Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot, Season 2: The Best of the Guests (2011)

Before Christmas, I took what I thought was the easy way out of 2011, by offering a month-by-month recap of some of the LOMAP Blog’s best posts of this year. This allowed me to complete my Christmas shopping, just under the wire. And, while there is no New Year’s shopping requirement ( at least that I know of), the fact that I ate too many of these awesome chocolate-cheesecake-coconut contraptions that my aunt made, means that I have only traded ailments, and am now suffering from a post-Christmas, pre-New Year food hangover. The only cure: more cowbell. Or, eating less . . . or, more, I suppose: getting back on the horse that threw you, and all . . .

Of course, the shading of last week’s recap post may have offered the impression that this operation exists in a vacuum, in which the LOMAP staff works feverishly, day and evening and morning, producing only the finest law practice management-related blog postings. . . . Well, that’s only partially true. We have been, and continue to be, graced by the presence of some fantastic guest bloggers, whose posts we publish from time to time. So, this year, as last, it is my distinct pleasure to recap some of my favorite guest blog posts from the 2011 season:

-In February, Jim Bolan covered important changes to the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5, respecting fees and fee agreements.

-In April, Max Perlman revisited the Massachusetts data protection rules, one year post implementation.

-In June, Daryl Rinaldi offered some technology applications to help law firms respond to fee pressure.

-In July, Howard Lenow shared the full range of hardware and software that he uses to trick out his iPad.

-In September, Ken Reich relayed his top ten list of effective behaviors for the establishment and maintaining of a solo law practice.

-In November, Ken Leeser helped to define the three legs of the modern technology platform for small law firms: cloud, mobile, social.

If you’re interested in joining this esteemed collection of authors, and wish to write a guest post for the LOMAP Blog, email me at jared@masslomap.org.

. . .

Liner Notes

There isn’t much New Year’s music, despite what you’d think. So, the only possible thing to do here is to return to the Christmas season, which is virtually fine, to my mind, since we have not yet reached the Epiphany, when the lighted trees come down.

So, the other day, I was talking with various people about what they thought was the most-recorded Christmas song; nobody had a definitive answer; and, I didn’t feel like Googling it, either--because of being all unplugged for the Christmas season, and whatnot. Now, I have no factual basis for saying so: but, I have to believe it’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. I mean, you hear so many versions of that song; and, it’s sort of an easy thing to manage: if you’re going to do it, you only have to sing just the half of the song, and you get to make somebody happy by offering a duet. Usually, the way this goes down is that there is some one primary artist, who is releasing a Christmas album; he or she decides to do the song; he or she acquires a duet partner; and, from there: it’s practically in the groove. This is sort of the way we run the LOMAP Blog: we chiefly publish original content, and occasionally seek out effective collaborators to work with. Ain’t life beaut-iful . . .

So, here are a variety of versions of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”:

-Dean Martin was pretty much born to pimp, so it was a fait accompli that he would cover this song, with a bevy (harem?) of female singers accompanying him.

-Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton rasp through the entire thing.

-“Glee” is in the act.

-In a sort of creepy version, Willie Nelson pitches woo to the much junior Norah Jones.

-Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey offer up one of the cheesier versions of this song ever produced--and, that’s saying something. How did that work out? Not so well, eh.

-Selma Blair and Dwight Schrute attempt a reversal of the traditional ‘mouse’ and ‘wolf’ roles for a Gap commercial. Certainly makes me want to buy a sweater. . . . No, wait . . . it does not.

-James Taylor attempts to waylay Natalie Cole in an alternately goofy (JT, of course) and sultry (JT, again) play on the original.

-Ben Folds and Sara Bareilles do a whole thing around the song, which ends up having a sort of lounge act vibe to it.

-Homer and Jethro (not Tull), with June Carter, do a country send-up (that probably seemed much less dirty in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s than it really does seem now), on The Johnny Cash Show.

-Betty Garrett and Red Skelton act out what must be one of the first 'reversal' versions of the song, in the 1949 film, “Neptune’s Daughter”.

. . .

Now, while it hasn’t been very cold yet this winter, January and February hold some promise for snow. It will be then that you can get your swerve on in this manner. So, gentle men and gentle ladies with an agenda: Prepare thy hot toddies.

When Is Too Much Information Really TMI?

Even though it's not January or February or 2012, I have somehow ended up in a future tense edition of the American Bar Association's Law Practice magazine. (Don't worry, this will all make sense in a few days.)

For the January/February 2012 issue of Law Practice, I was asked to, and did, tackle some issues surrounding social media usage, including: generational differences among users; tips for staying safe and sane; and, a consideration of attorneys' ethical obligations. You can read the full article, here.

But, it's not just me, waxing poetic about all things legal and social media; no: The January/February edition of Law Practice has been dubbed 'The Social Media Issue', and features lots of great posts from various luminaries in the field, too many to mention here. You can read all of the issue's contents, here.

