logo
  • Home
  • About Ben Stevens
  • Presentations/Publications
  • Contact Ben

Learn How to Protect Your Firm from a Security Breach

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Ben Stevens Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Security, Technology Leave a comment
Share

Did you know that 29% of law firms experienced a security breach in 2020? 🎯 🔐

And that is up from 26% in 2019. 🆙

*source: ABA 2020 Legal Technology Survey Report

I have always thought it likely that this stat is low – in many firms, especially large firms, attorneys may never learn of a breach unless it becomes public.

PLUS…

This is borne out by 21% of respondents reporting that they do not know whether their firm has ever experienced a security breach. (hence the numbers are likely  higher)

So what does that mean for you? 🧐

Well… if you’re still reading this, it means that you gotta get GOOD at securing your practice… and fast. 

If you don’t know how to secure your data and reduce your risk of a data breach…nothing else matters. 

Because if you experience a data breach and have to notify the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, State Bar, Attorney General, etc. of the incident AND every single person in your contact list. 

People like your prospective, current and past clients, colleagues, judges, opposing counsel … etc. 

Nothing else matters. 

The reputational damage of a data breach is monumental.

Your current and future clients are not going to trust you with their sensitive information and therefore you won’t be able to help them. 

And once you’ve been the victim of a data breach … then what?  

It is too late.

That’s exactly what my friend Tom Lambotte is going to be diving into during his FREE Security Class coming up soon. 

It’s called “The 7 Cybersecurity Threats That Could Endanger Your Law Firm In 2021 … And How To Prevent Them”  (use the link below to register).

He’s giving away the best security secrets he’s learned from being in the trenches with the top small law firms and helping hundreds of lawyers identify and implement the best security solutions to reduce their risk of suffering a data breach.

There’s a simpler way to learn today’s most pressing security risks… and he’s going to reveal the 7 key threats you need to protect your law practice!

You can click HERE to register. 

*This class is free but has limited seats.

Free Webinar – The 7 Cybersecurity Threats That Could Endanger Your Law Firm In 2021 …And How To Prevent Them

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Ben Stevens Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Security, Technology Leave a comment
Share

Do you ever struggle with how much and what kind of security measures do you need for your law practice? Especially as a solo or a small law firm? 🤔

If you struggle with this, you’re not alone. 

Keeping up to date and having the adequate security measures in place to protect your practice isn’t easy—even for the seasoned pros.  

It can feel overwhelming and never-ending with the amount of security decisions that need to be properly addressed, including: 

  • VPN
  • Phishing
  • Passwords
  • Cyber insurance
  • Malware & adware
  • Dark web monitoring
  • 2 Factor Authentication
  • Security and software updates
  • Human error and employee carelessness
  • and the list goes on! 

And on top of researching, selecting and choosing you may be wondering if you’re even set everything up correctly.  

If you want to grow a thriving law practice, you need to know how to implement proper security measures – the ‘security insurance’ – to ensure you don’t experience a data breach and risk running your reputation.

Because here’s the truth…

✨ you can’t change lives if you can’t even get the people you want to serve to trust you with their sensitive information in the first place ✨

But proper security measures can not only protect you, but can set you apart from your peers and be leveraged to build trust amongst your potential clients and that’s exactly what I want to help you with today. 

My friend Tom Lambotte is hosting a free class on Thursday, December 17th, 2020 at 11am PST / 2pm EST called: 

💥 The 7 Cybersecurity Threats That Could Endanger
Your Law Firm In 2021…And How To Prevent Them
💥

You can click HERE to register. 

Tom has built the top boutique IT company (GlobalMac IT) in the legal space, with clients including Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates LPA, The Stevens Firm, PA, Eltringham Law Group, Bick Law LLP, the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger, LLC and many more throughout the United States and across all practice areas!

He’s going to share real-life examples of the biggest areas where lawyers go wrong with their security measures, and what to do to properly protect your practice and put solutions into place while making sure it doesn’t require hours upon hours of time taking your FOCUS away from your most important work.

Join him at the free Security Class on December 17th, 2020, where, after attending, you’ll know:

⭐ What are 2021’s Seven top cybersecurity threats you (solo and small law firms) are most vulnerable to?

