Legal Commentary

So... I finally got a few hours sleep, and I'm beginning to process the incredible conversations and discussions I've had over the last four days at LegalTech New York!  And as ideas and trends begin to marinate, I'm thinking about the article(s)

 I may write as a result of all of your tremendous insight.

But I'd like even more POVs -- so I'm opening up my questions to everybody.

RULES

ID Please: 1. If you are on the record, ID yourself by name, title, company & city.

2. If you are not for attribution, ID yourself by job category (eg, partner, assoc, IT director, EDD vendor, paralegal, etc), description of employer if it won't reveal your ID (eg, mid-sized EDD vendor; small law firm, etc), and city or region. 

Short but Sweet:  Be pithy!!!! Don't send me huge long essays -- try to limit comments to 3 paragraphs -- i know each question could generate a book, but i need to process a lot of ideas quickly. :)  We'll save the longer conversations for times & places where alcohol is served. 

Eligibility:  Everybody -- including vendors -- is eligible, but please NO SHILLING OF PRODUCTS.

Deadline: Tuesday, Feb 10, noon EST. 

Send to: commonscold@incisivemedia.com. 

Reward: BEST RESPONSE gets a $25 iTunes card! 

 

 

Questions: (answer any you wish) (You can also change ID with each Q, just be really clear)

1. What was the biggest surprise to you about LTNY?

2. At the risk of invoking scheudenfreude, do you see anything POSITIVE about all the layoffs in law firms and vendors?

3. Some folks who have been laid off have been quite bold about it, and telling absolutely everybody they see. I suspect this is an excellent tactic. In the past, the probably natural tendency would be to dive under the covers, but does the fact that there have been such extensive layoffs remove any (or most?) stigma about being on "the list:

4. What advice would you give folks who have been laid off

5. Is it true that despite the layoffs, EDD staffing is still the #1 concern for vendors and firms alike. (IE finding the right folks)

6.  Some folks told me this week that the very best candidates, who might in the past have been shopping their resumes, are too afraid to take employment risks right now and not budging from current positions.

7. With the economy tanking and Obama sworn in, do you expect "Clean Tech" and "Green law" practices to be a growth area?

8. Are you using "e-learning" modules to prepare your organizations for  major technology deployment, and then after the installation, to continue training -- in order to keep your costs down? Is it working?

9. Is your firm  taking advantage of the economy to "force" or "encourage" lawyers to finally take time to train on technology to provide "Better/Faster/Cheaper" services?

10. Are you "cross-training" -- eg, learning new skills to improve your marketability (esp for EDD support staff -- if u r a paralegal, r u learning tech? and vice versa. Is everybody banging on the CFO's door and asking to learn about finance?

11. EDD vendors: are you finding new work coming from firm liquidations and mergers, rather than just EDD?

12. Are any suppt staff folks or associates enrolling in MBA programs?

13. Has anybody said, "I've had enough. Life is short. I want a complete career shift?"

14. Who thinks INCREASING travel rather than cutting back is a good idea, and why?

15. Do you think absolutely everybody is stalling major tech installations?

16. What Darwin surprises do you think may happen in the next year? Anybody want to predict which 5 firms will end up dramatically better than they were on Jan 1 '09, and why?

17. Has Social Networking (Twitter/LinkedIn, MH Connected, Facebook etc) hit critical mass -- and become a real business tool? Do you use it effectively? Real-life examples?

18. What is your pet peeve about technology?

19. What do you love about technology.

20. If you were in control of your IT department, what would be the first 5 things you would do.

21. What are the pros/cons of allowing your users to download upgrades to existing software -- (such as Windows or iTunes updates) - or allow plug-and-play to install printers, etc.) How do you protect against viruses, etc.? How do you balance Help Desk priorities  -- and user convenience -- against security risks?

22. Is anybody besides me addicted to the new Planet Green cable channel from Discovery? (Hey, I have to watch something in the off-season :)

23. What did you learn from LTNY that would be helpful to attendees at LT West Coast in June?

24. What I have I not asked you that I should have -- and no, it's not "what is the best solution?" :)