By: Courtney David Mills
IPA Technology Director and Litigation Paralegal at Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, P.C.
Just when you were getting comfortable with the amendments to the FRCP, terms like “electronically stored information”, and the latest litigation support software, Microsoft has come along to rain on your parade. Microsoft has introduced its newest operating system, Windows Vista, and its companion office suite, Office 2007. These products have a full bag of tricks to make Electronic Data Discovery (“EDD”) more challenging and more important than ever. This article with discuss Vista’s security features, shadow copy tracking, and the new file formats and PDF support offered in Office 2007. It will also discuss the practical impact of these features on the EDD process. One of the most probable impacts will relate to Vista’s encryption feature, Bitlocker.
Bitlocker:
Bitlocker is a very sophisticated form of drive encryption that is built-in to Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista. It is hardware based solution rather than a software based solution. It is built on 128-bit encryption which is the same level of security for most online banks on government information sites (in geek terms, it is another way of saying that there are 2^128 possible keys and nearly impossible to crack using brute force). Bitlocker is characterized by utilizing multiple layers of security during the boot process. The current options include (1) enter a pin code while the computer is booting-up, or (2) insert a USB key during the boot process. Either of these methods will still require a standard windows password during the login process. Once logged in, you may still encounter encrypted files or entire folders that are encrypted.
The impact of this feature on EDD and computer forensics can be alarming. In today’s litigation environment, it is still relatively rare to encounter large amounts of encrypted information in the corporate environment. In fact, many companies have a policy against encrypting files without express permission. Certain areas of law that deal with large amounts of sensitive information, i.e. health law, will almost certainly integrate this function into their IT policies. Bitlocker was designed towards companies that have mobile workforces that often carry large amounts of sensitive information, i.e. health records, social security numbers, and credit card information. It is not uncommon to hear a story on the evening news about a company losing an employee laptop with sensitive information on thousands of customers. Often, the cost of the laptop is irrelevant when compared to the costs of waging a public relations campaign or potential litigation exposure. With Bitlocker, a lost or stolen laptop is not as serious of a concern because a user would need two methods of authentication to even turn on the laptop. Also, since Bitlocker is a form of hardware based security, users cannot simply remove the hard drive to another computer for access to cracking the hard drive. This aspect presents a unique problem for EDD experts. Clients may no longer be able to simply remove and store a hard drive for EDD preservation obligations. It may be necessary to decommission the entire laptop and preserve the laptop (with hard drive intact).
To make the matter even more difficult, there is reportedly no “back-door” (secret security protocol that allows law enforcement officials to access encrypted drives or files) to Bitlocker. This point has become an issue of contention between Microsoft and the FBI. In other words, if you receive a laptop from a client that was confiscated from an employee who was being discharged and the laptop has Windows Vista with encrypted files, do not plan on simply sending the laptop to your firm’s IT department. You will need to hire a computer forensic expert and possible a computer cryptologist to attempt to bypass the encryption.
Shadow copies:
Another interesting feature of Vista is the built-in shadow file function that will save a shadow copy of files that you are working on at pre-established intervals. This feature is referred to as “Transactional NTFS” or “TxF”. It essentially creates point-in-time copies of files as you work so that you can retrieve versions of files that may have been accidently deleted or saved over. This feature is available on the Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise versions of Vista. This feature can be configured to work on a single file or an entire folder.
The impact of this feature on EDD cannot be understated. This feature will eliminate the damage caused to the “last access time” metadata field when a person peeks at a document without a write protector, or when an antivirus program scans a file. It will also create a very significant “version trail” of a document that can easily be the smoking gun in a given case. This function is very similar to “document history” index that is available with many document management programs. This feature also makes the process of preserving and producing such information much more important. For years, I have told attorneys that metadata is more often than not, irrelevant in particular types of litigation. This axiom may no longer be accurate. While metadata fields such as “last access time” are usually not very helpful in everyday litigation, information showing different versions of a letter (such as the first draft of the letter drafted in the heat of the moment) can be invaluable evidence.
File Formats:
One of the features of vista that has frustrated just about everyone I know in the legal is the creation of new file types. Not only does Office 2007 have several new programs, it features new file formats. Office Ultimate 2007 includes: Accounting Express 2007 (an accounting program), InfoPath 2007 (a form and template program), Groove 2007 (a project and document collaboration program), and OneNote 2007 (a program that can potentially act as a litigation support program to create virtual trial binders). Some of the new file formats include: .docx (Word 2007), .xlsx (Excel 2007), and .pptx (Power Point 2007). These new file types are not even readable in Word 2003 without downloading an update from Microsoft.
Another interesting change with Office 2007 file types is the ability save files in XML (a type of computer code language). This feature will essentially allow EDD professionals to redact files in native format. This feature will likely continue the trend of EDD productions in native format and also challenge the generally held belief that “you cannot redact files in native format”.
These new file types (just like any other file type) offer new features and frustrations during the EDD process. It was less than a year ago when I spent an entire luncheon with several attorneys discussing the difference between .pdf, .doc, .txt, and .tiff files in the EDD process. I mentioned that it is almost always okay to accept .doc files in some kind of converted or quasi-native production, but would always recommend .xls files be requested in native format. Based on the features discussed above, I now suggest that .docx files be produced in native format.
PDF Support:
There has been on ongoing feud over the last few years between Adobe and Microsoft. Unfortunately, the feud has spoiled what could have been a great partnership of two great products, Adobe Professional 8 and Microsoft Office 2007. As it currently stands, the two products are not compatible. This is coming from someone that had to test this claim for himself. There are updates that users can download to perform simple functions such as print to PDF, converting files, etc. However, users that want to convert entire email folders to a PDF package must use Office 2003.
Conclusion:
Although it should cause for wide-spread panic or rioting in the streets, the impact of Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 on the EDD process is considered one of the most important themes for the coming months and years. The wait-and-see approach to companies adopting Windows Vista and Office 2007 coupled with the delay period between incidents and litigation, will likely allow the legal field a little more time to become acquainted with the issues discussed above. It is important to keep in mind that many of the features discussed above (Bitlocker and shadow copy feature) are only relevant on certain versions of Windows Vista (there are five different versions of Vista to choose from). It is important to know which version of Vista your client or the opposing party is using. For those of you just getting used to Windows XP and Office 2003, do not worry. The riots will start for at least a few months.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
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 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/
Saturday, July 21, 2007
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
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
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
5 jobs with the law
The Indianapolis Star is feature an article about "5 jobs with the law" which includes Paralegals.
Monday, June 4, 2007
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/
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/
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
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)
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)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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.
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