⭐ Why are you a “sitting duck” for losing EVERYTHING in your bank account in an instant? (and why your bank is NOT responsible for getting your money back)

⭐ How these SIMPLE protections and precautions can drastically reduce your chances of being a victim?

⭐ What are the best-in-class security protocols to protect your law firm from a data breach?

⭐ Why you must abandon the false belief ‘that can never happen to me.’

Click HERE to register (spots are limited).

Free Webinar: Expert Tips for Mac-Loving Lawyers

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Ben Stevens Posted in Online Resources, Presentations, Technology Leave a comment
Share

Join us on Wednesday, June 24th, from 2-3 pm EST for a conversation with the leading experts in Mac-driven law firms: 

  • Tom Lambotte of GlobalMac IT
  • Brett Burney of Burney Consultants and Apps in Law
  • Ben Stevens of The Stevens Firm and The Mac Lawyer

Together, we will tackle the top apps, issues, and opportunities for Mac-based law firms, many of which fall into the “I wish someone taught me sooner” category.

Topics will include:

  • Mac productivity & efficiency apps, hacks & tricks for lawyers working in-office and remotely
  • Mac compatibility, including considerations for Mac lawyers in a PC-dominated legal world
  • Mac security & maintenance, including required measures & common pitfalls

To learn more or register for this FREE webinar, click here or the image below.

9 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Law Firm with Apple Computer Maintenance in 2019

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Ben Stevens Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Technology Leave a comment
Share

Let’s face it, attorneys should spend their time practicing law, not playing part-time IT support and trying to manage their computers. Updates from Apple, third-party software updates, and general maintenance all require time – which could better be spent representing clients and generating income.

Smart attorneys recognize this and outsource their IT needs to enable themselves to simultaneously increase their productivity while reducing their security risks. Really smart attorneys choose GlobalMac IT (my law firm’s preferred provider for many years), no matter whether they are solo practitioners or members of a large firm.

Because knowing what NOT to do is almost as important as knowing what TO do, Global Mac IT has prepared a free report, 9 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Law Firm with Apple Maintenance in 2019, which discusses ways to reduce your IT fees by reducing tech issues and downtime by implementing simple approaches you never learned.

You can learn more and obtain a copy of your free report by clicking HERE.

Free Webinar – The Four Most Dangerous Technology Trends Facing Growing Mac-Based Law Firms

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Ben Stevens Posted in Online Resources Leave a comment


Share

Are you looking for way to increase efficiency in your law firm by improving your use of technology? Who isn’t, right? Tom Lambotte of GlobalMacIT is presenting a free webinar this Thursday on “The Four Most Dangerous Technology Trends Facing Growing Mac-Based Law Firms”.

Do you know what these four problems are – or how to address them?  Attend this webinar and learn five tips to implement a proactive technology management approach, solutions to reduce efficiency killers in your office, and an eight step process to leverage technology to your benefit to keep you ahead of the pack.

My law firm uses GlobalMacIT, so I can tell you first-hand that Tom knows his stuff – and this is a webinar that you shouldn’t miss.  You can learn more or register at this link:  www.globalmacit.com/4_trend_webinar/.

Free Webinar: How to Avoid Growing Pains in Your Mac-Based Law Firm With Proven Processes

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Ben Stevens Posted in Office Management, Online Resources, Technology Leave a comment


Share

My friend and business colleague Tom Lambotte, CEO of GlobalMac IT has recently developed a true breakthrough in managing Apple technology for growing law firms to help them increase efficiency and allow them to scale their firms fearlessly.

If your law firm is using Macs and you’ve ever wished there was a better way to manage them, this is something you most definitely need to know about. As the co-author of Macs in Law: The Definitive Guide for the Mac-Curious, Windows-Using Attorney, Tom knows what he’s talking about.

Tom is going to introduce this revolutionary new process in a free webinar for Managing Partners and Office Managers on Thursday, April 26th at 1pm EST (10am PST). This free webinar is sponsored by Rocket Matter, and you can get the full details (and save your spot) by clicking here.

 

Ben Stevens Interviewed: What Stops Lawyers From Using Macs At Work?

