas, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their 2016 technology resolutions in this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report. They contemplate the usefulness of resolutions in general, examine their 2015 goals and whether they were completed, and make a new set of legal tech resolutions for the upcoming year. Using a system of threes, Dennis and Tom set up general and specific resolutions including online content and engagement, learning to use new tools, digital organization and pruning, and collaboration with other lawyers. Tune in and compare your goals with theirs; maybe you’ll decide to add one more!
In the second half of this podcast, Dennis and Tom recommend previous Kennedy-Mighell Report episodes that new listeners might want to try. Sometimes legal technology discussions don’t stand the test of time, but many of their previous podcasts are still applicable today. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In 2015, we were introduced to a plethora of tools designed to make lawyers’ lives easier. However, not every legal professional has the same technological needs, and not every lawyer knows how to find the most useful tools for him or herself. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell ring in the new year by sharing their favorite apps, websites, gadgets, and technology advice of 2015. They cover their favorite task management tools, cloud and Dropbox service options, search tools, news sources, VPNs, password managers, polling software, and much more. Tune in for a debate on whether the Microsoft Surface Pen is better than Apple’s Pencil and website suggestions for any lawyer who wants to use technology better.
In the second half of this podcast, Tom and Dennis discuss where they discover their best legal tech tips. Their sources include Twitter, panels they’ve attended like ‘30 Legal Tech Tips in 30 Seconds,’ and RSS feeds where they can get links from colleagues and friends in the legal tech world. The hosts wrap up their inaugural 2016 podcast with Parting Shots, the section that always includes tips that you’ll be able to start using as soon as you’re finished listening to the podcast.
With the introduction of the iPad and other tablets and now touch screen computers like the Surface Pro and the Apple Pro, we seem to be moving further away from an exclusively keyboard/trackpad existence. Furthermore, with the introduction of Stylus Pens for tablets, is the keyboard on its way out completely? With an increase in the use of keyboard shortcuts and the average typing speed, maybe not. But with a new generation of children being raised with touchscreen devices, the keyboard-exclusive landscape of computer use is bound to change.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell speculate on whether the pen or the finger is mightier than the keyboard. Is using a keyboard and mouse trackpad “normal”? Do you have to be a good typist to use a computer efficiently anymore? Why hasn’t the stylus replaced the legal pad? Is dictation the inevitable replacement for the keyboard, stylus, and finger? Tune in for Tom and Dennis’s take on the future of lawyers' interactions with computers.
In the second half of this podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss "cord cutting” or the practice of canceling cable subscriptions and replacing them with app consumption products like Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire. Although neither host has “cut the cord,” they analyze the benefits of individual subscription based networks like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Now and whether they offer a replacement or simply a supplement to traditional television. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
On the Internet, content may be king, but monetization through advertising runs a close second. But today’s ads seem more aggressive, intrusive, and annoying than ever. We’ve recently seen a return to a category of tools long known as ad blockers. What are the implications of ad blockers to lawyers and will they change the consumer’s Internet experience?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the return of ad-blocking technology, whether advertisements are still important in the online marketplace, and what this might mean for lawyers. They discuss the different types of ads from full page overlays, hard to find automatic sounds, Twitter or Facebook promotions, and the many pop-ups that are easy to accidently click on and hard to close. In the past, Dennis says, pop-ups became excessive and many people were using ad-blocking technology, but as browsers adapted, the need for ad blockers was reduced. Dennis also talks about the effect on bloggers, malware and security, and the alternatives he would like to see in the increasingly personalized Internet of 2015. Tom explains how YouTube, Google, and Apple are effectuating change and how he would like the option to pay for no advertisements, like in free versus paid apps. Finally, they discuss significance for lawyers with regard to ethical rules and technology competence and potential evidence for court.
In the second half of this podcast, Tom gives an early report on his new Windows Surface Book. Dennis chimes in to mention the similarities and differences of his Macbook. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots: that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell examine the features of the iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface Pro, leverage Tom’s expertise on both platforms, and help listeners determine which choice might make the most sense for them.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
The 2015 ILTA/InsideLegal Technology Purchasing Survey and the 2015 ABA Legal Technology Survey results are in! Listen to Dennis and Tom discuss key results from these important legal tech surveys, highlight the most interesting trends, and discuss ways that lawyers can use these results to inform and tailor their technology plans for the coming year.
In the second half of this podcast, the hosts talk about their experiences with the Amazon Echo personal digital assistant.
From Fitbits and Apple Watches to robotic exoskeletons, we have entered the age of wearable technology. While this development has definite implications for a lawyer’s ethical duty of technology competence, it will also change how lawyers use technology in their practices. Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the increase in development of wearable technologies, the benefits for early adopters, and how the nature of legal practice will change.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the changing nature of reading (or listening to) books, talk about modern ways of reading, and share summer reading lists and ideas. In the second half of the podcast, Dennis and Tom discuss how The Florida Bar has dramatically changed their stance on technology.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the popularity of podcasting due to improving quality, popular podcasts like “Serial,” similar content intake forms like Netflix, and the ability to consume them on your own timeframe. They also examine the concept of “The Golden Age of Podcasting”; is this just a buzz phrase or are we really reaching a peak in podcast popularity? In a very flattering way, they suggest that their lawyer listeners try more Legal Talk Network podcasts and recommend ways of searching for new ones. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Lawyers have been paying attention to the Microsoft Surface Pro and how the combo or hybrid laptop/tablet might be an ideal combination for a law practice. The release of Windows 10 is impending (skipping Windows 9) and some have called Windows 10 the “last release” of the operating system. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look Microsoft and the Windows platform, what Windows-using lawyers can expect, and the potential pros and cons of using a Microsoft Surface Pro for your practice.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell analyze recent discussions about artificial intelligence and lawyers, try to separate myth from reality, and ponder whether AI can take over the work of lawyers. Together, they discuss the definition of AI, robotics, Technology Assisted Review, driverless cars, document assembly software, LegalZoom and how lawyers are assisted or threatened by these technologies. Dennis points out that lawyers are often worried about computer system mistakes but comfortable with the lower success rate of humans. Tom aptly explains that comfort in certain technologies stems from psychological acceptance.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
“Invisible apps” are background programs that automatically trigger functions without being opened. Examples include automatic notification or emails based on a trigger, a personal concierge, or a password manager. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss invisible apps, how they might impact or benefit lawyers, and whether they are the leading edge of a much more significant mobile technology wave.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss recent commentary on the last decade of blawging, the current state of blawging, and the future of online interaction and marketing for lawyers. They discuss whether legal blogs are still popular, how the online landscape has changed for legal professionals, and what might be replacing the personal law blog. Tom notes that due to podcasts, social media, and general writing exhaustion, individual lawyers are updating less often or have stopped all together. Dennis talks about how there are more law firm and group blogs that are SEO optimized and targeted for marketing. They both agree that blawging is not dead, but has changed remarkably in the past ten years. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell reflect on their experiences at TECHSHOW 2015, share notes on legal technology trends and products, and have the aftershow discussion that they didn’t have time to have at the show. In a general overview, Kennedy discussed spending time at the concierge desk and catching up with old connections. Mighell commented on how the conference is about building relationships, gaining outstanding technology education, and interacting personally with vendors. The hosts also discuss top highlights from TECHSHOW, new products that excited them (pay attention for Legal Earth, Zola, and others), and the Appathon hosted by the ABA Legal Technology Research Center (LTRC). Finally, Kennedy and Mighell analyze whether similar conferences are still relevant as and how TECHSHOW might be adapted to a global legal community in the future.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss why legal technology projects fail, the human element of legal technology, and why Woldow and Richardson’s blog post should launch some important conversations. When addressing the fundamental problems lawyers have with technology (a common subject) Kennedy believes lawyers seek an unachievable standard; they want something impossibly intuitive and easy to use that fills all management and accounting needs. He also mentions that efficiency technologies are counter-intuitive to the billable hour. Mighell believes that lawyers will only adopt technology through client or management pressure and encouragement. In the end, they both agree that technology can be used to streamline or automate busywork, leaving more time for quality legal analysis. Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell explain why shadow IT happens, discuss implications to the company’s IT and legal departments, and suggest steps employers can take to resolve the prevalence of shadow IT in their own companies (hint: it doesn’t involve more regulations). Kennedy and Mighell describe the different forms of shadow IT that have been used over time, from personal instant messaging before companies introduced accepted ones, to current cloud-based softwares like Basecamp and Dropbox used for project management and collaboration. Mighell even suggests that backing up your email on a home computer can be considered shadow IT due to issues created in data preservation and discovery. Shadow IT causes issues for IT departments, because they can’t control the hardware and software being used, legal departments, because of regulatory issues in electronic discovery, and even human resources departments due to unseeable employee interactions. Tune in to hear what Kennedy and Mighell explain as a relatively simple solution to technology workarounds.
Lawyers often focus on the core elements of hardware technology: computers, tablets, and smartphones. However, the best experiences with hardware are driven by and dependent on the way we accessorize and personalize them. Most people choose their technology accessories based on word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, family, colleagues, or other connections. So what are lawyers using and buying today? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about accessorizing technology, discuss some of their favorite accessories, and recommend ways lawyers can accessorize their smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Kennedy and Mighell have some favorites that they want to share and they would like to hear about your favorites too!
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell reexamine the paperless office, survey the current process of going paperless, and speculate as to whether the era of the paperless office might have actually arrived. Kennedy muses the “if it comes to you in paper, it stays in paper” mentality of lawyers. While he points out that many of the themes around going paperless are processor powers, speed, bandwidth, the cloud, smartphones, and apps, his true hangup is with storage and organization. With an optimistic mentality, Mighell discusses getting more lawyers to use scanners, making sure they are never presented with paper copies, and how apps like Genius Scan and Evernote can facilitate the process of going completely paperless. Both Kennedy and Mighell agree that the only way to effectively go paperless is to start with a process and build good habits. Luckily, it’s tax season!
