The Kennedy-Mighell Report

Recent statistics indicate that there will be more than 100 billion app downloads in 2014. Although there are more than a million apps available for download on the iOS and Android platforms, most users tend to rely on a core set of around two dozen apps. Lawyers have been using fewer legal apps in their practice but they still actively use other apps for work and in their personal lives. Apps for travel, productivity, presentations, and document management are sharing space on lawyers' home screens with social, mobile, and entertainment apps. With all this availability, how and where are lawyers using the apps on their smartphones and tablets?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the current state of apps, what apps they actually use and why, and offer some advice for lawyers choosing and using apps. Mighell explains the difficulty recommending legal apps due to bad quality with the exception of litigation apps such as WestlawNext, Lexis Advanced, and Fastcase. He uses apps mainly for consuming information, with app categories such as news, travel, productivity, photography, and others for his personal life. Kennedy discusses having most-used apps on the home screen of his smartphone, how he uses apps for consistent updates, and that he mostly has ones for his personal life including ESPN, Omnifocus, U Verse, Feedly, and Podcasts. Together, Kennedy and Mighell examine the lack of dashboard or portal app use and which tablet might work best with a lawyer's practice or personal life. Even though lawyers are not using legal apps, they are still using many others to facilitate their lives.

In the second segment of the podcast, Kennedy and Mighell think back nostalgically about the days of Web 1.0. They discuss the simpler digital era, revival apps and websites such as Ello, the Facebook Room's app, and tilde.club, and the booming advertising on today's internet. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

The College of Law Practice Management recently held its 2014 Futures Conference at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. This conference brings together members of the College of Law Practice Management and young innovative lawyers to discuss what the future of law practice might look like and how the attendees might provide an influential voice. Dennis and Tom participated in the program and came away with some interesting insights about the direction innovative lawyers are headed. They also have some feedback about what worked for the conference and what they might have changed.

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the 2014 Futures Conference, the future of law practice, and the role technology is likely to play in that future. The conference, they explain, featured programming as well as an innovation discussion surrounding a "Ted Talks" then "Shark Tank" concept of quickly coming up with ideas and then collaborating to develop the best of them. Mighell noted the most common ideas involved providing services to underserved demographics who don't have proper access to legal resources. He discusses the importance of narrowing and developing broad concepts and whether we should revisit old ideas in light of new technology. Kennedy wishes there had been more group time to develop ideas. He also discusses balancing programming and free time in the College of Law Practice Management's Futures Conference and another he attended this year. Overall, both enjoyed the conference, and were please to see that Suffolk Law School is teaching legal technology, process improvement, project management so new lawyers can be "practice ready".

After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the new iPads that were released, the benefits of each, and the excitement (or lack of excitement) surrounding tablets. Kennedy tentatively decides on the iPad Air 2 with 64 gigabytes, Applecare, a smart cover, and the Apple wireless keyboard. Tom notes the thinness of the new iPads and the decreasing enthusiasm for buying new iPads. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

The College of Law Practice Management recently held its 2014 Futures Conference at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. This conference brings together members of the College of Law Practice Management and young innovative lawyers to discuss what the future of law practice might look like and how the attendees might provide an influential voice. Dennis and Tom participated in the program and came away with some interesting insights about the direction innovative lawyers are headed. They also have some feedback about what worked for the conference and what they might have changed.

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about the 2014 Futures Conference, the future of law practice, and the role technology is likely to play in that future. The conference, they explain, featured programming as well as an innovation discussion surrounding a "Ted Talks" then "Shark Tank" concept of quickly coming up with ideas and then collaborating to develop the best of them. Mighell noted the most common ideas involved providing services to underserved demographics who don't have proper access to legal resources. He discusses the importance of narrowing and developing broad concepts and whether we should revisit old ideas in light of new technology. Kennedy wishes there had been more group time to develop ideas. He also discusses balancing programming and free time in the College of Law Practice Management's Futures Conference and another he attended this year. Overall, both enjoyed the conference, and were please to see that Suffolk Law School is teaching legal technology, process improvement, project management so new lawyers can be "practice ready".