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Ben Stevens Posted in Mac vs. PC, Switching to Macs Leave a comment


Share

Ed Sohn from Thomson Reuters recently interviewed me for an article titled “What Stops Lawyers From Using Macs At Work?” which was published yesterday at Above The Law. It was a pleasure to assist with his article, because this is a topic I’m passionate about and I’ve spoken about it all across North America.

I think Ed did a great job covering this topic (and it was kind of him to refer to me as “a prominent family law attorney in Spartanburg, South Carolina”). This article also interviewed my friend, Mac-using lawyer and past Chair of ABA Techshow, Brett Burney. My take on this subject is highlighted in the following quotes I provided:

 

  • “Macs are a smarter investment in the long run. When you factor in the lifespan of Macs, which is typically much longer than those of PCs, and the software-related cost savings… the numbers tilt heavily in favor of buying Macs instead of PCs.”
  • “iPhones (and later iPads) were the gateway drugs to entice attorneys to switch to Macs. They see how simple and easy their iOS devices are to use, and it becomes easier to envision using Macs instead of PCs.”
  • “Most law students use Macs (and have for many years), and because they are already aware of their benefits, they are more inclined to want to continue using them in their practices.”
  • “As programs continue to migrate to the cloud and become platform agnostic,” Stevens says, “the ‘conversion’ becomes much less complicated, which makes it easier to make older managing attorneys open to the concept.” Burney views this as creating incentive for “more software developers (even legal software developers) [to work] towards an OS-agnostic world so that users can use whatever computer or device they choose.”

I encourage you to click this link to read Ed’s entire article, as he did a great job covering this topic. If you’re not already using a Mac, it just may tempt you to give it a shot – you won’t regret it.

 

Source: “What Stops Lawyers From Using Macs At Work?” by Ed Sohn, published at Above The Law.

Learn More About the MacTrack Legal Conference

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Ben Stevens Posted in Offline Resources Leave a comment


Share

mac track legalMacTrack Legal – The ONLY Event JUST for Mac-Using Small Law Firms. The idea might pique your interest, but are you left feeling uncertain as to whether it’s really for you? Is the conference for the über-advanced, ultra-geeky Mac users? Will you feel left out and behind, grasping to keep pace with the content? The short answer is no.

Tom Lambotte and Victor Medina are presenting a free webinar this Thursday, May 18th at 1:00 p.m. EST, in which they will cover the following topics:

  • Is it for me? Who stands to get the most value from MacTrack Legal?
  • What’s the difficulty level and format of the presentations? And what topics will be covered?
  • Why don’t I just Google around when I get stuck?
  • What will find at MacTrack Legal that I can’t find anywhere else?

The MacTrack Legal conference (formerly MILOfest) will be held in Orlando, FL on October 19 – 21, 2017. If you’re a Mac-using attorney (or considering making the switch from PCs) and you are remotely curious about this event, click here to register for this free webinar and address your most burning questions.  You can sign up now to reserve your free seat for this webinar here.

Your Options for Running a Mac-Based Law Firm: Managed Services

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Ben Stevens Posted in Guest Posts, Mac vs. PC, Office Management, Security, Software, Technology Leave a comment


Share

The following Guest Post is from technology guru, Tom Lambotte from GlobalMac IT:

managed-servicesManaged Services is the opposite of the reactive, hourly model. The biggest benefit is being able to budget IT costs and shifting the support approach from reactive to proactive. The majority of Managed Service offerings are offered in a tiered model, such as Bronze, Silver or Gold. Bronze, for example, provides only phone support, with Silver providing slightly more, etc.

My company ceased providing hourly support when I realized the business model I built the company on (hourly support) was a break/fix model with many flaws. I would set up my clients or resolve their issues and then say, “call me when you need me.” I prided myself on my ability to resolve issues promptly and enjoyed working with my clients. However, there was always a subconscious voice in my head telling me I could prevent many of the reactive issues coming I dealt with. There had to be a better way. When I discovered the Managed Services model, I embraced it fully and we haven’t looked back.