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Tom Mighell interviews Dennis Kennedy about LegalTech New York 2015, covering highlights from the show and what this year’s event might tell us about future trends in legal technology. As always, e-discovery was a big topic, with an estimated 54% of the vendors falling within the e-discovery category. Kennedy speculates that information governance will be a focus for 2015 as the legal community shifts toward records management, predictive coding, and TAR (Technology Assisted Review). This year boasted fewer new product announcements but many upgrades and new generations. Some interesting collaboration and matter management tools were announced, and Kennedy shares the coolest new thing he saw: an analytics tool that takes a dashboard approach with a user interface reminiscent of an app.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell revisit speech recognition technology, look at the ways people are dictating text today, and discuss arguments for and against using it in your law practice. Mighell discusses how faster speeds and improvement in broadband for Siri, Google Now, Cortana, and other tools have made speech recognition a hot topic. He personally uses dictation most often when sending texts from his smartwatch, but he runs into connectivity issues. Kennedy has recently tried dictation again, yielding relatively successful results, but he would not use it to draft full documents. He discusses lawyers’ interest in full-time dictation, using an application like Dragon Dictation, and how younger lawyers come into the workplace with the ability to type faster and more efficiently than any speech recognition program. Both Kennedy and Mighell agree that the success of speech recognition technology depends mostly on social and cultural acceptability.
Lawyers, even solos, are constantly working with experts, opposing counsel, court officials, and colleagues. Dennis and Tom like to keep an eye on new developments and the current state of collaboration tools and technologies, which they consider one of the most important, yet under-appreciated, areas of legal technology. In 2008, they wrote a book together called The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies, which gives suggestions about the bigger collaboration platforms and smaller discrete tools that lawyers can use to work together. In the last seven years, many collaboration tools have changed but a lot of systems have stayed the same. What's happening in 2015 and what developments do you need to know about and incorporate into your work?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell survey the current landscape for collaboration tools, trends and best practices, and what lawyers should be doing to make better use of these tools. They begin by examining their book and the collaboration tools that have disappeared or morphed into different programs. Kennedy mentions that Sharepoint, Wikis, Instant Messaging, Adobe Acrobat, and Microsoft Office Suite can all be used by attorneys and staff to work together, although Mighell is skeptical that many law firms actually use any of these. Both hosts maintain that lawyers almost exclusively use email for collaboration, although they believe future generations of lawyers will introduce a new perspective on technology use. They finish the first section by mentioning social media and listing other underutilized tools for lawyers who work with others on many cases.
In the second portion of the show, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The CES revealed the latest consumer technologies to expect throughout the year. They discuss the best and worst of drones, wearables, or new selfie technologies. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow
Every new year brings a new opportunity to "start fresh" and get something done that you might not have accomplished in the previous year. As we look ahead to 2015, we start to think about our legal technology resolutions for the coming year. There are often new technologies for lawyers that did not exist in the previous years and new ways of automating or organizing their lives. What are some specific, measurable, actionable, and realistic legal tech goals that can be made for the coming year?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their personal legal technology resolutions for 2015, how to get started making your own technology resolutions, and how last year's resolutions have turned out. The hosts first suggest some general resolutions including turning on Find My iPhone, going paperless, using a password manager, and backing up in 3 different ways. They then talk about their own resolutions. Kennedy aspires to prune down his data intake from things such as podcasts and rss feeds, look into automating as many repetitive tasks as possible, revisit old systems which might be improved by 2015 technologies including the cloud, broadband access, increased storage, or processing power, and to simply try something new. Mighell is looking to learn new Microsoft Office skills in Access, Excel, and Project, start creating more content for his blogs, try a new platform with Microsoft Surface Pro 3, and also automate repetitive tasks using If This Then That and other tools. Both hosts express that it is important for lawyers to increase their technology experience each year and resolutions are a useful way to structure and inspire new learning.
In the second half of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell review and analyze the legal technology resolutions they set for 2014. Mighell wished to learn about his new Mac and be able to work on multiple platforms and get his certification in privacy. Kennedy aspired to revamp his website, become a successful Evernote user, and take his backup to the next level. Tune in to hear whether they achieved their goals.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Serve Now.
As we reach the end of 2014, it's time to look back at the world of legal technology and some of the best advancements, worst fails, popular trends, and developments of the year. Using this information, trends and events can be predicted for 2015. What are the odds that two or more state bar disciplinary groups will issue rules about lawyers using technologies that will baffle lawyers that actually use that technology? It's time to answer this and other questions about the way lawyers are interacting with new technology.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell adopt the ESPN "Pardon the Interruption" approach to take a fast-paced, broad-based look at the past year, contribute a few thoughts on 2015, and give lawyers some ideas of what they can be doing with legal technology.
Toss Up
In their first section, "Toss Up," Kennedy and Mighell each take opposing sides of such debates as:
Phones or Phablets?
Passwords or Advanced Security Techniques?
To Cloud or Not to Cloud?
Is more/better innovation coming from outside or within the legal service provider market?
Was 2014 a big year for new technologies?
What's the Word
In the second section, "What's the Word," the hosts analyzes the way lawyers are interacting with technology. They consider subjects such as human document review versus predictive coding, how lawyers use social media, the impact of the Windows Surface Tablet, bring your own device (BYOD), and lawyers facing technology choices.
Odds Makers
The third section of the podcast, "Odds Makers," is about the predictions of legal technology stories in 2015. Kennedy and Mighell hypothesize the chance that certain events will happen over the next year. The following questions are approached:
How many lawyers will discuss their appreciation for WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS?
How likely is it that a lawyer's next computer will be a Mac?
What are the odds that a lawyer will attend a conference about legal technology?
Will the new "killer app" for lawyers appear in 2015?
Play along with the hosts as they give their predictions and let them know your take on legal technology for 2014 and 2015!
As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast end.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Serve Now.
As friends, colleagues, and clients documented their Thanksgiving holiday on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it was made clear how big a role social media plays in the personal and professional lives of lawyers. Because it is so prevalent and necessary, social media can also be very overwhelming for many who are trying to maintain their online presence. But most lawyers know that engaging with others on social media is not optional anymore. So should they be posting on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, and all other mediums? How many reposts, "likes," or comments are the right amount? What is a good system or management tool for self-promotion or law firm marketing? Now is a good time to take stock of your social media use and try to control it before it controls you.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the overwhelming nature of social media, ways lawyers can manage their personal or professional social media, and moving past the guilt of not posting or engaging enough. Kennedy discusses being a "grumpy old man" with the changes in social media that result in ads, sponsored posts, promoted tweets in his various feeds. He also analyzes posting on social media versus consuming information through it and the guilt he feels from not commenting or engaging enough with other people's posts. Mighell breaks down his process which includes writing a blog and then promoting it using what he considers the most important social mediums for lawyers: Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter. Both use a social media dashboard like Hootsuite to manage posting and try to automate the process as much as possible. They also encourage lawyers to choose one or two social media platforms to focus on in order to not become overwhelmed, actually enjoy the process, and have a lot of influence in one place instead of a little influence everywhere. Don't forget, social media information consumption is like dipping a cup into a river and only catching a small sample.
In the second part of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell discuss their favorite technology gifts and guides for the holiday season. Kennedy reminds everyone to think of the recipient when purchasing tech gifts and keep things practical. Mighell gives some specific gift suggestions including the Moto 360 Watch, Logitech Keys to Go, and Jaybird Bluebuds X Bluetooth headphones as well as gift guides from The Verge and The Wirecutter.
As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast end.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Serve Now.
There has been recent talk of a "Podcast Renaissance," in which podcasts are better than ever and people have begun to appreciate the value of the podcast medium for education and entertainment. Who are we to disagree? There are educational podcasts, political podcasts, legal podcasts, technology podcasts, entertainment podcasts, and podcasts that combine subjects. There are podcasts that review books, recordings from live radio shows, lecture recordings, and informational interviews. With all of these options, how are people finding and listening to the podcasts that are right for them, how have these processes changed, and why are some people not listening to podcasts at all? Are podcast listeners only touching the surface of the potential value?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the fundamentals of podcast listening and subscribing, ways to enhance your podcast listening experience, and suggestions of their favorite podcasts. Kennedy provides a technical description of podcasts, delivery of media (usually audio) online through an RSS feed, but explains that they also tend to be episodic, you can subscribe to them, and they serve as a radio replacement. His system of podcasting involves researching topics or speakers that spark his interest, filtering and organizing individual podcasts by length, and listening to them at 1.5X the speed while he commutes or works out. He notes that podcasts are becoming more popular because of increased user control and the ability to use them on any device: iPod, tablet, smartphone, laptop, or desktop. Mighell adds that the rise in podcasting is due to increasingly sophisticated apps that allow users to speed up the podcasts, create categories, and control downloads. His alternative system of podcast listening is more streamlined. He subscribes to 20 or 30 regular podcasts and downloads, organizes, and listens to them all on his phone while walking the dog, in the car, or working out. Both hosts use Huffduffer, but Mighell uses it to create a mini feed for things that aren't syndicated while Kennedy uses it as a search engine for podcast topics or speakers that interest him.
While it is helpful to suggest different ways of consuming podcasts, listeners might also be interested in podcast suggestions. In the second part of the show, the hosts share their favorite podcasts. Tom Mighell mostly listens to podcasts that help him keep up with trends in technology, news, and politics, although he also enjoys Serial from the creators of This American Live. Dennis Kennedy's collection of podcasts range from news, sports, and business, to entertainment anyone could enjoy.