After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the new iPads that were released, the benefits of each, and the excitement (or lack of excitement) surrounding tablets. Kennedy tentatively decides on the iPad Air 2 with 64 gigabytes, Applecare, a smart cover, and the Apple wireless keyboard. Tom notes the thinness of the new iPads and the decreasing enthusiasm for buying new iPads. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Most of us assume that lawyers are slow adopters of technology because that's what we hear all the time. ILTA's InsideLegal Survey and the ABA Technology Survey are annual surveys of lawyers that provide some data about the actual usage of technology by lawyers. Because these surveys are voluntary, they give a big picture of changing trends rather than specific accurate data. Does the common assumption that lawyers are technologically behind still hold true in 2014?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell analyze the results of 2014 ILTA-InsideLegal survey, the 2014 ABA Technology Survey and recommend ways lawyers can use these surveys to benefit their practice or clients. Mighell notices that in 2014 lawyers are adopting fewer new technologies compared with an increase in mobile technology and cloud computing from the previous two years. He explains that the major purchases have been pretty standard: hardware upgrades, server upgrades, and new laptops and desktops. Although Kennedy also noticed the lag in exciting results from the surveys, he emphasizes that these surveys are voluntarily taken by lawyers interested in technology, so there might be more progress in less tech savvy demographics. He also mentions the most exciting lawyer technology trends mobile, virtualization, cloud services, wearable technologies, and discusses the shift in tablet use and security.

In the second segment, Kennedy and Mighell discuss why young lawyers do not often attend legal technology conferences, how they could benefit from the conferences, and the disconnect between what young lawyers think they know about technology and what they still need to learn. Listen to the end for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Most of us assume that lawyers are slow adopters of technology because that's what we hear all the time. ILTA's InsideLegal Survey and the ABA Technology Survey are annual surveys of lawyers that provide some data about the actual usage of technology by lawyers. Because these surveys are voluntary, they give a big picture of changing trends rather than specific accurate data. Does the common assumption that lawyers are technologically behind still hold true in 2014?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell analyze the results of 2014 ILTA-InsideLegal survey, the 2014 ABA Technology Survey and recommend ways lawyers can use these surveys to benefit their practice or clients. Mighell notices that in 2014 lawyers are adopting fewer new technologies compared with an increase in mobile technology and cloud computing from the previous two years. He explains that the major purchases have been pretty standard: hardware upgrades, server upgrades, and new laptops and desktops. Although Kennedy also noticed the lag in exciting results from the surveys, he emphasizes that these surveys are voluntarily taken by lawyers interested in technology, so there might be more progress in less tech savvy demographics. He also mentions the most exciting lawyer technology trends mobile, virtualization, cloud services, wearable technologies, and discusses the shift in tablet use and security.

In the second segment, Kennedy and Mighell discuss why young lawyers do not often attend legal technology conferences, how they could benefit from the conferences, and the disconnect between what young lawyers think they know about technology and what they still need to learn. Listen to the end for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

With fall fast approaching, you can be sure of two things: football games and new phones! Apple and other vendors recently announced new editions of their phones, as well as some interesting new gadgets. With new options like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch, iOS 8, and Apple Pay, Apple-using lawyers need to think about which products they need (or want) and how to make the best use of them. But what about those lawyers who have moved to other product vendors such as Android? Most lawyers could use an update on the newest technology to make informed autumn purchases.

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new Apple devices, thoughts on the new features of iOS 8, and what lawyers should think about if they haven't already purchased a new phone lately. They discuss the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, embracing the "phablet," and how most people use their smartphone as more of a mobile computer than a phone. They also discuss other new products such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 watch, and why lawyers might prefer Android or Apple products. With the release of iOS 8 comes new exciting features such as extensions, alternate keyboards, and widgets, but both Kennedy and Mighell had to deal with long downloading times. They wrap up the first part of this podcast by examining the future of Apple Pay, why it might succeed where Google Wallet failed, and how lawyers could utilize these changes to get ahead in their practice.

After the break, the Kennedy and Mighell discuss the Apple Watch and other wearable technology in more detail. As people begin to use wearable devices to gain and save information, the amount of discoverable data will increase immensely and it will be important for lawyers to pay attention. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

With fall fast approaching, you can be sure of two things: football games and new phones! Apple and other vendors recently announced new editions of their phones, as well as some interesting new gadgets. With new options like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch, iOS 8, and Apple Pay, Apple-using lawyers need to think about which products they need (or want) and how to make the best use of them. But what about those lawyers who have moved to other product vendors such as Android? Most lawyers could use an update on the newest technology to make informed autumn purchases.