Law firms using Managed Services benefit from fewer problems, less downtime and far less unexpected issues. This pro-active approach takes the role of managing IT out of the firm and puts it into the hands of experts. At least that is the promise of Managed Service providers. Like any business, whether they deliver is another story. You must do your due diligence in choosing an IT company. (Access our whitepaper “What Every Attorney Must Know About Hiring An Honest, Competent, Responsive And Fairly Priced Apple Consultant” at www.globalmacit.com/legalreport)

Managed Services provide a dramatic improvement over the options of DIY and hourly support. However, as our experience grew working with Managed Services, we saw some shortcomings with the tiered model of Managed Services. These insights led to the evolution of our current services. The tiered model means some things are included and others are not. Items such as Project work, training, after hours or emergency support, setting up new staff members, office moves, on-site support, for example, are rarely included, and therefore billed hourly. I found this tiered model often made clients feel they were being nickel and dimed. The overall impact of this model ends up hurting your firm in several ways.

First, one of the big benefits of Managed Services is being able to budget your IT costs. But if project work is not included, how can you budget accurately? The biggest problem this leads to is the delay of important projects that would be beneficial to the firm. Because the cost is not in the budget, projects that are important but not urgent are often pushed off and delayed. This impacts the firm’s profits, assuming the new solution would have addressed a bottleneck in the firm or boosted productivity in some way. For example, we have seen many firms fail when trying to roll out technical solutions on their own. The data is often neither migrated not configured properly, and they don’t provide proper training. Ultimately, the staff does not buy into the solution and it fails after the firm spent a LOT of money trying to get it off the ground.

Not knowing the level of support will cover an issue may deter your staff from calling the IT company, because they don’t want to rack up additional bills for the firm. This leads to small issues developing into bigger issues.

A word of caution: Windows-based Managed Services Companies.

Managed Services in the Apple world is a fairly new model, with less than 100 all-Mac Managed Service Providers in the nation. This means many Mac-based law firms looking for a proactive support option often only come across Windows-based Managed Service Providers who claim they can support Macs.

The number ONE issue with most Windows-centric Managed Service Providers supporting Macs is that it is financially impossible for a Windows-shop to provide the same level of support to Macs as they do to PCs. They cannot justify spending the same amount of resources on training, tools and support for the 5-10% of their computers that are Macs. Because of this you will not receive the same caliber of support provided to their PC users. In the majority of cases, when they say they can support Macs, they have one person who’s the “Mac expert.” When that person is out of the office, Mac-using clients are out of luck.

Simply becoming Apple Certified does NOT make one an expert. It is a step in the right direction, however, there is still a long way to becoming proficient at supporting Macs. I have heard many stories where the client ended up knowing more about Macs than the support person they are speaking with! Talk about a horrible experience. If you are an all-Mac law firm, you need to do extra diligence if you are considering hiring on a Windows-centric IT company to support your firm. Not everyone out there is negligent in this area, but sadly I can say from experience that the majority are not able to fully support Macs.

A Managed Services has some flaws, it is a huge step forward in becoming proactive in managing your technology. Next month’s article will discuss the 4th and final option, the unique offering version of Managed Services of my company, GlobalMac IT and how it is specialized for Mac-Based Law Firms.

Provided as an educational service by Tom Lambotte, President of GlobalMac IT

GlobalMac IT was founded by Tom Lambotte – renowned nationwide as an author, speaker, trusted IT advisor, and cutting edge, successful provider of the #1 complete end-to-end IT solution for Mac-Based Law Firms in the world. Private firms from throughout North America – and as far reaching as American Samoa – running with a staff of 5-50 – have relied on his expertise to help them put their IT headaches behind once and for all.

Using his real world experience, where results rule and dollars can’t be wasted on negligent computer consultants, he wanted to help managing partners and office managers of Mac-based law firms to put an end to wasting their time and money on IT support that does not work and rescue them from the frustration.

Our unique “TotalCare” approach integrates classic IT support with proven proactive support that truly converts IT from something to be dealt with, into a tool that truly increases law firm profits, increases staff productivity, and provides piece of mind that firm and client data is secure and that their security is never at risk. You can reach GlobalMac IT at (440) 941-1622 to request more information.

Webinar: You Can Practice Law on a Mac – Here’s How!