As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Recent statistics indicate that there will be more than 100 billion app downloads in 2014. Although there are more than a million apps available for download on the iOS and Android platforms, most users tend to rely on a core set of around two dozen apps. Lawyers have been using fewer legal apps in their practice but they still actively use other apps for work and in their personal lives. Apps for travel, productivity, presentations, and document management are sharing space on lawyers' home screens with social, mobile, and entertainment apps. With all this availability, how and where are lawyers using the apps on their smartphones and tablets?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the current state of apps, what apps they actually use and why, and offer some advice for lawyers choosing and using apps. Mighell explains the difficulty recommending legal apps due to bad quality with the exception of litigation apps such as WestlawNext, Lexis Advanced, and Fastcase. He uses apps mainly for consuming information, with app categories such as news, travel, productivity, photography, and others for his personal life. Kennedy discusses having most-used apps on the home screen of his smartphone, how he uses apps for consistent updates, and that he mostly has ones for his personal life including ESPN, Omnifocus, U Verse, Feedly, and Podcasts. Together, Kennedy and Mighell examine the lack of dashboard or portal app use and which tablet might work best with a lawyer's practice or personal life. Even though lawyers are not using legal apps, they are still using many others to facilitate their lives.
In the second segment of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell think back nostalgically about the days of Web 1.0. They discuss the simpler digital era, revival apps and websites such as Ello, the Facebook Room's app, and tilde.club, and the booming advertising on today's internet. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
The College of Law Practice Management recently held its 2014 Futures Conference at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. This conference brings together members of the College of Law Practice Management and young innovative lawyers to discuss what the future of law practice might look like and how the attendees might provide an influential voice. Dennis and Tom participated in the program and came away with some interesting insights about the direction innovative lawyers are headed. They also have some feedback about what worked for the conference and what they might have changed.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the 2014 Futures Conference, the future of law practice, and the role technology is likely to play in that future. The conference, they explain, featured programming as well as an innovation discussion surrounding a "Ted Talks" then "Shark Tank" concept of quickly coming up with ideas and then collaborating to develop the best of them. Mighell noted the most common ideas involved providing services to underserved demographics who don't have proper access to legal resources. He discusses the importance of narrowing and developing broad concepts and whether we should revisit old ideas in light of new technology. Kennedy wishes there had been more group time to develop ideas. He also discusses balancing programming and free time in the College of Law Practice Management's Futures Conference and another he attended this year. Overall, both enjoyed the conference, and were please to see that Suffolk Law School is teaching legal technology, process improvement, project management so new lawyers can be "practice ready".
After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the new iPads that were released, the benefits of each, and the excitement (or lack of excitement) surrounding tablets. Kennedy tentatively decides on the iPad Air 2 with 64 gigabytes, Applecare, a smart cover, and the Apple wireless keyboard. Tom notes the thinness of the new iPads and the decreasing enthusiasm for buying new iPads. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Most of us assume that lawyers are slow adopters of technology because that's what we hear all the time. ILTA's InsideLegal Survey and the ABA Technology Survey are annual surveys of lawyers that provide some data about the actual usage of technology by lawyers. Because these surveys are voluntary, they give a big picture of changing trends rather than specific accurate data. Does the common assumption that lawyers are technologically behind still hold true in 2014?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell analyze the results of 2014 ILTA-InsideLegal survey, the 2014 ABA Technology Survey and recommend ways lawyers can use these surveys to benefit their practice or clients. Mighell notices that in 2014 lawyers are adopting fewer new technologies compared with an increase in mobile technology and cloud computing from the previous two years. He explains that the major purchases have been pretty standard: hardware upgrades, server upgrades, and new laptops and desktops. Although Kennedy also noticed the lag in exciting results from the surveys, he emphasizes that these surveys are voluntarily taken by lawyers interested in technology, so there might be more progress in less tech savvy demographics. He also mentions the most exciting lawyer technology trends mobile, virtualization, cloud services, wearable technologies, and discusses the shift in tablet use and security.
In the second segment, Kennedy and Mighell discuss why young lawyers do not often attend legal technology conferences, how they could benefit from the conferences, and the disconnect between what young lawyers think they know about technology and what they still need to learn. Listen to the end for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
With fall fast approaching, you can be sure of two things: football games and new phones! Apple and other vendors recently announced new editions of their phones, as well as some interesting new gadgets. With new options like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch, iOS 8, and Apple Pay, Apple-using lawyers need to think about which products they need (or want) and how to make the best use of them. But what about those lawyers who have moved to other product vendors such as Android? Most lawyers could use an update on the newest technology to make informed autumn purchases.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new Apple devices, thoughts on the new features of iOS 8, and what lawyers should think about if they haven't already purchased a new phone lately. They discuss the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, embracing the "phablet," and how most people use their smartphone as more of a mobile computer than a phone. They also discuss other new products such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 watch, and why lawyers might prefer Android or Apple products. With the release of iOS 8 comes new exciting features such as extensions, alternate keyboards, and widgets, but both Kennedy and Mighell had to deal with long downloading times. They wrap up the first part of this podcast by examining the future of Apple Pay, why it might succeed where Google Wallet failed, and how lawyers could utilize these changes to get ahead in their practice.
After the break, the Kennedy and Mighell discuss the Apple Watch and other wearable technology in more detail. As people begin to use wearable devices to gain and save information, the amount of discoverable data will increase immensely and it will be important for lawyers to pay attention. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Because lawyers often need to get up to speed on a topic quickly, most find that they can learn almost anything on the Internet, provided they can find the appropriate tools and resources. In the short term, lawyers often need to do quick research for a speech, webinar, or to talk to a specialist about a subject. More lasting knowledge is needed for specific case and client knowledge, starting a new position or job, or learning about new technology. With all of the online resources available, how can a lawyer quickly get started gaining a solid foundation in knowledge of a new subject?
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers can accelerate their learning process, where to find quality learning tools online, and their favorite ideas and tips. Kennedy and Mighell both agree that it is important to consider the subject matter, how quickly it needs to be learned, and what method works best for each individual lawyer. While both prefer Wikipedia as a starting place to gain knowledge, Kennedy prefers podcasts, audiobooks, and presentation slides as sources of more detailed information. Mighell prefers blogs and online university courses, although he emphasizes that the user is responsible for quality control and management. In the end, each lawyer should consider how he/she learned best during school, and use the Internet as a resource while trying not to waste time searching for documents.
After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the overuse of the "reply to all" button in emails, why people prefer to respond to everyone involved, and the proper etiquette for sending emails at work. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
"All right, Mr. Demille, ready for my close-up." Video phone calls have been talked about for many years, from the time this famous line appeared in the movie Sunset Boulevard. Videoconferences are becoming widely used in law firms and other businesses; many lawyers, legal professionals, and HR departments are using them to provide the feel of a meeting room without the time and expense of traveling. Therefore, it is important for professionals to be prepared for the technical and visual components of their next video chat.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the rise of video use in calls and online meetings, the challenges and opportunities of video, and how lawyers can prepare for their video close-up. They consider several features that would improve videoconference services such as chat, screenshare, group messaging, and multi-platform compatibility and compare Zoom.us to Google hangouts and other platforms. In addition to examining personal visual components such as lighting, dress code, and in etiquette in each video conference lawyers also need to understand the ethical implications of recording witnesses or discussing strategy. In these instances they can be left with discoverable electronic data.
As their second topic, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the current state of portable computing and whether touch screens and combo laptops might be a better personal option when replacing older laptops. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that can be used the second this podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
While preparing for a trial, gathering documents for a transaction, or simply running errands, most lawyers face each day with an overwhelming number of things to get done. From simply remembering them all to putting the list into proper priorities, every legal professional could use some help. How can technology play a role in bringing the list of to-dos under control? What are some questions lawyers should ask when choosing a to-do task management tool?
In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss taming the to-do list, their own approaches to using technology to help with task management, and questions every lawyer should ask when looking for a management tool to suit their needs.
Kennedy shapes his list management around David Allen's "Getting Things Done," a system which allows him to see his weekly calendar as a big picture and sort priorities to avoid being overwhelmed by the enormous list of projects.
Mighell says lawyers should watch for eight essential functions when looking for the right task manager:
Available on Multiple Platforms
Ease of Entry
Recurring Tasks
Multi-List Capable
Assign Priority Levels
GTD Functionality
Notes and Attachments
Ability to Share Task Lists
He recommends every lawyer weigh the importance of each of these before choosing a task management tool. Both @DennisKennedy and @TomMighell stress that this is a personal choice and ask the listeners for feedback on the to-do technologies they like best.
After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the recent tech news story about Russian cybercriminals accumulating a hoard of more than a billion user passwords. They examine whether lawyers should be worried about this data breach, and what they should do to protect their online accounts. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Lawyers often focus on how they can use technology to improve the efficiency and quality of their legal services. However, technology has additionally started to change what people in other professions provide to their clients, even to the point of changing the meaning of "services." Professionals are now creating products that provide revenue in the form of royalties, thereby exceeding what can be made in billable hours. These include books written about new forms of technology, tax guides, answers to common questions, convenient apps, and even software. Is this a "Big Idea" that lawyers should also be considering as they think about the ways they might use technology?
In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers might begin "productizing" services, some ideas about how to create successful products, and the legal and ethical implications of providing this information. Kennedy explains that products such as books or apps providing tips on marketing, finance, general management, or technology are valuable to lawyers. Most often, the lawyer or firm has already done the research required, and simply needs to create a means for selling it. Kennedy recommends several ways lawyers should get started: analyze what other lawyers are doing successfully, look closely at the strengths within your firm, and learn by trying certain products even though they might fail. Mighell points out that the concept of creating products out of your firm is not a simple process, rather it requires a lot of thought and should not be gone into as a whim.