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the new Apple devices, thoughts on the new features of iOS 8, and what lawyers should think about if they haven't already purchased a new phone lately. They discuss the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, embracing the "phablet," and how most people use their smartphone as more of a mobile computer than a phone. They also discuss other new products such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Apple Watch, the Moto 360 watch, and why lawyers might prefer Android or Apple products. With the release of iOS 8 comes new exciting features such as extensions, alternate keyboards, and widgets, but both Kennedy and Mighell had to deal with long downloading times. They wrap up the first part of this podcast by examining the future of Apple Pay, why it might succeed where Google Wallet failed, and how lawyers could utilize these changes to get ahead in their practice.

After the break, the Kennedy and Mighell discuss the Apple Watch and other wearable technology in more detail. As people begin to use wearable devices to gain and save information, the amount of discoverable data will increase immensely and it will be important for lawyers to pay attention. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Because lawyers often need to get up to speed on a topic quickly, most find that they can learn almost anything on the Internet, provided they can find the appropriate tools and resources. In the short term, lawyers often need to do quick research for a speech, webinar, or to talk to a specialist about a subject. More lasting knowledge is needed for specific case and client knowledge, starting a new position or job, or learning about new technology. With all of the online resources available, how can a lawyer quickly get started gaining a solid foundation in knowledge of a new subject?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers can accelerate their learning process, where to find quality learning tools online, and their favorite ideas and tips. Kennedy and Mighell both agree that it is important to consider the subject matter, how quickly it needs to be learned, and what method works best for each individual lawyer. While both prefer Wikipedia as a starting place to gain knowledge, Kennedy prefers podcasts, audiobooks, and presentation slides as sources of more detailed information. Mighell prefers blogs and online university courses, although he emphasizes that the user is responsible for quality control and management. In the end, each lawyer should consider how he/she learned best during school, and use the Internet as a resource while trying not to waste time searching for documents.

After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the overuse of the "reply to all" button in emails, why people prefer to respond to everyone involved, and the proper etiquette for sending emails at work. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

Because lawyers often need to get up to speed on a topic quickly, most find that they can learn almost anything on the Internet, provided they can find the appropriate tools and resources. In the short term, lawyers often need to do quick research for a speech, webinar, or to talk to a specialist about a subject. More lasting knowledge is needed for specific case and client knowledge, starting a new position or job, or learning about new technology. With all of the online resources available, how can a lawyer quickly get started gaining a solid foundation in knowledge of a new subject?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss how lawyers can accelerate their learning process, where to find quality learning tools online, and their favorite ideas and tips. Kennedy and Mighell both agree that it is important to consider the subject matter, how quickly it needs to be learned, and what method works best for each individual lawyer. While both prefer Wikipedia as a starting place to gain knowledge, Kennedy prefers podcasts, audiobooks, and presentation slides as sources of more detailed information. Mighell prefers blogs and online university courses, although he emphasizes that the user is responsible for quality control and management. In the end, each lawyer should consider how he/she learned best during school, and use the Internet as a resource while trying not to waste time searching for documents.

After the break, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the overuse of the "reply to all" button in emails, why people prefer to respond to everyone involved, and the proper etiquette for sending emails at work. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.

"All right, Mr. Demille, ready for my close-up." Video phone calls have been talked about for many years, from the time this famous line appeared in the movie Sunset Boulevard. Videoconferences are becoming widely used in law firms and other businesses; many lawyers, legal professionals, and HR departments are using them to provide the feel of a meeting room without the time and expense of traveling. Therefore, it is important for professionals to be prepared for the technical and visual components of their next video chat.

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the rise of video use in calls and online meetings, the challenges and opportunities of video, and how lawyers can prepare for their video close-up. They consider several features that would improve videoconference services such as chat, screenshare, group messaging, and multi-platform compatibility and compare Zoom.us to Google hangouts and other platforms. In addition to examining personal visual components such as lighting, dress code, and in etiquette in each video conference lawyers also need to understand the ethical implications of recording witnesses or discussing strategy. In these instances they can be left with discoverable electronic data.

As their second topic, Kennedy and Mighell discuss the current state of portable computing and whether touch screens and combo laptops might be a better personal option when replacing older laptops. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation that can be used the second this podcast ends.

Special thanks to our sponsor, ServeNow.