Adobe Professional 8 for Advanced Users

By: Courtney David Mills
IPA Technology Director and Litigation Paralegal at Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, P.C.

Several months ago I wrote an article introducing Adobe Professional 8, the latest and greatest in Adobe Acrobat family. Since that time, I have had time to look under the hood and play with some of Adobe’s more advanced features. These features move beyond the bates numbering, redaction and OCRing features discussed in the earlier article and aim to introduce more advanced features. This article will discuss the typewriter tool, form creator and Outlook functionality.

Typewriter Tool:

Adobe Professional 8 features a tool that was part of the upgrade package to Acrobat 7 (so you will not be blamed if you missed it). This tool features the ability to simply click and type directly on a PDF (regardless of whether the file is a PDF with text, a simple image or a PDF form). The typewriter tool can be accessed from the “tools” menu under “typewriter”. It is one of the most convenient and overlooked tools in Adobe. You can fill out PDF forms regardless of their formatting and you can make quick notes directly on PDF documents without using comment features. It can be used for filling out fax cover sheets that are saved as PDF images and to complete the IPA monthly luncheon reservation form (which is posted monthly on IPA’s website).

Form Creator:

The form creation tools in Adobe 8 are a vast improvement from previous versions. These tools essentially allow a user to take a PDF form that is a simple scanned image (much like the static forms stored on many websites). The user can run the form creation tool and Adobe will review the image and attempt to discern actually form fields. It will recognize the text of the document and try and isolate obvious fields (i.e. NAME: ____________________). It will also attempt to find check boxes and signature fields. All of the identified fields will then be converted to text boxes etc. It is a great tool for those who have PDF forms that they have to fill out as a matter of routine. This is especially true for most federal court websites that feature PDF as an acceptable file format and feature many court forms in PDF format.

Outlook Functionality:

The Outlook functionality is by far my favorite feature of Adobe Professional 8. Anyone who has worked on e-discovery projects knows that printing emails for paper production is sometimes simply not practical. Many times it is necessary to convert the email to an image format such as PDF or TIFF. PDF files have many advantages over TIFF files (it is like comparing plain text files to dynamic Word documents). Printing or converting email to PDF can be very messy and the resultant files usually have to be cleaned up to avoid misleading headers and footers (as well as issues with email attachments). For the first few months I was disappointed about this feature because this feature in Acrobat 8 did not function properly with Outlook 2007. The compatibility issue has since been addressed and it is a very helpful feature. It allows users to take select emails (or select email folders or subfolders in Outlook) and package the emails into a PDF file. This feature is very useful in litigation where discovery of email is becoming the norm. This practice maintains the searchability inherent with native or quasi-native production, alleviates some compatibility issues on the reviewers end, and will negate some concerns about tricky metadata. The PDF package of emails (wrapped into a single file) can be easily burned to a CD for production purposes. The recipient can easily navigate the production through Adobe Acrobat (even with the most basic Reader version) and can access attachments, etc.

In summary, Adobe Acrobat 8 is a very impressive tool that has features to please the common paralegal who would like to type notes on a PDF record or fill out a PDF form to more advanced features that are going to assist with e-discovery collection and production.

Blog of the Month:

Dennis Kennedy Blog: Dennis Kennedy is a well known legal techie and features very insightful articles and commentary on a wide range of legal tech issues. http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/

Website of the Month:

Acrobat Solutions for legal professionals: This site is within Adobe’s primary site, but is specifically geared towards legal professionals. It features great articles and white papers on Adobe features for the legal field as well as free webinars on adobe features for legal professionals. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/solutions/legal/

IPA Honors Its Credentialed Paralegals And Awards First PACE Scholarship

On Wednesday, June 20, 2007, during an historical luncheon in the Victory Ballroom at The Hilton, the Indiana Paralegal Association honored its PACE Registered Paralegals of NPFA and Certified Paralegals of NALA for the first time in the history of IPA. Indiana is one of the leaders nationwide with paralegals who have accepted the national challenge to become credentialed. This celebration luncheon coincided with the Tenth Anniversary of the development of PACE.

At the luncheon, the honored guests and attendees were privileged to be addressed by The Honorable Heather Welch, Marion Superior Court Judge, who gave a dynamic and inspiring presentation on her personal experience with the work involved in becoming a Judge and the correlation to those paralegals who have made the extra effort to become credentialed.

The Honorable Heather Welch
Marion Superior Court Judge

During the celebration luncheon, which was generously sponsored by IKON, IPA and IKON jointly presented their first annual PACE Scholarship to Lisa E. Keffaber, Paralegal at Tiede Metz & Downs, P.C. in Wabash, Indiana. These scholarships combined total approximately $800 and can be used for the PACE Study Manual, PACE Candidate’s Handbook, PACE examination fee, online mock examination and the 7-week online review course offered by the American Institute for Paralegal Studies in their Distance Learning Program.

