#what did the humble pdf document do to deserve this...

[lowpawly]

ok an unexpected side effect of all this stupid cutesy censorship language when it comes to serious topics so that people don't miss their stupid paychecks is feeling mildly triggered downloading pdf documents LOL

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182471426257

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[sublimedeal]

Kimanzi Constable – Get Booked (Home Study)

Aloha and welcome!

Richard Trevino II “Kimanzi Constable is the real deal! Get Booked (Home Study) is the second program that I’ve taken with him and I am EXTREMELY satisfied. His programs are always packed with actionable content, realistic steps, and no fluff!”

Companies all over the world will spend $365 billion dollars this year hiring consultants. They want to hire you… You Deserve More You’re probably here because you joined a program or hired a coach that said they could teach you how to get booked as a paid speaker and consultant. What you probably got was content that helped you learn HOW to speak but NOT how to book paid gigs. The reality is that most speakers and consultants aren’t booking paid gigs.

They speak at industry events for free in hopes of getting business to cover their expenses. You won’t get any of that in the home study version of Get Booked. The focus of this program is on paid events at midsize companies, Fortune 100-500 companies, and large multinational corporations worldwide. We focus on mainstream events and companies that have money to pay for your time, knowledge, and expertise.

I remember the frustration I felt when I was just starting out in lifestyle business and couldn’t book any speaking or consulting gigs that paid. I wanted to speak and consult so badly. I did more free gigs than I could count hoping it would somehow lead to paid gigs. Today, life is much different and all I do these days are paid gigs all over the world. I want to teach you how to stop speaking for free—you deserve to get paid for your time and knowledge.

In the home study version of this program, I will show you the exact steps I’ve used to go from doing $500 speaking and consulting gigs to getting booked to speak and consult in 77 countries and at events and companies that pay five to six-figures, and a bunch of extras. This four-module home study program will teach you how to set up a speaker and consultant’s foundation, how to build social proof that gets you booked and/or booked for higher paying gigs, how to find paid speaking events and companies that will pay you to consult, how to put together killer presentations, and how to build your speaking and consulting business to book gigs all over the world. What This Home Study Class is Not This program will not be what you typically see online. I won’t be teaching you high-level strategies that sound good but aren’t practical. I won’t be teaching you tactics that worked five years ago but won’t work now. I won’t be teaching you how to book social media, podcast, or Internet marketing industry conferences that won’t pay you to speak. I WON’T be teaching you how to book consulting with individuals. I won’t be holding any content back to force you to buy some next level package. You will get everything in this four-week program. What This Home Study Class is This program is step-by-step and you get everything. You will learn how to create the right foundation, learn how to find and pitch gigs, see real-life examples and get access to documents that will help you build a thriving speaking and consulting business. This home study program will teach you how to start from the very beginning, how you build, and how to get gigs as you build. If you have some experience, this program will teach you how to use that experience to get better and higher paying gigs. The focus of this program is booking gigs at midsize companies, Fortune 100-500 companies, and large multinational corporations all over the world. Get Instant Access What the Graduates Have to Say

Nicole Wipp “I’ve had the privilege of working with many top business coaches, and have gotten very picky about who I spend my time and money on. Kimanzi’s advice and teaching are from a very different viewpoint than most today, and that’s what makes it so valuable. For those that want to take their business to a different level and are ready to execute: I highly recommend Kimanzi and Get Booked.”

“I have taken a lot of courses over the years, but this was one of those life-changing courses. Kimanzi Constable is a knowledgeable and generous teacher. As a hands-on instructor, he answered every single question we had and didn’t hold back. I completed the course with the knowledge of what I had to do next. Some courses leave you hanging but I got exactly what I needed to get started Getting Booked. He posts frequently in the Facebook group and encourages and applauds his students. I can’t recommend Kimanzi and his courses highly enough.” Debbie Peck Mitch Swergold “Kimanzi, Thanks for an absolutely career-changing class! To describe it as anything less would be to sell it (and you) short. I’ve invested in a number of classes and coaches in the past. Some were good, some quite good, NONE like this. This class was AMAZING. It very clearly showed me what I need to do to achieve my goals. In fact, it helped me to see that my goals and how I was going about achieving them needed significant change. I can’t thank you enough.

