The Kennedy-Mighell Report

In part two of this two-part series on legal technology trends, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell peer into the crystal ball to find the key trends and storylines to expect in legal technology in 2010. Will the economy keep a lid on significant developments? What role will Internet and mobile technologies play? What should lawyers, law firms and other legal organizations be putting into their strategic technology plans? In addition, Dennis and Tom make predictions about technology in general and legal technology in particular. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

In part one of a two-part series on legal technology trends, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look back at the most significant developments in 2009. While the economy might have been the dominant story in 2009, a number of other currents were moving in legal tech waters. From ediscovery to social media to cloud computing to collaboration, you'll get an overview of where we've been and what where we've been suggests about where we are going. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

2009 has been the year of the smartphone. Lawyers are moving from traditional email access with a BlackBerry to apps and mobile browsing on iPhones and other smartphones. In this episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take a look at the growing movement to mobile and its implications for the legal profession. In addition, Tom & Dennis welcome Jeremy Diviney, Co-founder, Chief Architect and Director of Operations at Bill4time, to discuss the importance of using Mobile software. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

We're at the time of year where everyone likes to make and share lists. Some new types of Internet tools let lawyers share useful lists of information in easier and more powerful ways. In this new episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss why Twitter Lists, bookmark lists, OPML lists and other sharable lists should be making their way onto your list soon. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

The recent release of Windows 7 hopefully ushers in a new era of peace and stability to the world of PC operating systems. But should lawyers rush out to upgrade now? In this new episode of the Kennedy-Mighell Report, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss some of the new features in Windows 7, whether upgrading is the right move, and precautions to take before moving to the new operating system. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Will lawyers ever move past the ever-present legal pad as their most trusted tool for practicing law? Tablet PCs have been around for quite a while, but lawyers are now using iPhones, iPod Touches and other devices with touch screens. Are the days of the paper legal pad numbered? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss whether lawyers will ever embrace touch technologies. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Depending on where you look, lawyers are likely to read or hear that social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, et al.) are either a tremendous waste of time fraught with ethical dangers or an essential tool for communication and a necessary part of every lawyer's Internet presence. Are you falling behind or falling off the cliff? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will take a fresh look at social media for lawyers and try to sort through the various claims, draw a few conclusions and provide some practical pointers. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Most discussion of the use of technology by law firms tends to be anecdotal. That’s why the annual release of the InsideLegal/ILTA Member Technology Purchasing Survey is welcome news for those looking for the numbers on which to base decisions and spot trends. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will dig into the survey and draw a few conclusions of their own. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Are you suffering from information overload? Soon you could be inundated by instantaneous updates and some are calling the next-generation Internet the "real-time web." In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell will take you on a guided tour of this new stage in web evolution and discuss its implications for lawyers and others already overburdened with flow of information. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Have all of your posts, comments and mentions on the Internet, especially in social media, become the dreaded "permanent record?" Is what people see in Google about you what you want them to"know" about you? As lawyers participate in social media - Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, just to name a few - there's a growing sense that Internet presence is becoming online reputation. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell look at this important new phenomenon and suggest practical ways that you can find and manage your online reputation, while avoiding the most common pitfalls.