Steve Finchum of IKON Presents PACE Scholarship To Lisa Keffaber, Paralegal

Janet Logan, CP, Presents PACE Scholarship On Behalf of IPA to Lisa Keffaber, Paralegal

The guests honored during this celebration included not only the IPA members who are credentialed paralegals, but also three members of IPA who are national officials with NFPA: Anita Haworth, RP, NFPA President; Linda McGirr, Vice President & Director of Membership and Susan Heisler, Director of Pro Bono Services. Also present among honored guests was Kevin McGoff, President of the Indianapolis Bar Association.

The Credentialed Paralegals who were honored during IPA’s historic luncheon are:

Jocelyn L. Acker, RP
Passed PACE 01-05-00
Paralegal-To-Go

Joetta J. Allgood, RP
Passed PACE 06-30-99
Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP

Ryan M. Ayres, RP
Passed PACE 10-12-00
St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers

Diane S. Brow, RP
Passed PACE 11-17-00
One America

Denise M. Brown, RP
Passed PACE 03-01-01
Stevens & Associates

Daena J. Cooper, RP
Passed PACE 03-16-01
State Farm Litigation Counsel

Lesley Cox, RP
Passed PACE 03-29-99
Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim

PACE Registered Paralegals of NFPA and Certified Paralegals of NALA are Recognized at IPA’s Inaugural Celebration of its Credentialed Paralegals at the Hilton’s Victory Ballroom

Becky A. Fehr, RP
Passed PACE 02-17-03
Wyatt Tarrent & Combs, LLP

Brenda K. Ferguson, RP
Passed PACE 04-10-01
Dow AgroSciences, LLC

Terry J. Gilstrap, PC
Passed PACE 03-01-01
William A. Goebel, Attorney

Teresa Gross, CLA
Passed CLA Exam 01-01-89
Bose, McKinney & Evans, LLP
IPA’s First Credentialed Paralegal

Lynn C. Hannon, RP
Passed PACE 12-27-04
Dow AgroSciences

Anita G. Haworth, RP
Passed PACE 09-07-99
Campbell Kyle Proffitt, LLP

Christopher J. Holly, RP
Passed PACE 03-29-00
Medicaid Solutions

Melissa L. Hubler, RP
Passed PACE 10-07-00
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.

Tia L.Jackson, RP
Passed PACE 11-27-06
Conseco Services, LLC

Lauren K. Jones, RP
Passed PACE 03-09-01
Bowers Harrison LLP

Linda G. Kaufman, RP
Passed PACE 12-08-00
The Pardieck Law Firm

Cynthia L. Kirchhofer, RP
Passed PACE 12-09-00
St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers

Janet S. Logan, CP
Passed CLA Exam 05-01-90
Krieg Devault LLP

Linda D. Moorman, RP
Passed PACE 04-09-01
Dow AgroSciences LLP

Nancy J. Mulder, RP
Passed PACE 06-15-00

Deborah K. Neale, RP
Passed PACE 12-11-00
Tabbert Hahn Earnest & Weddle LLP

M. Kim Richardson, RP, CP
Passed PACE 02-28-05
Ice Miller, LLP
Passed CLA Exam 01-01-06
IPA’s Only RP/CP

Cynthia K. Rooks, RP
Passed PACE 12-02-00
Locke Reynolds, LLP

Cheryl L. Saalfrank, RP
Passed PACE 11-10-03
Scannell Properties

Edna M. Wallace, RP
Passed PACE 07-11-97
Whitman, Hebenstreit & Zubek, LLP
IPA’s First PACE Registered Paralegal

Barbara D. Wayne, RP
Passed PACE 08-21-00
Tabbert Hahn Earnest & Weddle, LLP

Beverly A. Zimmerman, RP
Passed PACE 04-03-99
Boren, Oliver & Coffey

Special Thanks to IKON for its tremendous sponsorship of this special event!

For more information regarding PACE, contact Debi Neale, RP, IPA PACE Ambassador at 317-639-5444 or dneale@tabberthahn.com .

By Debi Neale, RP
IPA PACE Ambassador
The tenth in a series of
PACE Ambassador Reports

5 jobs with the law

The Indianapolis Star is feature an article about "5 jobs with the law" which includes Paralegals.

Tireless Wireless

By: Courtney David Mills
IPA Technology Director and Litigation Paralegal at Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, P.C.

Whenever I think about wireless technology, I cannot help but think about what is around the corner, even twenty years from now. If you stop and think about it, twenty years ago, computers were in their infancy and the idea of wireless technology was mostly relegated to telephones and remote controls. Although wireless technology has definitely come of age, it is important to note that all wireless technology is not created equal. This article will discuss some different standards or types of wireless technology and also discuss some uses for same. I will start with Bluetooth technology since it has the hippest name.

