Center For Practice Management, Email Management, Microsoft Office, Productivity, Smartphones, Technology

10 Tech Tips for Bar Leaders

Whether you are a Bar Association leader, active in your bar association, or just like productivity tips for your computer and smartphone, peruse these tips from the recent Bar Leadership Institute 2022 held in Chicago by the ABA Division for Bar Services.

When Should I Leave?

If you use the Google Maps app you can plot your course, of course. But because Google knows average drive times you can also get advice on when to leave to arrive at your destination on time. Here is how:

  • Open Google Maps app on your phone
  • Set your destinations
  • Click the vertical ellipses in the upper right corner
  • Choose “Set Depart or Arrive Times”
  • Put in your arrival time and click “Set”
  • Your app will show when you should leave based on average traffic

Increase the Size/Color of Your Mouse

If you have a tough time seeing your mouse pointer or cursor on your computer screen you can increase the size and change the color.

In MS Windows 10 go to Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & Pointer and restyle your mouse pointer.

For more tips on how to make your screen in Windows 10 and 11 easier on your eyes, follow the tips in this PC Magazine article to adjust contrast, text, filters, and the cursor.

Turn Emails into Events in the MS Outlook App

If you have even gotten an email regarding setting up a meeting and decided to wait to add it to your calendar when you are back in the office – don’t! You might forget to add it at all and you can easily convert an email into an event if you use the MS Outlook App for MS 365.

In the Outlook app on your smartphone:

  • Compose an email or reply to an email
  • Click the calendar icon in the lower left corner
  • Choose “Convert to Event”
  • Choose the date and time
  • Send the event request

You can also click “Send Availability” to pick times on your calendar that work for you and send them to someone.

New Stock Photography in Microsoft 365

If you subscribe to Microsoft 365 Business (f/k/a Office 365) you have a huge number of royalty free images to use in documents, emails, and presentations! Just go to the Insert tab and choose “Pictures” and click on “Stock Images” to see tons of high-quality stock photographs, cut-out people, icons, and stickers to add interest to your documents and presentations. Recently they added Cartoon People. If you ever enjoyed playing with paper cut out dolls you may find yourself weirdly intrigued by this option. There is also an add-on called Pickit with 1 million licensed images for $5 a month (WAY cheaper than iStock or Adobe Creative Cloud or Shutterstock, etc.)

Also, if you are looking for royalty free images for social media posts sign up for a free (limited) Hootsuite account. This application makes it easier to post on a schedule AND you get stock images.

How to Check Inclusive Language in Microsoft Word

Turn on the inclusive language checker in Editor for Microsoft Word in MS 365 to help identify and correct language that indicates gender bias, age bias, and more. This article in How to Geek tells you how to get it enabled, since it is disabled by default.

Expanded Clipboards for MS Office Suite and Windows 10

In the Home tab of MS Office applications look in the Clipboard group. At the bottom left there is a small arrow. If you click it, you will see the last 25 things you copied anywhere on your computer, including your browser. Select one to insert it into your document/emails/slides, etc. These clips will disappear when you shut down all the applications and drop the older ones off when you reach 25 clips.

Want more? The Windows Clipboard has to be enabled to store 25 clips and synchronize across logged in devices. Once enabled just press the Windows key + V to see the Windows clipboard.  If you need to paste into a browser, online form, Gmail or other web-based app like Clio, you need the Windows Clipboard. You can “pin” an item to the Windows clipboard, so it doesn’t disappear after you reach 25 or restart your devices.

How to Help Others Pronounce Your Name Correctly on LinkedIn

If your name is frequently mispronounced, you can help people who visit your LinkedIn profile learn how to say it by adding an audio file. This is a useful feature for you and for people who would prefer not to butcher your name when you meet.

To record and display your name pronunciation on the LinkedIn application on Android or iOS:

  • Tap your profile picture then View Profile.
  • Tap the Edit icon (a diagonal pencil) from your introduction card.
  • Tap + Record Name Pronunciation.
  • Tap the recording button and hold it down to record you pronouncing your name.
  • When you’re satisfied, tap the Use button followed by Save.

What is Wi-Fi Calling and How Does it Work?

If you are using your personal smartphone for calls more often and find that your Wi-Fi is stronger than your cell phone signal you can switch to Wi-Fi calling on most carriers. No special apps needed, if your mobile phone is reasonably up to date you can just switch to Wi-Fi for calls. This article explains how.

Looking Your Best on Zoom

There are a lot of tips for lighting, virtual backgrounds, and more to look your best on Zoom. Want another? Zoom has Instagram like filters in the Studio BETA. In your Settings go to Background and Filters and click on the “Apply Studio Effects”. You can add lipstick, eyebrows, and facial hair (beard or mustache) – and keep your settings for every time you get on Zoom.

Timing Your Script

Have you been asked to keep your comments brief? It is harder than it seems! You can write a script, paste it into ScriptTimer (free) and based on how fast you talk estimate how long it would take to read your script.

If you are being filmed you can also use a free teleprompter (there are lots of options) which work on a laptop, iPhone or iPad.

 

See these tips and more in the BLI 2022 handout.