You came well-recommended from someone I trust and respect, but the price tag, I must admit, gave me pause. The old adage is true: you get what you pay for. I wholeheartedly recommend Kimanzi and his class to anyone seeking to build a lifestyle business. He’s also just a fun guy to talk to. I bet even better with a few beers. Cheers to you, Kimanzi, and many thanks!”

“If you want to expand your unfamiliar zone, stretch your thinking, and move into the world of consulting, then this is your time and course. What can l say, Kimanzi the most generous and humble man who serves with love, knowledge, and wisdom. Do yourself a favor and get into this four-week course and see how doors open.” Ange Kam Sonia Thompson “I’ve taken A LOT of courses over the years to improve my skills and grow my business. I have to say that I’ve never felt like any of those instructors were as personally invested in my (and all of the students) success as Kimanzi has been in this course. It is a wonderful feeling to have that kind of support not just in teaching you the material, but being there with you in the trenches pushing and helping you along as you apply the curriculum.

This is my 2nd course with Kimanzi, and my 3rd time working with him. Through his guidance and teachings, I not only see more clearly all the grand opportunities that are available to me as I grow my business, but I feel well-equipped to go out and seize them. Kimanzi, I can’t thank you enough for the transformational impact you’ve had on me, my thinking, and my business. Muchas, muchas gracias.”

“Having been blessed with a great deal of success after a lifetime of hard work, and having also invested thousands of dollars in “coaching” and “courses”, most of which produced little except a lower bank account, my standards were quite high for hiring a business coach. I searched for someone who was walking the path, today, that I pictured myself walking in my dream future.

Kimanzi Constable’s Get Booked class has delivered a practical, hands-on education on how to launch a lucrative and fulfilling writing and speaking career in the highly competitive digital age. Not only did Kimanzi walk all class members through a step-by-step process for getting paid to write and speak, but he has also been authentic and transparent on the “dark underbelly” that exists in the real-world, sharing from his personal experience how he has successfully navigated through staff challenges and betrayals, family priorities and personal health issues–in short, keeping it real while keeping it coming!

Thank you, Kimanzi, for your genuine heart to help and spread the wealth of your knowledge and experience. I’m proud to follow your lead, and be part of the crowd that is making you proud with our successes.” Dr. Lory Moore Derek Doepker “Before going through the Get Booked training, I knew I wanted to get started as a speaker and consultant, but had no idea what to do. Kimanzi’s training led me through the process step by step. What I love most about the training is it’s no fluff, “this is exactly what you need to do” style.

If you’re just starting out, it shows how to build up credibility. If you’re more experienced, you’ll see the gaps that need to be filled. I now have an A-Z game plan of establishing myself in the consultant and speaking world. I’d highly recommend Get Booked to anyone serious about creating a high-paying speaking and consultant career.”

What You Get

Screen shared training – Get eight-plus hours of video training–through a screen share–that walks you through the EXACT steps to book paid speaking and consulting gigs all over the world. Documents and templates – These documents include sample contracts, pitching templates, handouts, sample slides, pitch examples, and PDF’s that walk you through all of the teachings and strategies. An amazing private group – You will have access to a private group to share wins/lessons, get inspired, share your homework, and network with other rock star speakers and consultants. Q&A sessions – You will get ongoing support. Monthly, I will host group Q&A sessions to answer any questions that may come up as you implement. Consulting leads – I post a consulting lead three-days-a-week in our private group. I give you a good company to target, tell you why they’re a good target, and give you the best angle to pitch them. Access to my referral network – I get consulting offers that I can’t handle. I give these opportunities to my referral network and take a small cut once you get booked. Graduates of Get Booked are that network. And So Much More… I Want The Good Stuff > 05 DAYS 12 HOURS 18 MINUTES 38 SECONDS

If you’re not familiar with who I am, Hi, I’m Kimanzi Constable. I’m the author of four books that have sold over 150,000 copies. You can see my articles in The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen, Mind Body Green, Fox News, The Good Men Project, Yahoo, NBC News, Time Magazine, Business Insider, Addicted 2 Success, CBS News, and over 60 blogs. I have booked hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting contracts at companies and have done paid speaking/consulting gigs in 73 countries.