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Ben Stevens Posted in Mac vs. PC, Online Resources, Switching to Macs, Technology Leave a comment


Share

BigMacOn July 27, 2016, 1-2:30 PM ET, Tom Lambotte, CEO of GlobalMac IT (our firm’s I.T. company) is participating along with Mark Metzger in the American Bar Association webinar, “The Mac Lawyer: You Can Practice Law on a Mac – Here’s How!” The session qualifies for 1.50 General CLE Credit Hours*, so I thought this would be of interest to my readers.

Have iPhones or iPads peaked your interest to practicing on a Mac computer? Tune in to hear how Apple has moved into the legal industry making it easier than ever to practice law on a Mac! This program will cover:

  • the steps Apple has taken to move in to the legal profession
  • the best Apple hardware and software options for practicing law
  • how to share files with your clients or colleagues who use Windows. 

As a member of the faculty Tom has been able to extend a 10% off your registration rate when you enter this discount code CE15CPDWEBVIP at check-out. To learn more about and register for this program, click here. 

This webinar is part of the Law Practice Institute: Essential Skills for Lawyers designed for young lawyers, law students, and solo/small firm attorneys to provide them with the essential skills to make their practices efficient, ethical, and profitable. To learn more about and register for the series, click here.

*Unfortunately, the ABA will not seek credit for this program in Virginia, Texas, Indiana, or North Carolina due to rules and procedures in these states restricting credit for the topics covered in this program, so you’re out of luck in terms of the CLE credits here.

Published By

Ben Stevens
  • SC Family Law Blog
  • Subscribe To This Blog
  • Join MILO Group
  • Subscribe To Podcast

Subscribe by Email


Blog Archives

Topics

  • Apps
  • Articles
  • Chrome
  • Did You Know?
  • eDiscovery
  • Guest Posts
  • Hardware
  • How Do I …?
  • iOS
  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS X
  • Mac vs. PC
  • Miscellaneous
  • Office Management
  • Office Resources
  • Offline Resources
  • Online Resources
  • Other
  • Other Operating Systems
  • Podcasts
  • Presentations
  • Product Reviews
  • Security
  • Siri
  • Social Media
  • Software
  • Special Offers
  • Switching to Macs
  • Technology
  • This Blog

Recent Updates

  • Learn How to Protect Your Firm from a Security Breach
  • Free Webinar – The 7 Cybersecurity Threats That Could Endanger Your Law Firm In 2021 …And How To Prevent Them
  • Free Webinar: Expert Tips for Mac-Loving Lawyers

Other Resources

  • 9 to 5 Mac | Apple Intelligence
  • a mac lawyer's notebook
  • A Technology Resource for Legal Professionals
  • Acrobat for Legal Professionals
  • Apple Briefs
  • AppleInsider | Apple Insider News and Analysis
  • Criminal Defense Law with an Apple
  • DennisKennedy.com
  • Digital Practice of Law
  • Evan Schaeffer's Legal Underground
  • Futurelawyer
  • Hawk Wings
  • iPhone J.D.
  • Justia Blawg Search
  • LawTech Guru Blog
  • Lawyerist
  • Legal Practice Pro
  • Legal Resource #1
  • Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done
  • Mac Law Students
  • Mac Rumors: Apple Mac Rumors and News You Care About
  • Mac360 – Mac Reviews, Commentary, & Forums
  • Macenstein
  • MacLaw
  • MacLitigator
  • macosxhints.com – OS X tips and tricks!
  • MacSparky
  • My First Mac – Help Buying and Getting Started with Your New Mac
  • PDF for Lawyers
  • Randy Singer's Macintosh Attorney
  • Robert Ambrogi's LawSites
  • Ross Ipsa Loquitur Blog
  • Scripting for Lawyers
  • South Carolina Bar's Macintosh Resources
  • South Carolina Trial Law Blog
  • Switch To A Mac
  • TechnoEsq
  • The Practice
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 84
  • Next

The Mac Lawyer

Ben Stevens | 349 East Main Street, Suite 200, Spartanburg, SC 29302 | P: (864) 598-9172 | F: (864) 598-9264 | info@scfamilylaw.com
Home | About Ben Stevens | Presentations/Publications | Contact Ben
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
Copyright © 2013, The Mac Lawyer. All Rights Reserved