Category Archives: Online Resources

Learn How to Protect Your Firm from a Security Breach

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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.

 

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

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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.

Rocket Matter Launches Numerous New Features

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Rocket MatterAs my readers know, my firm has used Rocket Matter since its launch in early 2008, and we absolutely love it. 2016 has already been a busy year for them, as they introduced QuickBooks Online integration and Rocket Matter Payments in February, followed in March byMatter Templates and Rocket Matter Atlas, a complete, modern redesign of the its user interface.

Never ones to rest on their laurels, Rocket Matter released their Atlas 1.1 update a few days ago, which includes numerous new additions to help make law firms be even more productive and increase their revenue. These new features include new tax functionality, multiple timers, an improved onboarding experience with gamification, and customizable dashboards.

Larry Port, Rocket Matter’s CEO and founder says:

“Let’s be honest: Taxes are not enjoyable to talk about in any way, and they’re even less fun to tally up on an invoice. Rocket Matter now takes care of this task for you. We rolled out some exciting stuff, too – a compelling gaming system for our new customers that makes learning Rocket Matter entertaining, along with some cool new features our customers have been asking us to add.”

Because my firm is on a pre-release program, we have been using many of these features for several weeks, and I can easily say that my favorite is the customizable dashboards and calendars, which now allow users to customize their personal Dashboards to be either “task-centric” or “calendar centric.” Everyone works in different ways, so this additional flexibility allows users to choose the one most helpful to them. In our office, the attorneys lean toward the “calendar centric” view, while our support staff prefer the “task-centric” view.

One of the other great new features is the ability to view the firm-wide calendar in either of two view settings. Users who prefer to view their calendar in one clear, elegant-looking size, “fit events to view” provides a “more” link if the number of events on any given day exceeds the available space. On the other hand, “show all events” will stretch the size of the page to show all events on each day without having to click on the “more” link. I prefer the latter, but I can see why some would rather have the option for the same size “box” for each day.

close up of multiple timersPeople who tend to work on multiple tasks at once will love the new multiple timers feature (shown at right). This allows Rocket Matter users to run a timer, pause it when they get interrupted, start another one for a different matter, and then come back to the original timer later. Billable time gets tracked on each timer and, in turn, seamlessly appears on an invoice. For those with many things going on at one time, this can be a life saver (and help capture time that might otherwise be lost and thus unbillable.

If you haven’t already checked out Rocket Matter Atlas, you can view this informative overview video. We are extremely choosy with regard to which program we entrust our calendaring, task management, contacts, and time and billing (among other important function), and the fact that we have been with Rocket Matter for almost 8.5 years is a testament to the strength of their product. In the decade before we started using it, we easily went through 7 or 8 other products trying to find the “right” solution. For us, that’s Rocket Matter, and we applaud their never-ending desire to constantly improve their product in an effort to make the work lives of their users more efficient and more profitable.

Free Security Webinar

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Security WebinarAre you a Mac-using attorney? Do you know about all the new threats to your data? Do firewalls and antivirus software merely give you a false sense of security? Are you or your firm a “sitting duck” at risk of losing everything in your bank account in an instant… not to mention the insult to injury of government fines and penalties for non-compliance to data breach laws.

Does that get your attention? Well, the good news is that there are some simple protections and precautions you can put in place to drastically reduce your chances of being a victim. Tech expert Tom Lambotte of GlobalMacIT will present a free security webinar, “7 Critical IT Security Protections EVERY Mac-Based Law Firm Must Have In Place NOW To Avoid Cyber-Attacks, Data Breach Lawsuits, Bank Fraud and Compliance Penalties” on Thursday, April 28, 2016, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST.

You can get more details and register for this webinar here. I hope to see you there.

Podcast Recommendation: The Law Entrepreneur with Neil Tyra

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LE LogoTime is the one thing that I (like most busy attorneys) simply don’t have enough of. I enjoy learning, and podcasts are a great way to do so. Even though I enjoy them, but I am very discerning in selecting the ones that make the cut and find their way onto my playlist (in Overcast, which, by the way, is awesome).

I wanted to write this post to highlight a new addition to the few selected podcasts I follow – The Law Entrepreneur with Neil Tyra. Neil is an attorney who owns his own firm and has been practicing in Maryland (just outside of DC) since 2004. The stated goal of his podcast is to address “what they didn’t teach us about running a business in law school” – because that’s one of the areas that most law schools fall woefully short.

Neil’s podcast covers topics that help his listeners understand the many complexities of owning your own law firm, especially solos and those in small firms. Let’s face it, being an entrepreneur is not easy; being a successful attorney is not easy; and combing the two is not for the faint of heart. One thing Neil does that I love is he offers transparency by discussing some of the mistakes he made in his own firm along the way – which I think is wonderful and wish more people were willing to do.

Even though I graduated with honors with an undergraduate degree in financial management with a minor in accounting, I freely acknowledge that there were so many things that I didn’t know about running a firm when I left my old firm to open my own one in 1996. As with most things in life, I learned many things “the hard way”, but those missteps were very educational to me. In fact, that is one of the reasons that I teach so many CLE classes, because I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others.

The Law Entrepreneur podcast features interviews with successful attorneys (both solos and those from small firms), along with other bright and successful entrepreneurs who aren’t necessarily in the practice of law, to educate his listeners about creating, running, and managing a successful business in the internet era. Each episode is around 30 minutes, which is ideal for most people because they can listen to it while commuting to/from work (which I do during my 10-15 minute drive).

One of Neil’s best episodes to date is the one with my buddy, Victor Medina from New Jersey, who discusses how he successfully transitioned his law practice from educational law into estate planning & elder law, while managing to grow his practice and branch out into financial services along the way. Big changes executed masterfully over a short period of time with great results – what more could you want?

Neil and Victor’s discussion was fascinating, and you can access it here if you want a preview (which you can access ). To find out more about The Law Entrepreneur click here, or to subscribe via iTunes click here. I am confident that you will be glad you did – and Neil, keep up the great work!