Bluetooth Technology:

Bluetooth was named after a late 900s king, Harald Bluetooth King of Denmark and Norway. He is known for his unification of previously warring tribes from Denmark and Norway. Bluetooth likewise was intended to unify different technologies, such as computers and mobile phones. The Bluetooth logo merges the Nordic runes analogous to the modern Latin H and B: (haglaz) and (berkanan) forming a bind rune. Bluetooth technology seems confuse a lot of consumers. I think the primary reasons for the confusion are that its name has no descriptive qualities to it other than the fact that some Bluetooth devices have blue lights on them. The other source of the confusion stems from the fact that the Bluetooth technology is very versatile and can be found in laptops, desktops, key boards, mice, headphones, microphones, headsets, game controllers, printers, cell phones, digital cameras, etc. Bluetooth technology is essentially a wireless technology that is marked by low power consumption and short range between the devices. It allows two devices to connect wirelessly and communicate with each other. This process is called “pairing”. If your laptop has a built-in or external Bluetooth connection device, you can connect to your cell phone (which can be across the room in your jacket or purse) and you can access the internet. You can also connect your laptop to you digital camera to transfer digital pictures (wirelessly), while you listen to music on your wireless headphones. Once the pictures are transferred, you can print them wirelessly on your Bluetooth enabled printer that is located in an upstairs office. Some newer cars even have the option of integrated Bluetooth technology which automatically detects your cell phone when you enter the vehicle and allows you to make and receive phone calls (hands free) and even route the audio of your phone through the car speakers.

Wi-Fi:

Wi-Fi is actually a brand name originally trademarked by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade organization that tests and certifies wireless technology. Wi-Fi refers to the technology of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) which run on the 802.11 frequency. There are two primary types of WLANs. The first is a computer to computer network or “ad-hoc” network. This type of network allows two or more computers to connect to each other (wirelessly), most often to share files or documents. Ad-hoc networks are not commonly used, but would be extremely useful for a trial team who has a single set of electronic documents that need to be shared amongst the group. You could set-up a small WLAN so that different members of the trial team could all access the files (that are stored on just one person’s computer) in a war room setting. Wi-Fi networks that allow you access to the internet are often referred to as “hot spots” or “access points”. Some are free (i.e. Panera Bread, Shapiro’s Deli, Qdoba, and Au Bon Pain), and some are not (i.e. Starbucks, and Border’s Books). Most hot spots have a relatively short range of 20 – 100 feet (depending on thickness of walls and barriers), but other more powerful transmitters can project several hundred feet. Some businesses and law firms have some sort WLAN in place, but most are hesitant to adopt this technology due to the inherent security concerns present with any sort of wireless technology. In order to connect to the internet at a hot spot, your device (either laptop computer or smartphone) must have either an internal or external wireless card. Most newer laptops have built-in wireless cards and Bluetooth cards. If your laptop does not have a wireless card, you can purchase a card for $20-$60. It is also important to note that there are different levels of wireless technology (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n). The primary difference between each of the above technologies is range and data capacity. 802.11g is considered the current standard and 802.11n is considered the latest and greatest. The primary area of confusion that I hear from attorneys is that they seem to believe that just because they have a laptop and wireless card, they believe they can access the internet. This is not the case. Unless you have wireless card from your cell phone company (or have the ability to use your cell phone as a modem), you have to be within range of a hotspot or be in a city that has city-wide wireless (referred to Municipal Fi, or Mu-Fi). Mu-Fi is a world-wide movement towards having municipalities offer wide-range wireless networks that cover entire towns and cities. Beech Grove, Indiana is the latest Indiana city to go wireless. Once Beech Grove’s plan is up and running, you can take your laptop anywhere in the city and have instant internet access. You can be in the park, or at your child’s baseball practice. When I told this to one of the attorneys that I work with, he jokingly commented that I should find a court reporter in Beech Grove and start scheduling his depositions there. That way he could at least check his email during a particularly boring deposition. At least, I think he was kidding.

In summary, wireless connectivity holds the key to the future. If you listen to the people like Bill Gates or Paul Allen who are designing the technology of the future, you will quickly discover that they envision a world where location is irrelevant and everything is connected (without the wires). There is no real doubt that in the future, nearly every city will be wireless. Besides the obvious factor of initial investment in infrastructure, the major roadblock to implementing such plans has been lobbying pressure from the telcos that currently provide broad-band internet access. However, cities have realized that Mu-Fi is a great perk to draw-in companies and residents. It also offers a lot of benefits to public safety officials and the ability to better integrate emergency services. The question of Mu-Fi coming to a city near you is no longer if, but when.