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Kimanzi Constable – Get Booked (Home Study) published first on https://premiumwarezstore.tumblr.com/

[endorsereviews]

Kimanzi Constable – Get Booked (Home Study)

Aloha and welcome!

Richard Trevino II “Kimanzi Constable is the real deal! Get Booked (Home Study) is the second program that I’ve taken with him and I am EXTREMELY satisfied. His programs are always packed with actionable content, realistic steps, and no fluff!”

Companies all over the world will spend $365 billion dollars this year hiring consultants. They want to hire you… You Deserve More You’re probably here because you joined a program or hired a coach that said they could teach you how to get booked as a paid speaker and consultant. What you probably got was content that helped you learn HOW to speak but NOT how to book paid gigs. The reality is that most speakers and consultants aren’t booking paid gigs.

They speak at industry events for free in hopes of getting business to cover their expenses. You won’t get any of that in the home study version of Get Booked. The focus of this program is on paid events at midsize companies, Fortune 100-500 companies, and large multinational corporations worldwide. We focus on mainstream events and companies that have money to pay for your time, knowledge, and expertise.

I remember the frustration I felt when I was just starting out in lifestyle business and couldn’t book any speaking or consulting gigs that paid. I wanted to speak and consult so badly. I did more free gigs than I could count hoping it would somehow lead to paid gigs. Today, life is much different and all I do these days are paid gigs all over the world. I want to teach you how to stop speaking for free—you deserve to get paid for your time and knowledge.

In the home study version of this program, I will show you the exact steps I’ve used to go from doing $500 speaking and consulting gigs to getting booked to speak and consult in 77 countries and at events and companies that pay five to six-figures, and a bunch of extras. This four-module home study program will teach you how to set up a speaker and consultant’s foundation, how to build social proof that gets you booked and/or booked for higher paying gigs, how to find paid speaking events and companies that will pay you to consult, how to put together killer presentations, and how to build your speaking and consulting business to book gigs all over the world. What This Home Study Class is Not This program will not be what you typically see online. I won’t be teaching you high-level strategies that sound good but aren’t practical. I won’t be teaching you tactics that worked five years ago but won’t work now. I won’t be teaching you how to book social media, podcast, or Internet marketing industry conferences that won’t pay you to speak. I WON’T be teaching you how to book consulting with individuals. I won’t be holding any content back to force you to buy some next level package. You will get everything in this four-week program. What This Home Study Class is This program is step-by-step and you get everything. You will learn how to create the right foundation, learn how to find and pitch gigs, see real-life examples and get access to documents that will help you build a thriving speaking and consulting business. This home study program will teach you how to start from the very beginning, how you build, and how to get gigs as you build. If you have some experience, this program will teach you how to use that experience to get better and higher paying gigs. The focus of this program is booking gigs at midsize companies, Fortune 100-500 companies, and large multinational corporations all over the world. Get Instant Access What the Graduates Have to Say

Nicole Wipp “I’ve had the privilege of working with many top business coaches, and have gotten very picky about who I spend my time and money on. Kimanzi’s advice and teaching are from a very different viewpoint than most today, and that’s what makes it so valuable. For those that want to take their business to a different level and are ready to execute: I highly recommend Kimanzi and Get Booked.”