After the break Kennedy and Mighell ask anyone who thinks they might be the right candidate to write a book providing information on technology for lawyers to reach out and let them know. They emphasize that many lawyers underestimate their own level of experience and offer to provide subject ideas. Tweet @DennisKennedy and @TomMighell or click the link below to download a proposal form. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
According to a variety of surveys, the sales of tablets now exceed the sales of laptops and desktop PCs. In a few short years, iPads have made huge inroads into the legal market and are often part of a lawyer's standard toolkit. In addition to using an iPad for texting, editing documents, consulting a calendar, and email, lawyers are using apps specifically designed for trial presentations and practice organization. In the third edition of his popular book, iPad in One Hour for Lawyers, Tom Mighell teaches lawyers how to use their iPad effectively in their practice.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy interviews Mighell about his latest insights on the iPad, recommendations for lawyers and other legal professionals, and what might be next in the world of iPads. Mighell explains why lawyers might choose different tablets such as Android, Windows Surface, or the iPad and benefits of each one. It is important that lawyers pay attention to the main issues and changes with the latest iPad hardware such as new features in iOS 7 accessibility, Notification Pane, Control Panel, AirDrop, and using Siri to improve productivity.
Kennedy and Mighell also discuss the reason they implement some "easy tips" that they read or hear about and why so many are ignored or forgotten quickly. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Do you often do fresh searches on the same topics even though you've previously found good information? "Curation" is the word used to describe the process of collecting, organizing, and using good information you've found when you need it. Some people also think of this approach as personal knowledge management. This means having an archive of reasonably up-to-date and interesting information from various sources that can be accessed and used for a legal article, podcast, blog post, or social media presence. Knowledge management is a form of information organization that has caught on widely in larger law firms, but has not had as much traction with lawyers in smaller practices or solos. These small-practice lawyers can use tools like Evernote to create a platform for their own personal knowledge management.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss curation and personal knowledge management including tools and techniques, ways to improve success, common difficulties, and their own personal experiences. They describe the three important aspects involved in sustaining a successful knowledge management system: collecting the information in one place, organizing it for later access, and using the collected information for legal clients or marketing when it might apply. While Kennedy and Mighell prefer Evernote as an organizational tool, there are many other options including Excel Spreadsheets, bookmarks, Instapaper, Pocket, Readability, or using PDF files. Their suggestions for curation and long-term knowledge management involve finding the right tool, designing systems around personal habits, and mentally focusing on long-term success.
In the second part of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell review the announcements made at the 2014 Google I/O conference including smart watches, Android TV, a "kill switch" for smartphones and many others. They also comment on a couple of hot topic items that were avoided in the conference's keynote speech. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Many people, including lawyers, are using an organizational tool called Evernote and are singing its praises. They are enthusiastic about its capacity to capture all types of information in many formats, to organize information into useful notebooks, and to enable access to that information across multiple platforms. In a time when almost everything is done online, Evernote is a user-friendly web service that can help lawyers stay organized, freeing up time for marketing and taking on new clients.
In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about their own use of Evernote and how Evernote might work well for you in a legal practice. They examine photo recognition, scanning business cards and connecting to LinkedIn, collecting and organizing information for case research, and many more ways in which Evernote can make an attorney's life more efficient. They also discuss downsides to using the tool; there are ethical dilemmas that incur when retaining sensitive client information in a cloud-based tool.
Kennedy and Mighell also briefly reflect on how printing physical copies has changed and how lawyers will think of hard copies in the future. Stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second this podcast ends.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Does the standard approach to the website homepage still make sense in the era of social media? Some feel that the role of the homepage on your website has so diminished in importance (and traffic) that it is no longer relevant. Is it time for a new approach? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss what people mean when they claim the website home page is dead, what role the standard website now plays, and what practical steps you might take to improve your web presence.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
During their many years of public speaking, one of the biggest challenges Tom and Dennis have encountered is the webinar format. There are a lot of moving parts and some unique challenges. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how webinars differ from in-person presentations, how to prepare for and avoid common pitfalls when presenting on webinars, and practical tips for novice and veteran presenters.
Tom and Dennis do a lot of speaking, often as part of a panel. Most presentations these days take the form of a panel or other multi-speaker format. Presenting with others is quite different from presenting alone. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the advantages and disadvantages of panel presentations, how to prepare for and avoid common pitfalls and practical tips for novice and veteran presenters.
Hosts Tom Mighell and Dennis Kennedy have done a lot of public speaking at events like ABA TECHSHOW. Over the years, they've developed insights about using new platforms and how to avoid technology-related obstacles. On this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis and Tom discuss recent presentation lessons, practical tips for novice and veteran presenters, and some thoughts about better ways to do presentations. In the second segment, they address the open source SSL security issues associated with Heartbleed as well as their parting shots, their one tip recommendations for listeners to try.
Tom and Dennis recently attended ABA TECHSHOW 2014, one of the premier annual legal technology conferences. While there, they observed many interesting trends, saw innovative products, and met with numerous industry professionals. On this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss TECHSHOW highlights, what interested them most, and their reflections on the current state of legal technology. Tune in to learn more about the How-To sessions, Legal Technology Solutions Lab, and Speakers.
Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.
Since 2009, the FBI has warned that law firms have cybersecurity problems with potentially far-reaching consequences. Changes to ethical rules, as a result of the American Bar Association's Ethics 20/20 effort, have clarified that keeping up with technology is a component of attorney competence. Where do ethics rules and cybersecurity measures intersect? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss cybersecurity in the context of legal ethics, how ethical rules place demands on lawyers to take security measures, and practical approaches to the vital issue of cybersecurity.
Over the past few months, the legal industry has seen various conferences discussing innovation, disruption, and reinvention in the delivery of legal services. One of these events is the Forum on Legal Evolution, held this February in New York, at which Dennis was an attendee. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the Forum, some of the innovative ideas about technology presented at the conference, and what this and other future-looking projects might mean for lawyers and the practice of law.
On any given day, we do a large number of repetitive tasks on our computers, tablets and smartphones. We also type the same email messages over and over, insert the same language into legal documents and open the same web pages on a regular basis. By automating some of these repetitive actions, we can become more productive and obtain peace of mind. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss simple ways to benefit from automating repetitive actions, available tools to use, and how to get started in simplifying your life in small and helpful ways.
The rise of cloud computing has made it easier for lawyers to live in multiple tech worlds, whether it's Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. This phenomenon is becoming a trend that affects many people and is changing how we think about, talk about, and use technology. On this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss living in multiple tech worlds simultaneously, how this changes our experience of technology, and practical ways to prepare and adjust to this growing trend.
In a world of automatic updates and remote storage, are attorneys still controlling their practices? Are we forgetting valuable information as our machines take over? In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the pros and cons of trading control for increased productivity.
Is your legal practice less efficient because of out-of-date technology? In today's world of accelerating change, it can be difficult to keep up with client expectations. In this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal technology experts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss New Year's tech resolutions. The topics include using instant messaging, implementing social media, updating operating systems, and much more. Tune in to find new ways to future-proof your practice or firm.
The annual Q and A episode has arrived. In this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will answer the technology questions that listeners have sent in throughout the year. Topics include the addition of technological competence to the ethical rules, the death of certain social media platforms, tech trends for 2014, and Dennis and Tom spring some surprise questions on each other.
Technology can be baffling. Some of legal tech’s toughest questions have been around for 20 or 30 years with no simple answer – but that doesn’t mean we stop trying to solve them. In this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will discuss legal-tech conundrums, how to answer them, and how far legal technology has really come.
As we approach the gift-giving season, the new iPads are here. Will you be purchasing the newest model for yourself or as a gift, or are you still wondering what’s different and new? In this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new iPad Air and iPad Mini with retina display, how the newest iPads reflect how we use technology, and which model makes the most sense for lawyers. The second half of the show will cover the findings of the Am Law Tech Survey 2013.
As business becomes more global, legal technology begins to adapt to support a worldwide lifestyle. Lawyers now have the opportunity to position themselves in front of an international audience and expand their reach. In this edition of Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss whether global considerations are morphing legal technology, apps to facilitate an international law firm, and how lawyers might benefit from adopting a global perspective on legal tech. The second half of the show will compare the Samsung Galaxy S4 and new iPhone 5s.
Big Data is the big buzz phrase of the day. We certainly are living in the world of data – whether it’s big or not – but what happens if we turn data analytics onto law firms and legal datasets? Is this the new driver of legal decision making and technology? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how data analytics might be applied to the most common set of law firm data, whether MoneyBall can bring us to MoneyLaw, and what data-driven law practice might look like. The second half of the show will discuss the idea of taking a hiatus from technology without taking a vacation from work.
LinkedIn had a major interface overhaul in 2013. With so many changes to the graphics, connection management, and new ways for lawyers to take advantage of this important tool, the ABA just released a second edition of LinkedIn in One Hour for Lawyers. Authors Dennis Kennedy and Allison Shields monitored the developments and began conducting new experiments to uncover new ways to utilize lawyers’ top social media platform. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how LinkedIn has changed, its continuing importance for lawyers, and practical ways lawyers can enhance the benefits of the LinkedIn platform. The second half of the episode will cover Tom’s upcoming trip to China and what security precautions travelers should take to protect their data.
The legal education system has been in question lately. President Obama has weighed in on shortening law school from three to two years. Others argue that the students need more time to include specialty courses such as law practice management (LPM) and legal tech into the curriculum. On this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the legal education debate, whether LPM and legal tech should be added to the course load, and how to best take advantage of a legal education. The second half of the show will cover the end of Windows XP and users’ options when looking for a new operating system.
