Generative AI tools can summarize court decisions, draft legal memos, and even engage in natural-sounding conversation. It’s tempting to imagine a future where much of a lawyer’s client-facing work is handled by machines. Intake forms become chatbots. Follow-up emails are automated. The tone sounds just right. It’s efficient, scalable, and consistent. But is it wise? While automation has its place,…
Every week subscribers receive the ICYMI enewsletter from the NCBA Center for Practice Management. The newsletter highlights tips, tools, trends, and techniques to help your law practice. The following are a few popular links from the past issues of the newsletter. Lawyer Flat Fees or Hourly Billing? The Pros and Cons (11/8/2024) Ruth Carter, writing for Attorney at Work, outlines the pros…
Many law offices have switched from the installed versions of Microsoft Office to a subscription version of Microsoft’s Office suite. There are quite a few subscription models, but for most firms either Business Standard or Business Premium are the best fit. When you subscribe to the Microsoft 365 Standard plan you get far more than the familiar Office applications (Word,…
If you have explored tools to create task lists, with assignments and deadlines, you know that there are a whole lot of options on the market. If you are curious if a project management tool would help your firm stay on top of multiple matters from a task-based perspective, as well as monitor your team’s progress without micro-management, consider starting…
Microsoft continues to improve MS To-Do, the app they purchased from Wunderlist in June 2015. While you can get MS To Do as a free stand-alone product, integrations with MS Planner, MS Teams and expanded integrations with MS Outlook/Exchange in the MS 365 suite mean that you have more intelligent suggestions for what should go on your daily task list….
Microsoft To Do is a task management tool that comes with Office 365. It is based on the Wunderlist platform, which Microsoft bought in June 2015. Like all of Office 365, it works in the browser and has apps for desktop and mobile devices. You can create tasks, with rich context including deadlines, reminders, sub-tasks, notes, and files. You can…
Over the last several years there has been momentous change in the work world. During the pandemic, lawyers and their teams learned how to work from home using new tools and technologies. People reassessed their lives, and some retired or changed focus and followed their passions. Economic shifts resulted in reductions in force and layoffs. Many lawyers want to continue…
Microsoft rolled out Office 365 in 2011, a subscription plan instead of the traditional installed Office suite of products. In 2020 the name of the subscription became Microsoft 365. There are different plans for home and work. The Business Standard and Premium versions come with the installed software constantly synchronized through the cloud to browser and app versions. It comes…
Over the past four years the NCBA Center for Practice Management blog “From the Center” has provided tips and tools that can help your firm with productivity and client service. Here are some of those that are small but mighty. You can adopt these tools into your practice without a huge investment or tech overhaul. A Better Way to Find…
Summer is just around the corner. Whether you are planning a vacation or business travel there are a lot of apps and websites that can help you get the best prices, stay in the know, get organized and reduce stress from travel surprises. Flights and Accommodations There are lots of websites to compare flights but two especially stand out. One…