“I have taken a lot of courses over the years, but this was one of those life-changing courses. Kimanzi Constable is a knowledgeable and generous teacher. As a hands-on instructor, he answered every single question we had and didn’t hold back. I completed the course with the knowledge of what I had to do next. Some courses leave you hanging but I got exactly what I needed to get started Getting Booked. He posts frequently in the Facebook group and encourages and applauds his students. I can’t recommend Kimanzi and his courses highly enough.” Debbie Peck Mitch Swergold “Kimanzi, Thanks for an absolutely career-changing class! To describe it as anything less would be to sell it (and you) short. I’ve invested in a number of classes and coaches in the past. Some were good, some quite good, NONE like this. This class was AMAZING. It very clearly showed me what I need to do to achieve my goals. In fact, it helped me to see that my goals and how I was going about achieving them needed significant change. I can’t thank you enough.

You came well-recommended from someone I trust and respect, but the price tag, I must admit, gave me pause. The old adage is true: you get what you pay for. I wholeheartedly recommend Kimanzi and his class to anyone seeking to build a lifestyle business. He’s also just a fun guy to talk to. I bet even better with a few beers. Cheers to you, Kimanzi, and many thanks!”

“If you want to expand your unfamiliar zone, stretch your thinking, and move into the world of consulting, then this is your time and course. What can l say, Kimanzi the most generous and humble man who serves with love, knowledge, and wisdom. Do yourself a favor and get into this four-week course and see how doors open.” Ange Kam Sonia Thompson “I’ve taken A LOT of courses over the years to improve my skills and grow my business. I have to say that I’ve never felt like any of those instructors were as personally invested in my (and all of the students) success as Kimanzi has been in this course. It is a wonderful feeling to have that kind of support not just in teaching you the material, but being there with you in the trenches pushing and helping you along as you apply the curriculum.

This is my 2nd course with Kimanzi, and my 3rd time working with him. Through his guidance and teachings, I not only see more clearly all the grand opportunities that are available to me as I grow my business, but I feel well-equipped to go out and seize them. Kimanzi, I can’t thank you enough for the transformational impact you’ve had on me, my thinking, and my business. Muchas, muchas gracias.”

“Having been blessed with a great deal of success after a lifetime of hard work, and having also invested thousands of dollars in “coaching” and “courses”, most of which produced little except a lower bank account, my standards were quite high for hiring a business coach. I searched for someone who was walking the path, today, that I pictured myself walking in my dream future.

Kimanzi Constable’s Get Booked class has delivered a practical, hands-on education on how to launch a lucrative and fulfilling writing and speaking career in the highly competitive digital age. Not only did Kimanzi walk all class members through a step-by-step process for getting paid to write and speak, but he has also been authentic and transparent on the “dark underbelly” that exists in the real-world, sharing from his personal experience how he has successfully navigated through staff challenges and betrayals, family priorities and personal health issues–in short, keeping it real while keeping it coming!

Thank you, Kimanzi, for your genuine heart to help and spread the wealth of your knowledge and experience. I’m proud to follow your lead, and be part of the crowd that is making you proud with our successes.” Dr. Lory Moore Derek Doepker “Before going through the Get Booked training, I knew I wanted to get started as a speaker and consultant, but had no idea what to do. Kimanzi’s training led me through the process step by step. What I love most about the training is it’s no fluff, “this is exactly what you need to do” style.

If you’re just starting out, it shows how to build up credibility. If you’re more experienced, you’ll see the gaps that need to be filled. I now have an A-Z game plan of establishing myself in the consultant and speaking world. I’d highly recommend Get Booked to anyone serious about creating a high-paying speaking and consultant career.”

What You Get

Screen shared training – Get eight-plus hours of video training–through a screen share–that walks you through the EXACT steps to book paid speaking and consulting gigs all over the world. Documents and templates – These documents include sample contracts, pitching templates, handouts, sample slides, pitch examples, and PDF’s that walk you through all of the teachings and strategies. An amazing private group – You will have access to a private group to share wins/lessons, get inspired, share your homework, and network with other rock star speakers and consultants. Q&A sessions – You will get ongoing support. Monthly, I will host group Q&A sessions to answer any questions that may come up as you implement. Consulting leads – I post a consulting lead three-days-a-week in our private group. I give you a good company to target, tell you why they’re a good target, and give you the best angle to pitch them. Access to my referral network – I get consulting offers that I can’t handle. I give these opportunities to my referral network and take a small cut once you get booked. Graduates of Get Booked are that network. And So Much More… I Want The Good Stuff > 05 DAYS 12 HOURS 18 MINUTES 38 SECONDS