‘Tis the season for new technology. Starting with smart phones, we have the two new iPhones, the Nokia Lumia, and the Google Moto X. In only the start of the season, there are more announcements, including new smart watches and tablets, in the works. On this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will review some of the newly released technology, talk about what will work best for lawyers, and what we should expect to see in the upcoming releases. In the second half of the show your hosts will honor the 15th anniversary of CaseMap, a LexisNexis case-management software made specifically for litigators.
The end of summer marks the release of two legal-tech surveys that create the benchmark for solos and firms on legal technology practices and spending. The ILTA / InsideLegal Technology Survey and the ABA Legal Technology Survey Report define key trends and give lawyers a look at the current state of legal technology. On this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the highlights and conclusions of each survey and what they mean for today's and tomorrow’s legal technology trends. The second half of the show will cover personal branding and how it has turned into meaning much more than just active social media channels.
What if your smartphone or tablet could serve as your personal assistant? Considering the capabilities of Siri and Google Now, like making a restaurant reservation, scheduling a meeting, sending an email, it’s an option to consider. On this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the digital versions of personal assistants, their current capabilities and what the future might hold for the Apple and Google tools, and whether a digital-virtual-personal assistant is the next big thing. On the second half of the show, your hosts will cover Blackberry’s recent announcement that they are looking for a buyer, and what might be the death of a much-utilized tool in the legal industry.
For many years, lawyers have chased after the holy grail of the paperless office. While the basic techniques and strategies have largely stayed the same and the technology and tools have gotten better, most lawyers and firms have not attained the elusive goal of a “paperless” office. Is the goal simply unachievable or is it just too hard to execute on what it takes to achieve the goal? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the history and current state of paperless office efforts, approaches that might (or might not) work for you, and whether the end of paper is within sight. The second half of the episode will cover Georgetown University's new "Iron Tech" Contest where students create a new application, platform, or system to improve access to justice and/or legal representation.
Casey Flaherty, corporate counsel at Kia Motors America, has gotten a lot of attention recently with a basic technology competency audit he administers to outside law firms and the failing grades lawyers at those firms have received. There has always been an ongoing conversation of what basic technology skills lawyers need. The ABA’s Ethics 2020 recommendation that a basic knowledge of common software techniques be a part of the definition of “competence,” has also shined the spotlight on this issue. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss Flaherty’s technology audit approach, the responses it has prompted, and how this may or may not change the ways lawyers deal with technology skills. The second half of the episode will cover Apple’s much-rumored “iWatch” and the future of watch technology.
After much anticipation, Google Reader has left the webosphere. Users have until July 15th to grab their data from the app and find a replacement. So, what’s next? On this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will discuss news-reader app options and the future of RSS feeds. In the second half of the episode your hosts ask whether Google Search is still the best search engine. Dare they suggest that users divert from the Google conglomerate? Tune in to find out.
Thanks to our sponsor, Transporter.
In this edition of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss encryption. The recent news coverage of the NSA surveillance has everyone talking about who can access their data, and this is especially relevant to practicing attorneys, who have to consider both their own data as well as that of their clients. According to your hosts, 30% of lawyers are using encryption to secure files and only 24% are using it to send email. This poses the question: Has the time for lawyers using encryption arrived?
The second segment of the show will talk about Tom’s switch from the iPhone to the Android smartphone. Learn how and why he made the decision to make the change and his review, so far.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Transporter.
What started as a way to backup our hard drives is moving to how we access, what feels like, everything on our computers. On this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will discuss the new trend of software by subscription. Instead of paying for an updated version of a new software product, companies are offering a monthly subscription which will immediately grant users access to the newest version via the cloud. Adobe and Microsoft are just two of the recent examples of vendors switching to this model. With so many lawyers and law firms using old versions of standard software, how will they react to this new system?
The second portion of the show will cover the new service Google Takeout, which provides an easy way to extract your data from online-Google apps like Google Reader, Google Circles, and more. Whether you know it or not, seems like everything is stored online nowadays. Tune in to The Kennedy Mighell Report to keep up with Internet technology and the cloud.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Transporter.
Summer and vacation seasons are approaching. Some prefer to completely disconnect on vacation, while others like to stay connected. Work aside, those who choose to stay connected can use technology to make their trips more manageable and stress free with travel apps, adapters, and travel-friendly cameras. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the intersection of technology and vacation, whether to connect or disconnect while traveling, and some of their favorite vacation and travel tech tips. In the second half of the show, your hosts will cover the accelerated speed of cloud-based interface updates and how to keep up. Special thanks to our sponsor, Transporter.
Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell enter the realm of apps and plug-ins. Also known as web extensions, browser apps, add-ons, and bookmarklets, these additions to web browsers are made to make your Internet browser experience more efficient. Learn your hosts’ favorite web extensions when browsing for leisure and for work, and how to manage your apps and plug-ins so they don’t slow down your browser speed. The second half of the episode turns toward Internet communication, more specifically, how Twitter users are creating hashtags to express their moods in posts and how this changes the meaning and use of the hashtag.
The Kennedy Mighell Report has reached a milestone: Episode 100! As part of the celebration your hosts will bring you today’s legal technology issues in the format of one of their favorite shows: ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. Hear how technology can make your business more efficient, highlights from the ABA Tech Show, the future of technology for lawyers, and more
Hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell are exploring a new social media outlet called Vine where users create videos, constricted to six-seconds in length. This inspired the discussion of nourishing creativity with a length constraint. Twitter limits users to 140 characters, Instagram allows only one photo per post, and Snapchat limits users to sending a photo for 10 seconds or less before it disappears from both the sender and the recipient’s device. On this episode of Kennedy Mighell report, your hosts will discuss how technology constraints can produce surprising results for lawyers, whether they participate in social media or not.
Learn why iPads are a valuable resource in the courtroom for their portability, presentation capabilities, and apps catered specifically to case intake, jury verdict, and more. Hosts Dennis and Tom elaborate further to outline why litigators especially can benefit from an iPad and Tom’s upcoming book iPad in One Hour for Litigators. The second half of the show mourns the approaching death of Google Reader, the significance and utility of an RSS reader, and what other options are out there.
The Internet of Things explains the virtual representation of objects on the web — like turning your car’s AC on from a smartphone app. Is it possible that soon the internet will be able to control our daily lives, down to resetting our alarm based on the train schedule we take to commute to work? Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the possibilities and implications of the internet of things in our daily lives and in the legal field. The second portion of the show explains The Human Genome Project, and what Kennedy learned after sending in his DNA.
There’s an app for everything. As we all discover how effectively we can use apps to connect with social media, as our work task managers, to find user-friendly news, and much more, they begin to accumulate on our smartphones and devices. Our hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share tips on how to organize those apps to be the most efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and space conserving - making room for more apps. We will also learn how to sync all of their devices so that we always have access to our apps. The second portion of the show will discuss the pros and cons of having an iPad, an iPad Mini, or how to utilize both. And stay tuned until the end to hear each host’s tech tip, one will surely save you some time on your computer.
These days, the camera in your pocket (your smartphone camera) is powerful enough to meet all of your 'good-enough' photo needs. So what are the pros and cons as well as legal precedents involved with opting for your smartphone the next time you need to take a photo? What are the evidence handling and discovery implications? In this episode, Dennis and Tom share their experience with digital photography, smartphone cameras and applications to manage these files. In the second half of the show, our hosts suggest reaching for your tablet if you're looking for better ways to present and also offer some great general tips on presenting PowerPoint and Keynote slideshows.
There seems to be a resurgence in law-related blogging. But which blogs will have a significant impact on your practice this year? In this episode Dennis and Tom discuss recently-published lists of notable blogs, briefly chat about Dennis’s own “Blawggie Awards” and share their recommended blogs, why they enjoy them and how they might affect your practice. Dennis and Tom will also share their own, personal technology resolutions for 2013 and as always, give their parting shots… that one tip, website or observation you can start using immediately after this podcast.
Lawyers are known as notorious late adopters of technology. Is that a fair characterization? Of course it is. What makes lawyers so cautious about new technologies? Will lawyers always be late adopters? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss some recent experiences that have reinforced the idea that lawyers are late adopters, the reasons people do and do not adopt new technologies, and practical ways for lawyers to think about moving to new technologies.
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about what many see as Apple’s stumble with its maps application in iOS 6. Bryan Wolfe on AppAdvice.com recently asked "Did I Miss The Memo From Apple Making Us All Beta Testers?" From operating systems to software to apps to web services, we often find that new products and services don’t’ quite feel finished. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss changing expectations in a world of fast and frequent software releases and updates, the challenge for lawyers wanting stability with their technology, and ways to cope with what feels like living in a giant public beta test.
We hear a lot of stories about lawyers using (and not using) technology. It’s always been difficult to get good data on what is actually happening in the ground. The release of results from two major annual surveys about the use of technology by lawyers gives us some data to assess trends and draw conclusions. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at highlights of the 2012 ILTA / Inside Legal Technology Purchase Survey and the 2012 Legal Technology Survey Report from the ABA’s Legal Technology Resource Center, the trends the surveys show, and some practical implications of the survey results.
Lawyers consistently tell us that LinkedIn is the social media platform that makes the most sense for lawyers and other legal professionals. They like the professional and business focus of LinkedIn as compared to the "personal" focus of Facebook and other platforms. However, lawyers also always tell us that they wish they could use LinkedIn better than they do now. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell and special guest Allison Shields discuss the new book, LinkedIn in One Hour for Lawyers, how lawyers can make better use of LinkedIn, and some practical tips lawyers and others can implement right away with LinkedIn.