Blog of the Month:

The Estrin Report: This blog is perhaps the number one paralegal blog in the country. It is updated several times every day (even on the weekend) and always has interesting stories and links connected to the paralegal profession. It is one of the very few blogs that I check every morning and evening. I also like the self-identifying description, “Created for professional paralegals – not of a certain level, specialty or firm – but of a particular attitude.
http://estrinlegaled.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Website of the Month:

Muni Wireless – The Voice of Public Broadband: This is a great resource for information on Mu-Fi projects in Indiana and across the country.
http://www.muniwireless.com/

Want To Be More Professionally Respected In Your Workplace? Consider Becoming A Credentialed Paralegal Through A National Exam

One of the problems the paralegal profession has always faced is the seemingly unending struggle to be accepted as a legal professional. This concern affects each paralegal differently in their career. Some may not be affected at all. Others continue to be forced to “prove” their worth through experience, education, involvement in local or national professional organizations, through speaking engagements, teaching classes, or perhaps through constant and frustrating negotiations within the workplace. I certainly experienced this early in my career.

At a recent IPA Board Retreat, one of the Board members insightfully commented that one of the best ways we, as paralegals, can hope to be more professionally respected in the workplace is to become a credentialed paralegal through a national exam. Another Board member, who is currently making plans to begin studying for PACE, also told me recently that she has noticed increased respect from her employer simply by virtue of showing an interest in sitting for the examination. She also saw a noticeable difference in her employer’s professional respect for her through her involvement on the IPA Board. Two other PACE Registered Paralegals recently pondered whether employers even understand what an “RP” or “CP” means to the legal profession. There seems to be little question as to the meaning, for example, when someone writes “RN” after his or her name. All of these points are very well taken.

Earlier this year, Stacey Hunt, CLA, CAS, and Ann Price, RP wrote an article in Legal Assistant Today discussing the two most widely taken examinations to become a credentialed paralegal ~ NALA’s Certified Legal Assistant exam (“the CLA exam”), created in 1976, and NFPA’s Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (“PACE”), created in 1994. NALA also recently began offering Advanced Specialty Certification exams which is also a part of NFPA’s two-tiered, long range plan.

Interestingly, the very first sentence in the LAT article meets this issue head on ~ “Professional certification lends credibility to any profession, and the paralegal profession is no exception.” [Emphasis added].

Paralegals who pass the CLA exam earn the CLA/CP designation and/or other specialty certifications, while paralegals who pass PACE, are authorized to use the trademarked phrase “PACE Registered Paralegal” or “RP.” Indiana currently has 44 PACE Registered Paralegals, 28 of whom are members of IPA. Quite likely, some of the remaining Indiana RP’s are members of the other two paralegal associations in Indiana, also affiliated with NFPA ~ Michiana Paralegal Association and the Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association. According to NALA’s website, there are also 49 CLA/CP’s in Indiana; 3 of those are members of IPA. IPA, as a member of NFPA, promotes PACE to its membership; however, IPA respectfully acknowledges with pride all of its members who are credentialed paralegals through national testing, whether RP or CP, as well as one distinguished member, Kim Richardson, RP, CP of Ice Miller, who has taken and successfully passed both examinations. If you haven’t looked at the updated list on the PACE website, I invite you to do so.

Dianna Noyes, RP, NFPA PACE Ambassador Coordinator, recently compiled a chart that compared PACE, the CLA exam and a paralegal examination offered by NALS.

(click here to access remainder of article)

IE 7 is even cooler than I originally thought

I wrote an article several months about about some of the new features available in Microsoft's update webbrowser, IE7. One feature that I did not mention in my article (but feel compeled to mention now) is IE7 mulitple home page feature. I do not know about you, but for years, I have had a hard time deciding on a home page. I like the idea of news in the morning, but its not really work related. I use Google a fair ammount, but also use a physician directory site alot also. IE7 gives you the ability to have multiple home pages through its home page button (the button that looks like a house on the tool bar). You simple open all of the web pages that you want to use as your home pages (using the tabbed browsing feature). Once you have the pages open, you simply go to the drop down menu next to the home page button and select "add or change home page". You will be given some choices to add a particular page to your home page list or to reset all of the tabs. Once you complete this step, everytime you open your browser or click the home page button, you will get all of your home pages as tabs.

NFPA 2007 Tech Institute

In case you have not heard, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations ("NFPA") is hosting the first annual legal tech conference geared specifically towards paralegals. The conference will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, on July 19-20, 2007. NFPA has been a buzz lately about the conference and the excitement it has roused within the paralegal community. I have been very impressed with the seminar topics that are published on NFPA's website www.paralegals.org. The topics range from advanced sessions on courtroom and trial presentation software tricks and tips to more general information sessions on internet websites and technology tricks for paralegals. I hope to see you all there. (click here)