If you’re not familiar with who I am, Hi, I’m Kimanzi Constable. I’m the author of four books that have sold over 150,000 copies. You can see my articles in The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen, Mind Body Green, Fox News, The Good Men Project, Yahoo, NBC News, Time Magazine, Business Insider, Addicted 2 Success, CBS News, and over 60 blogs. I have booked hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting contracts at companies and have done paid speaking/consulting gigs in 73 countries.

Copyright 2018. Get Booked (all rights reserved) Powered By Clickfunnels

Kimanzi Constable – Get Booked (Home Study) posted first on premiumwarezstore.blogspot.com

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182429039677

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182402886112

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2CMTuWT from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182395230137

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2CMTuWT

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182372647437

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182335479567

[eliaandponto1]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE

[taleshalance4]

How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan

Was Lao Tzu thinking of law offices in the 21st century when he wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” in the 6th century B.C.? 

Without question. There’s a reason the e-book, The Paperless Law Office, is the most popular one my team has ever produced: Lawyers understand the criticality of ditching physical files, but a lot of times they get hung up how to start what seems like a herculean task.

For those struggling with going paperless, let 2019 be different. If you follow this month-by-month advice and take it step-by-step, by the end of the year you’ll be set up for success going forward.

January: Commit to Starting Slowly and Chipping Away

Do you want to go paperless? Commit to it, and realize that after this 12-month plan is over, your office will operate with a lot less stress and waste. According to legal technology speaker Bryan Sims on a recent episode of the 10-Minute Law Firm Podcast, going paperless is the single most important thing you can do to run a more efficient law practice.

So this month make a commitment: You will chip away at going paperless step by step. You will approach the project with grit and determination, never getting knocked off track by setbacks.

You will overcome resistant employees, removing them from their roles if need be, because you deserve a more profitable and stress-free enterprise.

February: Determine Your Process

We’re taking things nice and slow, so before we rush headlong into purchasing bunch of expensive technology, we must first sketch out a process.

Specifically, you need to define how you will handle two situations: first, how you will handle internally created documents and second, how to handle externally created documents. For more information and to get some ideas, watch this recording of a webinar we did with Sims last year.

Once you define this process, create a checklist that your staff must follow. Discipline is key here: everyone must follow the same steps or chaos will ensue.

March: Establish Naming and Filing Conventions

As part of your process review, you and your team might get hung up how to name something and where to put it. This may or may not come as a shock, but these sorts of discussions can become quite passionate.

For this reason, I recommend defining your overall folder structure and file naming conventions separately from your overall paperless workflow. It will build momentum and make things simpler.

For suggestions, or better yet a or a complete playbook on how to name your files and structure folders, a guide created by paperless lawyer Andrew Kucera can help you.

April: Get Desktop Scanners

It’s time to make the plunge and buy hardware. And the best move is to get desktop scanners and put them on everyone’s desks. It doesn’t make sense to have one central garbage can in your office, does it? So it doesn’t make sense to have one central scanning resource either.

You are a document professional, so get the best document tools. Do not get multi-function devices, such as printer/copier/scanner/fax machines. These devices compromise functionality since they support so many tasks.

I share the opinion of many legal tech experts that the best solution for desktop scanners is the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. For approximately $400 (at the time this article was written) these machines come with PDF creation software, process 25 double-sided pages per minute, and perform all sorts of wonderful tasks.

May: Choose Online File Storage Provide

I recommend choosing an online storage provider that syncs automatically with your desktop or laptop and am a big fan of Google Drive. I already use Gmail, Google Calendar, other G Suite tools, and Google Drive plays really well with them.

I recommend smaller law firms look at specialized document storage tool like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, or OneDrive. Larger organizations might want to stick to NetDocuments, Box, or Google Drive.