As rumors of a game-changing new Apple TV begin to swirl, we wonder whether technology will start to change the way we watch television. Or maybe it already has. Does technology always need to have "productive" uses? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell turn to a "non-serious" technology topic for the end of summer, explore ways technology, especially tablets, can enhance your TV viewing experience, and find some surprisingly serious conclusions about where technology is taking us.
Have you ever wanted one action on the Web automatically trigger another action? For example, if you post a tweet, it automatically becomes a LinkedIn or Facebook update or if you star a blog post in Google Reader, it automatically gets added to your Evernote account. IFTTT (If This, Than That) is a web service does exactly that. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss web automation and IFTTT, how it might make your life a little easier, and the role this type of service might play for the busy lawyer.
While Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter draw the lion’s share of social media attention, there are many other social media platforms available to lawyers. Tumblr, Pinterest and Foursquare are just a few of the alternatives. How can you evaluate which of these tools might be worthy of your time and effort? On The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell survey the lesser-traveled landscapes of the social media world, identify some tools that might make sense to some lawyers in some scenarios, and speculate about the future of specialized social media tools.
For many years, we used email and listservs for private and public discussions. Today, the last thing we want to do is add a high-volume email list to our overloaded email inboxes. Yet, we still have the need for discussions of all kinds. What are good ways to have discussions using technology today? In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss today’s options for discussions, how to select the right forum for discussions, and whether we can improve the quality of the discussions we have with others.
We can find almost anything on the Internet, but retrieving the results at a later date isn’t as easy. Are there ways to “harvest” the web so we can find and read relevant research at a later time? Kennedy-Mighell Report hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, answer this question by sharing ways to save and keep track of web research, the resources for reading web findings later or offline, and whether techniques like capturing a blog post on a Kindle or iPad really help us with the problem of information overload.
Good password practices are essential in a world where major compromises are common. So how do you create, use and protect strong passwords for all of your accounts? Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, the hosts of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, take a look at the current state of passwords, give recommendations on password management, and share some simple approaches to dealing with today’s password requirements.
Everywhere we go, we see lawyers using iPads. But what are they using them for? There are thousands of Apps available for the iPad - so many that it's hard to know where to begin. Fortunately, Tom Mighell has written a new book called, iPad Apps in One Hour for Lawyers. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the importance of iPad apps for effective use of iPads, Tom's book, and their favorite iPad Apps for lawyers and others.
Many lawyers say they are "good lawyers," while knowing very little about legal technology. So does that statement really compute in this technology driven world? Recent discussions about possible changes to ethical rules include requirements that lawyers stay up-to-date on technology. Explore the intersection of technology, law practice and ethical rules, along with the implications for lawyers with Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell on this Kennedy-Mighell Report.
With so much of your key information and assets migrating online, it’s a challenge to remember all your passwords and accounts. So just imagine the headaches your spouse or family will have trying to figure it all out once you pass away. On this Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how to prepare your “digital estate” before death or incapacity. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
There’s no doubt the net is going more and more mobile. In fact, Facebook recently revealed about half of its 800 million users access their accounts through their smartphones. So what are the implications of this move to mobile for the standard law firm website? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the impact of mobile devices on web design, the web design movement known as Mobile First, and what you can do to optimize your website for the mobile era. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Twenty years ago, lawyers were debating whether to use email in their practices. It's now impossible to imagine lawyers practicing without using email. Studies indicate that eight trillion text messages were sent in 2011. Will we see texts and IMs becoming as integral to law practice as email has become? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the growing use of texts and IMs by everyone, how these technologies are starting to play a role in the everyday practice of law, and how lawyers should prepare for the use of these technologies in the future. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Each Spring, ABA TECHSHOW takes center stage as one of the premier legal technology conferences. While there is great value in attending legal tech conferences, all lawyers can benefit simply by seeing what's on the TECHSHOW agenda. Organizers put a lot of thought into their agendas, so we can all learn where to put our technology focus by seeing what topics these shows cover. Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell use TECHSHOW 2012 as an example of how to assess your current technological agenda, talk about the major topics being covered at TECHSHOW, and suggest ways you can use the TECHSHOW topic list to set your technology priorities for 2012. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Apple just announced the newest version of the iPad, setting the Internet abuzz with anticipation and speculation. Is this next big thing? More importantly, must this be your next tech purchase? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new iPad announcement and reactions, what the new iPad brings to the table, and whether lawyers should expect to see a new iPad in their possibly post-PC futures. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Has it really been three years since the introduction of Windows 7? Surveys indicate that Windows XP users still outnumber Windows 7 users. Recent announcements indicate that we'll be seeing both Windows 8 and a new Mac OSX update called Mountain Lion in 2012. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at what we have now learned about operating system updates, the current state of operating systems, and what our future operating systems might look like. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Google's new "Search Plus Your World" represents a new direction in Internet search where social elements become part of our search results. Bringing our social media world into search results indicates both the growing importance of social media and the need to find new ways to get relevant results. Can we make use of what our friends and connections find on the web to get us better search results? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at Search Plus Your World, whether bringing social into search might help us, and whether this approach might work for you. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The big story at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show was "ultrabooks." This new category of computer stole the thunder, at least for a few days, from tablet computers. Should lawyers be considering ultrabooks in 2012? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the new world of ultrabooks, whether tablet computers like the iPad are taking over the computer market, and what it all means for traditional notebook computers and desktop PCs.After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
People are collaborating more than ever before. There are more collaboration tools and technologies than ever before. Yet, the actual adoption of collaboration tools seems to lag behind the wish to use collaboration tools. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the gap between tools and people in collaboration, the common challenges faced when implementing collaboration tools, especially ones used by lawyers, and their best recommendations for improving the adoption of collaboration tools and technologies in 2012. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
What kind of year was 2011 for legal tech? What were the big developments and trends that you need to know? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell pay tribute to ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and adopt its format for a fast-paced and fun discussion of what transpired in legal technology in 2011. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Many social media users have been surprised recently by changes to the design and user interface of the web pages and apps they have been accustomed to using with these services. These changes have been happening for quite a while, but this round of revision seems to have created a backlash from longtime users. Are these kinds of changes fair or foul? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss recent interface modifications by Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others, the response to these changes and the rollout of the changes, and the implications for users as rely more and more on cloud services. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
'Tis the season for gift-giving. And the season for technology gift lists. The latest technology is always a great present - especially for lawyers. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell roll out their own technology gift guide for lawyers, give some of their favorite buying tips, and give you plenty of suggestions for your own wish list! After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Forty-eight hours of video is added to YouTube every minute. Second graders make professional-quality movies using inexpensive cameras and standard software. It's no surprise that lawyers are tentatively beginning to think about using video in connection with their practices. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the growing use of video by lawyers, survey the tools for creating and distributing videos, and share some observations and tips about lawyers jumping into the world of video. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
From IBM’s Watson to Apple’s new Siri to the growth of predictive coding in e-discovery, it’s been a heck of a year for computers catching up to humans. Lately, there’s been a lot of discussion about the question, "Can software take the place of lawyers?' Can it, or will it? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the latest software advances and the likely impact on lawyers, how lawyers might benefit from these advances, and how worried lawyers should be about competition from machines. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
iPads are making serious inroads into the work environment, even for lawyers. What role might the iPad play in the daily lives of busy legal professionals? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell are joined by special guest David Sparks, author of the new book, iPad at Work, to discuss the potential benefits of using an iPad in legal work, practical iPad tips, and how the iPad and iPad apps are changing the way lawyers use technology. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Amazon has just announced a new generation of Kindle devices, including a touch version and the Kindle Fire, a low-cost tablet device. The new Kindles start at $79. Are these iPad competitors, a new category of devices or another harbinger of the Post-PC era? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how the new Kindles might help lawyers, whether the platform is now the message, and where the tablet category might go after the death of Steve Jobs. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Why are more lawyers than ever using two (or more) monitors at their desks? Others use surprisingly simple tricks to make their days more productive and their lives a little easier. Once you’ve learned some of these techniques, you often think that they are "obvious" and something you should have implemented a long time ago. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss a few simple productivity techniques like using multiple monitors that have made a big difference for them, how those tips might benefit you, and steps you can take to make yourself much more productive than you were before you listened to this podcast. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
From 9/11 anniversaries to hurricanes to earthquakes to power outages and much more, recent events are causing us to consider how our new technologies impact our behavior in emergency situations. Technology, especially mobile technology like smart phones, has obvious benefits in emergencies and disasters, but our reliance on technology has raised a whole new set of issues. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how new technology is changing our behavior and expectations in emergencies, what lessons we have learned, practical tips people have shared, and preparation and planning lawyers and the legal profession should consider. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Solid, actionable data on what law firms are actually doing with technology can be surprisingly hard to find. In the medium and large firm space, the annual ILTA/InsideLegal Technology Purchasing Survey provides detailed and comprehensive data about what law firms have been implementing and planning. The good news is that the 2011 Survey has just been released. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell dig into this year’s Survey, identify some key trends and developments, and suggest what this data might mean for law firms for the next year. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
If you speak on a regular basis, you’ve undoubtedly found yourself in a situation where you have less time left than material to present. If you’ve ever been in audience where the speaker is running short on time, you’ve probably suffered as the speaker has tried to cope with (or even ignore) the problem. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell draw from their own speaking experiences to share some of their favorite practical tips for presenting when time is running out, getting your message across without short-changing your audience, and keeping your audience, co-panelists and program organizers happy with your clock management. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
With social media tools like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+ capturing the lion’s share of attention and discussion, what is the role of blogs for the legal profession in 2011 and beyond? Does it still make sense to start up a new blog or continue an existing blog? Has blogging reached a crossroads? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell draw from their many years of blogging to talk about where blogs fit into todays’ social media world for lawyers, where blogs might be going, and whether blogs should remain as part of your web presence and communications portfolio. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Google’s new social networking tool, Google Plus has burst onto the tech scene like a supernova. Are you already on it and thinking about abandoning Facebook, Twitter and all previous social networking tools? Is there still time to take a deep breath and a measured response? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about Google Plus – both the tool and the phenomenon, its potential impact on social networking, and whether you need to be setting up Circles and moving to Google Plus. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
There are times when it feels like everyone is saying that all lawyers must use social media for marketing. And there are times when it seems like marketing must be the only possible use for social media. Is that really true? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about what else social media can do for lawyers, and whether it’s time to open up the ways lawyers think about using social media. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom and Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
