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BarJournal SOLO & SMALL FIRM

JULY/AUGUST 2015
FEaTUrE Grow Your Tech Confidence

Tips and Apps to Increase

Attorney Productivity

BY CHRISTOPHER M. GREENE

raditionally, attorneys have process can be a time saver, it’s not a fool To build a document with longer sections
been a bit late to adopt new proof approach. If there’s a typo, the Find and of saved text, use a feature in Word called
technology. We are comfortable Replace process won’t catch it. This could lead Quick Parts. Located on the Insert tab,
with what we know. We don’t an attorney to potentially reveal information Quick Parts will store variations or clauses
T jump at the opportunity to try about another client. This is why it’s important to add to a generic document. Imagine an
to use new technology for fear that it might to begin to draft a document with a generic estate planner preparing a will. If there’s a
not work when we need it to. In late February, form or template, and then customize the clause that is only used in certain situations,
I attended the American Bar Association document for the client. that clause can be saved in Quick Parts and
TechShow. This conference covers topics Customizing a document in Word can be added when needed. The feature saves both
ranging from mobile device tips to Blockchain an easy process if all of the building blocks the text and the formatting. To use another
technology and everything in between. As are stored and organized. For small pieces example, attorneys who routinely practice
an attendee, I really learned a lot about the of text like address and signatures blocks, in multiple counties can set up different
importance of the use of technology in legal AutoCorrect is a great place to do this. For notary clauses in Quick Parts to make the
practice. In this article, I hope to share some an attorney that regularly sends hard copy clause county specific. This feature can be
tips from TechShow to help other attorneys documents for recording, AutoCorrect set to automatically merge names, dates, and
expand the use of software that they already can store addresses for quick recall. For additional information from other portions
have. I will also introduce new apps that will instance, once saved in AutoCorrect, the of the document. Imagine a partially
make attorneys more productive and efficient. keystrokes “lcr” can be set to type the full prepared POA without the notary clause
To begin in a familiar place, there are Lake County Recorder’s Address (formatted at the bottom. When the drafting attorney
some great shortcuts to use in Microsoft as an address block). The very same process selects the notary clause from Quick Parts,
Word. When using this program, sometimes can be used to set “vty” to type a closing the document could then have the name
attorneys create new documents by taking an and the attorney’s signature at end of the of the principal, the date, and the county
old document and use the Find and Replace cover letter. These address blocks, signature filled in one step. The same result could be
feature to update names, dates, and other blocks, or other compilations of text, can achieved by copying a notary clause from an
information. Essentially, this is taking the be stored in AutoCorrect essentially by old POA, but the copy and paste approach
Sarah Jones Will and using Find and Replace copying and pasting from documents where poses the risk that the attorney did not
to make the Molly Smith Will. While this the text is already typed out. remember to change everything for the new
client. By using Quick Parts, there’s no need
to manually change the information copied
from another document.
In addition to improving document
Michael Jackson, Retired Judge creation and assembly, attorneys should also

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas improve document storage and transport.
If it’s time to use an app to transport
Mediator Arbitrator Private Judge documents on a mobile device instead of
216-280-5502 mej@wowway.com using that bulky expandable file folder,
PDF Expert by Readdle is a great choice.
PDF Expert works with Mac, iPad, and
Business / Public Sector iPhone. It also integrates with Dropbox and
Malpractice / Injury Google Drive. Any pdf that comes in email
Labor / Employment on an iPhone or iPad can be opened and
manipulated in PDF Expert. The features
of this app allow text and image edits,

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