The (Third Annual) Posts of Christmas Past: The LOMAP Blog’s Calendar Year in Review (for 2011)

Yes, it’s Christmas all over again; and, you know what that means: It’s time for me to mail in a couple of blog posts at the end of the year here, so that I can actually get some Christmas shopping done instead. If it’s any consolation, and to, perhaps, dissuade you from dropping some fat lumps of coal into my comments section, verily below, I do believe that I have a valid excuse for my, otherwise inexcusable, transgression this year.

Within the proverbial stocking, rendered beyond this introduction, and hung snugly and with care, is packed my yearly recap of (not quite) the best of the best of the LOMAP Blog, from the 2011 season. (And, if the Mayans have anything to say about it, this will be the last one of these I do, unless I become far more proactive--fat chance of that happening.) Everything good ends with a montage (well, maybe not everything good); and, I’ll be damned if I’m denied the privilege of a year-end blog montage, as introduced by just this sort of dispassionate and imbalanced rambling . . .

We need a montage! Well, you got yourself a montage . . .

Iiiiiiiiiiin the first month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
A profile of the new law graduate, stuck between looking for work and working for himself:

Hedging Bettors: New-Fangled Attorneys as Stop-Gap Entrepreneurs Split Hobson’s Choice

In the second month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
A discussion of the importance of conflict checking, channeling Ice Cube:

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself: Attorneys Must Install Conflict Check Systems

In the third month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
Rachel’s rundown of some replacement options for the defunct Drop.io:

Drop(site) Like It’s Hot: Alternatives to Drop.io

In the fourth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
The conclusion of a three-part series on marketing with local search for lawyers:

Local Yoke III: Be Present In Your Community

In the fifth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
The end of the world as we know it, as predicted by the inevitable demise of the Post-It Note:

Forget Me Not(e)s: Imagining a World Without Post-It Notes

In the sixth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
In the continuation of a Nostradamus turn, predictions for a personal computing (PC) apocalypse:

Your Pad or Mine: The Rapture Comes for Traditional Computing Devices

In the seventh month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
A long and far-ranging review of LexisNexis’ new SaaS practice management software:

Firm Offer(ing): LexisNexis Cloud-Based Practice Management Suite Arrives

In the eighth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
A collaborative effort, focused on methods for further securing Dropbox:

Layering Security in the Cloud: Dropbox and Pre-Encryption

In the ninth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
Well, we just sort of groused about the audacity of Google’s introducing yet another 'social network' that I don’t care about:

Beta Lambs Knew Not: The Case Against the Early Adopters

In the tenth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
The conclusion of a two-part series on Microsoft tips. Word. + Paisley:

Word Up: 5 More Microsoft Tips (Part II)

In the eleventh month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
Oh, baby! A discussion of the importance of law practice management software, and a listing of some popular products in that line:

Law Practice Management Software: A Holistic Remedy

In the twelfth month of this year, the LOMAP Blog gave to me/
Rachel’s freshly-pressed review of Adobe Muse for website design and construction:

Musings on Using Adobe Muse for Website Creation

None of that rhymed: very well, I know. Consider this more of a prose carol.

In the immortal words of Tiny Tim: “I'd love to see Christ come back to crush the spirit of hate and make men put down their guns. I'd also like just one more hit single.”

. . . Wait, What the hell . . .

. . . Oh, Sorry, Wrong Tiny Tim: “God Bless us, every one!”, even, um, Tiny Tim.

. . .

Liner Notes

In looking over the Posts of Christmas Past and the Posts of Christmas Present, I realize that I may have painted myself into something of a corner here, as I pretty much predicted that I would. I mean, I included a lot of Christmas music in those Liner Notes. (I suppose pacing has never been my strong suit . . .) Of course, I also have a lot of Christmas music in my collection, and it seems like a ton of new Christmas albums come out every year, this year by people like Carole King and Michael Bubbly. So, perchance, there is still enough seasonal fodder to make this work, even if there is no theme, beyond the seasoning. Lo!, methinks the Posts of Christmas Future (Whoa) doth murmur . . . What singeth they?

“Baby’s First Christmas” by Connie Francis

“Blue Christmas” by Glen Campbell

“Colorado Christmas” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

“The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams

“Birthday Card at Christmas” by Jethro Tull

“One Little Christmas Tree” by Stevie Wonder

“Father Christmas” by The Kinks

“Bells Are Ringing” by Mary Chapin Carpenter

“Jingle Bells” by James Taylor

“Christmas Song” by Dave Matthews Band

“Christmas Must be Tonight” by The Band

“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes

. . .

May your days be merry and bright.

Well-Seasoned: In December, Holiday Gift Guides for Lawyers Abound

The holiday season means, if nothing else, rampant gift giving.

And, which of your colleagues would not wish for this, um, unique wine caddy, to show up under her tree? Could your paralegal turn down this swank t-shirt, if he found it in his stocking? Or, perhaps you subscribe to the Homer Simpson present-buying methodology, and you’d really like a new bowling ball, for yourself . . .

In any event, if you’re looking for gifts for attorneys, you’ve come to the right month. During the holiday season, gift guides for lawyers are prevalent, whether in broadcast or written form.

Some of the best primers around are:

-Dan Pinnington and Reid Trautz's “Attention, Shoppers: A Lawyer’s Gift Guide” is available from Attorney at Work. And, Reid's complete annual holiday gift guide for lawyers is accessible via his blog, here.

-Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson’s "Digital Edge" podcast features the best “Tech Toys for the Holidays 2011” in a recent episode.

-Heck, I’ve even gotten into the act; well, somewhat: At the latest episode of my podcast, the “Legal Toolkit”, I spoke with Brett Owens, of Chrometa, LLC, about his favorite web apps for the holidays.

-Since a number of lawyers are also technophiles, while not a gift guide for attorneys, David Pogue’s collection of holiday goodies (as presented by Techno Claus) offers some general-use electronic presents sure to please even the Grinch on your list.

-Because everyone loves lists, WeDoWebContent delivers an eclectic roundup of its top five holiday gifts for lawyers.

-For those who specialize in gag gifts during the holidays, the satirical Big Legal Brain blog serves up a list of some of the most outrageous attorneys’ gifts you’ll find.

Passive Aggressive: Background Timekeeping Tools

I’ve chosen to broadcast my one really good idea for the month of December through Attorney at Work. Yup, there’s only one . . . and they have it.

This month, I tackle the attorney’s traditional nemesis: timekeeping. Before you start to cringe, realize that there are some new-fangled products out there, that track time in the background, while you work, and that may make the experience more palatable than ever before.

Read more here.

On the Lower Frequencies: Working Off the Go

My monthly contribution to Clio’s Small Firm Innovation group blog (on the November theme of ‘working on the go’) sees me suggesting unplugging when you’re working away from the office, as a method for finding your long-lost concentration. . . . Yeah, as you might have guessed, I‘ve been ruminating on some Ralph Ellison of late. If you’re thinking of a Christmas present for me, “Three Days Before the Shooting . . .” would definitely be on my list.

You can read more, here.

Musings on Using Adobe Muse for Website Creation

I've written about creating a website using WordPress(.org), not once, but twice, because it is awesome. It is free, and about as easy to use as it gets. WordPress truly facilitates an easily-found, dynamic website, with its SEO-friendly CMS and many plug-ins. Then, there are a lot of fairly customizable themes, many of which are free. And, there's a great community of support, to which you might turn, whenever you need it.

And then, there's Adobe Muse. When I read Mashable's news about this beta that allows you to create a website without writing code, I was excited.

Please (please, please) note that you absolutely can create a website using WordPress without knowing how to code, at all. However, certain functions would be challenging, many impossible even, without having at least a decent grasp of HTML. My hope was (yes, was) that Muse would improve upon what a lawyer with no time to learn HTML (or CSS, or Javascript, ...) could make his or her website do.

It doesn't. But it absolutely does improve upon what that same lawyer could make his or her website look like, which, at least initially, might warrant its use.

Although I would seriously recommend using pen.io for a simple, temporary, placeholder website, if you are in a hurry to launch, Muse may very well get you there faster than WordPress. The base of the interface is the webpage that you are designing, and the entire website is displayed as an org chart. I can't think of a more intuitive starting point. Unfortunately, that's more or less the ending point for intuition's role in operating Muse, as well.

I know it's still in beta, but, as an example, to put a image on your webpage in Muse, you click on the File menu, and then choose Place. I never thought to go there (thanks for the help, Google). But, once it's there, you have almost infinitely more artistic flexibility in where you can position the image. And, as you drag that image wherever you please, grid lines appear (and disappear, in various colors), which help you align those images in a variety of ways; the grid lines indicate when a series of images are equidistant from one another, centered vertically, centered horizontally, etc. Incredibly useful. Positioning images in WordPress is essentially restricted, and thus frustrating.

Despite the improvement in creative freedom, Muse can become just as frustrating as you try to edit those images. For example, the image frame editing toolbar is permanently located below the menu toolbar, but the rest of the image editing options appear in a side panel when that image is selected (see here). An additional layer of frustration evolves as you try to add functionality with images, or Muse's version of widgets.

Similarly, creating a header in Muse is much like doing so in any program an ordinary person might feel comfortable with, like Paint or PowerPoint, even, but with wonkier controls. In WordPress, you need to have a separate file containing your entire header image, and it must meet certain pixel requirements, which may vary by theme; and then, you need to know to navigate from the dashboard to Appearance > Header, where it can be uploaded.

Simply put, Muse is not a content management system, as WordPress is, though in the future it might integrate those capabilities. Now, at least, it seems to me, that if you want to organize a lot of content with fairly restrictive, but perfectly logical, parameters, use WordPress (don't even think about using Adobe Muse). Conversely, if you want to creatively design an original website, use Adobe Muse (don't even think about using WordPress).

Ultimately, as to ease of use, it's nearly a wash between Muse and WordPress. The two are intuitive in entirely distinct realms, and pose a fairly considerable learning curves where they are not intuitive. Both can be supplemented with knowledge of HTML and more complicated code; but code is not a prerequisite for website creation using either program.

Chatter Box: Moderating Conversations in Twitter

This week’s Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers E-Journal Law Practice Management Section Featured Practice Tip comes from LOMAP. This week's Tip offers a means for finding meaningful conversation on Twitter.

Read the Tip here.