We used to focus on new Windows announcements and the software we installed on our PCs. Times have changed. The recent Apple announcements about iOS 5, Lion and most important, iCloud, have captured most of the headlines. The action is increasingly happening outside Windows and outside PCs. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the recent Apple iCloud announcement, the possible implications of iCloud, and where iCloud suggests legal technology is going. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Over the last few years, legal technology has become a field, even a career for some. You will often hear the term "legal technologist" used to describe those in this field. How does someone get started in legal technology and what does it take to be considered a legal technologist? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the history of legal technologists, how to get started in the field, and what they wish they would have known when they started out. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Should you really be checking your BlackBerry while I’m having a conversation with you? Do you need to reply to every email, text message, cell phone call and Twitter direct message? When is it OK to unfriend people on Facebook? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the evolving notion of "digital etiquette," where people are most likely to make missteps in digital manners, and their take on guiding principles for good and polite behavior in our digital world. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
As the number of legal technology options and platforms have increased, management of legal technology has become more complicated than ever before. Routine recommendations are changing because of smartphones, use of Macs, Web 2.0 and other changes. In important ways, our view of technology and even the Internet has become more personalized and less universal. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how our technology is becoming more complex and varied, the resulting changes to questions you must ask and traditional recommendations, and ways to start to address the implications of this trend. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The newest, the latest, the greatest. Yesterday's new technology is today’s old news. And we are already transfixed by next month's technology, let alone what we are hearing is in the works for 2012. Does our obsession with what's new have negative consequences? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss our seeming obsession with new technology, dealing with the pace of rapid technology change, and realistic strategies for dealing with new technologies. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
It seems the cloud is everywhere these days. Amazon, Microsoft and others have announced new, low-cost initiatives for online file management and storage. File management services like Dropbox have already gotten a lot of attention and praise. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss a specialized part of the cloud that might provide value to everyone, the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based file management, and what’s driving these developments. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Despite all the talk about "search' on the web, the simple fact is that we’d trade all the "search" in the world for a lot more "find." The good news is that there are some developments that will help us get the information we want when we want it. In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss what comes after traditional keyword search, new tools and techniques like recommendation engines and apps, and whether we are getting closer to being able to truly get the information we want when we want it. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The first iPad was incredibly successful and the launch of the iPad 2 has created a fresh surge of interest in the tablet category. Is the iPad 2 the tablet device that lawyers have been waiting for? In this episode, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss their experiences in line at the Apple Store on Opening Day attempting to get the freshest information for their audience, talk about their early experiences with the iPad 2, and speculate about the “post-PC era,” the iPad 2 and its potential impact on lawyers and their clients. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Everyone (well, we hope everyone) knows data backup is important. That’s why we always vow to be more diligent after we lose more data at an inopportune time. Data backup has become more complicated over the past few years as our data moves out from our computers to the cloud. We know what to do, so why don’t we? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss current good practices for data backup, whether backup fundamentals are changing, and how to walk the backup walk and not just talk the backup talk. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Lawyers can’t go a single day without hearing how they need to be using social media. Social media, however, is a big topic and there are lots of social media tools. The tool lawyers most commonly use is LinkedIn, but are they really using it to good advantage? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the growth and evolution of LinkedIn, how lawyers are successfully using LinkedIn today, and practical ways for you to enhance your LinkedIn presence. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
You're starting a new firm, or you want to revamp your existing firm's technology. What approaches and strategies make the most sense for the 10-20 lawyer firm in 2011? Is the "cloud" part of your firm's immediate future? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at some of the technology options for smaller firms, the long term strategies and short-term tactics that should be considered, and the role cloud computing can play in today's legal technology environment. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The new year is the perfect time to breathe some life into your approach to technology. Even small accomplishments can bring you big results. Where should you begin and what priorities should you set? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell survey what technology resolutions lawyers are making for 2011, how to narrow down your list of choices, and, most importantly, how best to make your technology resolutions come true. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
What are the hot questions in legal technology today? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take on audience questions on legal technology and give you their best answers. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Did technology rock the legal world in 2010 or was it a sleepy little year for legal tech? What were the tech highlights and lowlights for 2010? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer up a wide-ranging, fast-paced and highly-opinionated review of what transpired in legal technology in 2010. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
There are lots of technology resources and conferences for large firms and small firms. Mid-sized law firms often feel that needed information and resources can be difficult or even impossible to find. Where can mid-sized firms get appropriately-focused technology assistance? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell and special guest host, Catherine Sanders Reach talk about the unique issues mid-sized law firms face, suggest practical steps those firms can take to address those issues, and discuss ways to improve the legal technology landscape for mid-sized firms. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Facebook has just announced its new Facebook Messages, which has been referred to as "Facebook email" or a "Gmail killer." It’s not exactly email, but it does aim to centralize all of our messaging in the Facebook platform. Given Facebook’s scope, is this a game-changer? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at Facebook Messages and its implications, how social media and webmail are changing our relationship to email, and whether Facebook Messages or other forms of webmail are in your future. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
With law firms cutting back or eliminating summer internships and law schools focusing on teaching theoretical legal concepts, law students find themselves in a difficult position in a difficult market. How can law students learn needed practical skills, including how to use legal technology? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk to Professor Clark D. Cunningham from Georgia State University College of Law, Jonathan Call, law school student at GSU College of Law, Jack Newton from Clio and Andy Adkins from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, about the exciting and innovative efforts to bring practical skills training, including legal technology, to law schools and law students. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Traveling with technology today has, simultaneously, gotten both easier and harder. On the road, you need to be resourceful and give yourself plenty of options to meet unexpected challenges. At the same time, you still want to “pack light.” In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell share their notes and experiences from a recent trip, offer some of their best travel tips, and make a few predictions about where traveling with technology is headed. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Internet search is only half of the equation. Many times, you simply want to return to a site you had previously found. Managing bookmarks and favorites has long been a less-than-satisfying experience. Why is this simple concept so difficult in practice? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss recent developments in bookmark management, different approaches and tools you might try, and directions, like social bookmarking, in which we might be headed. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
You go to Google and find the new "instant search" feature has been turned on for you. You upgrade a program and find that all of your personalized settings have been reset to the program defaults. Facebook changes privacy settings. Twitter surprises you with a new interface. Why do technology companies seem to think that they can make these changes for us? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the idea of "presumptuous computing," the rise and implications of this phenomenon, and what you can do to keep pace and protect yourself. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The word on the street is that associates and young partners are very unhappy with the state of technology in their law firms. The results of a new survey of associate satisfaction tells us just how unhappy associates might be. Or might not be. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell dive into the results of the 2010 American Lawyer Associates Survey, what the answers reveal about how associates view technology and technology spending at their firms, and the ramifications for firms delaying technology upgrades. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
In real estate and on the Internet today, the key is location, location, location. Facebook Places, Google Latitude and Foursquare have opened our eyes to the potential benefits and concerns of geolocation services and features. Why are we voluntarily and publicly disclosing so much personal location information today? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the growing role of geolocation services, how you might participate in and benefit from them, and how to make good choices about opting in and opting out of this brave new world. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis' co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The conventional wisdom has long been that your website, or perhaps your blog, should be at the core of your web presence. Today, your Internet presence is likely to consist of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts, and a variety of other places people can find you. Is this expansion of "presence" changing the common wisdom and bringing us to what's been called the "Siteless Web"? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the changing Internet environment, whether a website really matters anymore, and how to manage your multi-faceted presence on the Internet. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Lawyers have started to dabble in listening to and creating podcasts. Most of the emphasis we see is on how to create podcasts. However, listening regularly to podcasts can bring you a treasure trove of timely and practical information, especially if you don't have time to read everything in your "to read" stack. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell offer some great tips and techniques for improving your use of podcasts, making the most of your listening time, and generally opening the doors to an underused information resource. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
"Do more with less" is a mantra of the day. One of the great promises of the day is that technology will organize and optimize us, as computers take over the work we don't need to do and make our lives easier. The reality feels more like a jammed email inbox, a mountain of to-do lists and technology we often fight with. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell and special guest Allison Shields, discuss the importance of improving personal productivity and the role technology, when done well, can play in optimizing your work, enhancing your productivity and simplifying your life. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
It's what you do with the technology after you get it that really matters. A hot area these days in legal technology is the use of technology for project management, especially in e-discovery. But e-discovery is not the only place we're seeing project management discussions. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the impact project management concerns will play in technology choices, the evolution of legal project management skills and practices, and the increasing role project management is already playing in the practice of law. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The demand for pre-orders for the new iPhone 4 knocked out the AT&T order site on the first day. It seems like someone announces a new Android phone every few days. HP recently bought Palm. And the love affair between lawyers and BlackBerries seems to be cooling off . . . maybe. There's never been a more confusing time to be looking for a smartphone. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell survey the current smartphone landscape, try to make sense of where we are and where we are going, and offer some guidance, tips and opinions on the ever-changing world of smartphones. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Law firms tend to struggle with setting technology strategies. They get as far as forming technology committees, yet often give them little or no direction. Are there some simple ways to set your underlying technology strategy and keep your firm on course? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss a simple approach to technology strategy based on familiar investment principles, the importance of diversification and an easy visual approach to help make things happen. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Many lawyers now find that they have much newer, and better, computers, cell phones and software at home than they have at work. And some companies are looking to cut costs by requiring their employees to purchase their own equipment. Are these trends changing the way both lawyers and their firms handle technology in the workplace? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the implications of this new kind of "digital divide" and the changes we are already starting to see. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
A number of sites, including Google Apps, Zoho, Microsoft, and others, offer a set of standard "office suite" programs – word processing, spreadsheets, presentations – in an online format. We've seen some solos and small firms experiment with using Google Apps. Now, we've learned that a 200+ employee law firm has launched a major Google Apps implementation. Are we at the beginning of a new trend? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss this new initiative, the potential impact for the legal profession and whether an online office suite might play a role in your future. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Many people seem to be in the market for new computers or other computer hardware these days. There are more choices than ever and big changes in the market that can be confusing, especially for people who haven't been in the market for a few years. Have the traditional principles for buying computer hardware also started to change? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell cover the new hardware waterfront and offer their current hardware buyer's guide. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Tim O'Reilly was one of the original definers of "Web 2.0." He's now turned his focus to the "Internet Operating System," the next step down the path from "cloud computing." In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take their own look at the Internet Operating System, its implications and the mindshift it will require for lawyers and others. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
In this special edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, take their show on the road to ABA TECHSHOW 2010 in Chicago and chat with the experts about the latest in legal technology. Dennis and Tom welcome some very special guests including: Natalie Kelly, the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., Rodney Dowell, Paul Unger, Ernie Svenson and Jim Calloway, to share their insight from this popular legal technology expo. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Be sure to watch this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report video podcast!