Now stop and smell the roses! Summer is coming, and at this point, you’re pretty paperless: you’re scanning documents, have processes defined, have consistent file and folder conventions, and you’re backing your documents up securely. Nice work!

June: Automate Your Billing and Collections

One of the biggest forms of waste in a law firm is sending out paperless bills and waiting for checks. This onerous process requires many people-hours, is a slow way to collect revenue, and is out of step with how many modern clients want to pay.

Furthermore, you end up collecting a much higher percentage of your invoices with electronic billing, which more than compensates for credit card fees.

Instead of printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, addressing, and sending invoices, with paperless billing you click a button and invoices are emailed out to clients. They can then pay online with debit or credit cards and you have your money the next day.

To learn how to embrace paperless billing, this e-book can get you started.

July: Automate Simple Documents with Document Assembly!

Consider the humble engagement letter: imagine if you could collect information about a new client during your intake process and then instantly generate a document.

Document assembly allows you to click a button and create a document from fields you’ve saved in a database. It scares attorneys, especially ones who are not very technically-savvy, but the reality is it’s not too tough to do and the benefits are amazing.

July is usually one of the slower months for law firms, so use it to expand your knowledge and add this critical skill to your toolset.

There are many ways to start – you are probably already using Microsoft Word, so learning about Mail Merge fields will help you get started. This is how Rocket Matter’s and other practice management software document assembly tools work.

There are also more powerful tools such as HotDocs, which are better suited for more complicated document production.

August: Use Summer Slowdown to Scan Backlog

You have a decision to make: do you want to scan all of your documents or just your active cases? Personally, I’m lazy. I prefer to scan only the active stuff I’m working on.

That said, there is a lot to catch up on even if you’re only scanning your active files. It’s best to approach this task little by little, and start doing it gradually throughout the year. But when August hits and business slows, take advantage of the downtime to really make a dent in your scanning backlog.

September: Embrace Mobile Paperless Tools

If you haven’t done so already, start taking advantage of the tools you can use on the digital Swiss Army Knives we carry with us at all times: smartphones and tablets.

Smartphones allow for scanning-on-the go functionality. The cameras in the latest models are incredible, and perfect for getting a document quickly into your system.

iAnnotate makes it possible for you to write on PDFs using a tablet—this is just one of many PDF tools you can find for markup. And the online document storage tools you implemented in May pay dividends: no matter where you are (as long as you have a data plan or internet connection), you can pull up your files.

October: Automate Pleadings and More Complex Documents

It’s time to take the next step with our document assembly project that we started in July. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of doc automation with your engagement letter and are happily and efficiently onboarding clients.

Now it’s time to really ratchet up your efficiencies! Make a list of the top 10 documents your law firm creates on a regular basis and convert those into document templates.

Spend some time learning what Microsoft Word can do with mail merge fields, such as if-then-else logic, prompting for questions, and special formatting. You will be amazed. You can switch pronouns based on gender, swap paragraphs out based on conditions, and significantly reduce the errors as well as time in document production.

November: Realize it’s Okay to Still Use Some Paper

Not everything need be digitized. Even the most paperless of law firms still use paper. Paper is still great for note-taking. For me, no stylus and tablet can reproduce the beautiful tactile experience of writing with my favorite pen. And handwritten notes are still special, even more so in our noisy, social media-infected world.

December: Reflect on Success, Plan Improvements for 2020

Congratulations! You did it! It took twelve months, but you took it nice and slow, and now you don’t have to spend 15 minutes looking for files. You can view them from anywhere you are. You can work from home more. You have more time on your hands because creating documents takes a single click. And you’re collecting more money than ever because of your conversion to electronic payments.

Our work is not done here. Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, it’s time to scout for more inefficiencies in your processes. What can you do better? How can you run an even better firm for 2020?

The post How to Go Paperless in 2019: A Month-by-Month Plan appeared first on Law Technology Today.

from http://bit.ly/2sOvfmE from https://eliaandponto1.tumblr.com/post/182324598562