From the Sedona Conference on e-discovery to the latest features of Office 2010, the hot technology topic of the day is collaboration. However, when most lawyers think of collaboration tools, their lists end after email and “track changes.” What are the real stories of collaboration technology in 2010? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the current state of affairs in collaboration tools for lawyers and the many ways these tools can benefit your practice. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Hardly a day goes by without lawyers hearing that they need to be diving into social media. And many are already there - on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other platforms. Google stumbled on privacy on its launch of its new social media platform, Buzz. The privacy and security concerns in social media are very real. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a practical look at what you must understand to take control of your security and privacy, from basic account settings to smart approaches to social media common sense. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Budgetary concerns have forced lawyers to take a hard look at software costs. That’s brought Open Source software onto their radar screens. The price - free - is obviously attractive, but Open Source is a completely different approach to software than lawyers expect. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell introduce the approach and philosophy of Open Source, the programs available, and when and where it might make sense for you. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
No product launch in recent memory has commanded the attention of Apple's iPad announcement. Is the iPad a game-changer, the must-have of 2010, or just one more imperfect choice for technology users already facing too many choices? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the iPad, hype vs. reality, and what this new product might mean for lawyers who use technology. Their conclusions might surprise you. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Lawyers are often considered "late adopters" of technology. While there is plenty of good evidence to support that view, you can find lawyers all across the adoption range, from early adopters to late adopters and everywhere in between. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the technology adoption continuum, the advantages and disadvantages of each category, and how you can make the best use of your technology adopter style. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
In part two of this two-part series on legal technology trends, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell peer into the crystal ball to find the key trends and storylines to expect in legal technology in 2010. Will the economy keep a lid on significant developments? What role will Internet and mobile technologies play? What should lawyers, law firms and other legal organizations be putting into their strategic technology plans? In addition, Dennis and Tom make predictions about technology in general and legal technology in particular. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
In part one of a two-part series on legal technology trends, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look back at the most significant developments in 2009. While the economy might have been the dominant story in 2009, a number of other currents were moving in legal tech waters. From ediscovery to social media to cloud computing to collaboration, you'll get an overview of where we've been and what where we've been suggests about where we are going. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
2009 has been the year of the smartphone. Lawyers are moving from traditional email access with a BlackBerry to apps and mobile browsing on iPhones and other smartphones. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the growing movement to mobile and its implications for the legal profession. In addition, Tom & Dennis welcome Jeremy Diviney, Co-founder, Chief Architect and Director of Operations at Bill4time, to discuss the importance of using Mobile software. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
We're at the time of year where everyone likes to make and share lists. Some new types of Internet tools let lawyers share useful lists of information in easier and more powerful ways. In this new episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss why Twitter Lists, bookmark lists, OPML lists and other sharable lists should be making their way onto your list soon. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
The recent release of Windows 7 hopefully ushers in a new era of peace and stability to the world of PC operating systems. But should lawyers rush out to upgrade now? In this new episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss some of the new features in Windows 7, whether upgrading is the right move, and precautions to take before moving to the new operating system. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Will lawyers ever move past the ever-present legal pad as their most trusted tool for practicing law? Tablet PCs have been around for quite a while, but lawyers are now using iPhones, iPod Touches and other devices with touch screens. Are the days of the paper legal pad numbered? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss whether lawyers will ever embrace touch technologies. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Depending on where you look, lawyers are likely to read or hear that social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, et al.) are either a tremendous waste of time fraught with ethical dangers or an essential tool for communication and a necessary part of every lawyer's Internet presence. Are you falling behind or falling off the cliff? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will take a fresh look at social media for lawyers and try to sort through the various claims, draw a few conclusions and provide some practical pointers. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Most discussion of the use of technology by law firms tends to be anecdotal. That’s why the annual release of the InsideLegal/ILTA Member Technology Purchasing Survey is welcome news for those looking for the numbers on which to base decisions and spot trends. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will dig into the survey and draw a few conclusions of their own. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Are you suffering from information overload? Soon you could be inundated by instantaneous updates and some are calling the next-generation Internet the "real-time web." In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will take you on a guided tour of this new stage in web evolution and discuss its implications for lawyers and others already overburdened with flow of information. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Have all of your posts, comments and mentions on the Internet, especially in social media, become the dreaded "permanent record?" Is what people see in Google about you what you want them to"know" about you? As lawyers participate in social media - Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, just to name a few - there's a growing sense that Internet presence is becoming online reputation. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell look at this important new phenomenon and suggest practical ways that you can find and manage your online reputation, while avoiding the most common pitfalls.
As the way we use and respond to email has evolved, has traditional email “etiquette” changed too? On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the "Email Golden Rule" and come up with some new guidelines to improve your email experience, and the experience of anyone who receives a message from you. In the Q & A segment, Dennis and Tom will answer audience questions and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Twitter, Facebook, blogging? Hardly a day goes by without someone proclaiming that a technology is "dead." On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about what technologies to stick with, what to abandon and how you can determine which are best for your law firm. In the Q & A segment, Dennis and Tom will answer audience questions and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Do the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre have what it takes to topple Blackberry as a lawyer's smartphone? On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at all three devices - hardware, software, functionalities and services - to compare. In the Q & A segment, Dennis and Tom will answer an audience questions and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal bloggers Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss search, the new Wolfram Alpha"computational engine," the future of search on the Internet, and how it may apply to lawyers. In a brand new segment "Stuff That Dennis and Tom Are Talking About," Dennis and Tom will take an in-depth look at FriendFeed. Dennis and Tom will wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
How do people learn to use new technology -- and is it different for lawyers and legal technology? On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal bloggers, Dennis Kennedy, Tom Mighell and Adriana Linares, discuss how to break it down so it isn't overwhelming. Learn where the best resources about technology are and how e-Discovery comes into play for your law practice. Dennis, Tom and Adriana will also take audience questions from the mailbag and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom and Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
Are the Kindle DX and the iPad leading us to Legal Pad 2.0? On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal bloggers, Dennis Kennedy, Tom Mighell and Adriana Linares, will discuss how the new Kindle DX and the current Kindle might be used by lawyers and law students, explore related products like the iPad and question whether we are headed to an all electronic legal pad. Dennis, Tom and Adriana will also take questions from their growing audience and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.
PowerPoint - can't live with it, can't live without it. So how best to make the most of PowerPoint? On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal bloggers, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the personal evolution of use of PowerPoint and offer their best ideas and tips for using PowerPoint. Dennis and Tom will also take audience questions from the mailbag and wrap up with Parting Shots, leaving you with lasting tips and observations. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration.
On this edition of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, legal bloggers, Dennis Kennedy, Tom Mighell, and Adriana Linares will be talking all things ABA TECHSHOW! They will take a look at Susskind's presentation, the social side of TECHSHOW and how Twitter is a game-changer for attending conferences in general. In the Parting Shots segment, Dennis, Tom & Adriana will leave you with that one hot tip, website, or observation you can use after the show. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration.
Technology can help you manage your law practice OR make you want to throw the computer or mobile device of choice out the window! Who better to talk about legal technology than three of the top legal technologists anywhere…and they speak YOUR language! Announcing (drum roll please) co-hosts and big-name legal bloggers, Dennis Kennedy, Tom Mighell, and Adriana Linares in this inaugural edition of the Kennedy- Mighell Report on Legal Talk Network! Insight, opinion, and maybe even a dose of advice about all the legal technology necessities and choices. On this edition: Economic reality check and the impact on legal technology for lawyers - the hard but helpful facts. Time’s up for computer illiterate lawyers - find out why! And too much stuff to search for discovery, case law, etc - what to do? Also hear their Parting Shots in the podcast. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, "The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration."