Benefits of Converting to a Paperless Office

A survey by a Washington law firm (Arnold & Porter) found that a typical lawyer uses 20,000 to 100,000 sheets of paper a year. At the high end, that translates into the release of 4.5 tons annually of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
 Think about 100,000 sheets of paper?

• That much paper makes up 12 40-foot trees.

• That much paper could publish 271 copies of John Grisham's novel "The Partner."

• And that much paper stacked would be as high as Michael Jordon ….on stilts. 
 So, there is a serious environmental side to our discussion this afternoon. Paper is the number one material thrown away. That is why the Australian Government offers a range of incentives for small, medium and large businesses to lower their carbon emissions and reduce waste.

In addition to environmental impacts, paper is time consuming to manage. Record keeping constitutes more than 90% of all office activity. Studies indicate that of the paper filed, over 80% is never referenced again!

Then there is the cost aspect of paper. Think about the cost of paper, printing, mailing, distribution, and handling fees. A study done by Coopers and Lybrand estimated the cost of paper management to be about $50 per document.

As you can see, there are many advantages to becoming a paperless office. Of course, as lawyers there are some original documents that need to be stored physically and there are times when documents will need to be printed but what we want to focus on is developing a consciousness around the amount of paper we use.

LawMaster can get you on your way to becoming a paperless office, as we have all the tools and experience in completing such a task.

The paperless office will:

• Increase efficiency by having all of the firms information residing in one central place and its all searchable.

• Have better risk management and improve client service

• Also reduce operational costs

The paperless office provides lawyers with the ability to work remotely, enhancing their work life balance. These days, who wants to spend every working hour in the office. Electronic files mean that you can work anywhere!

And finally, let’s not forget the positive environmental impact.

Remember the statistics mentioned at the beginning? In one day you can save about 100 pages of paper – so remember, on average if it will cost you $50 per document assuming each document contains10 pages – so that would save the firm $500 per day per lawyer!! The thing to remember is that technology doesn’t come for nothing, you have to invest in your firm’s IT. But with these figures and with these savings it is clear that it is financially beneficial for your law firm to become a paperless office.

The Battle between Nokia & Apple

On the 22nd October Nokia filed a patent lawsuit against Apple over its hugely successful iPhone. Nokia is claiming that Apple is somehow “attempting to get a ‘free-ride’ on the billions of dollars” Nokia has invested into their telecommunications network.

A quick glance over the opening arguments made by Nokia has left it looking like nothing more than jealousy over the worldwide success of Apple’s iPhone device.

Nokia have simply dissed Apple, instead of focusing on the aspects of the case. The end result will most likely be an out of court settlement and cross-licensing agreements-assuming Apple's willing. After all, Nokia is on record admitting its fondness for Apple's technology.

"If there is something good in the world then we copy with pride” is what Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's head of multimedia devices, stated when asked about the striking similarities between a touch screen device it was designing and Apple's iconic handset.

Benefits of Windows 7

Windows 7 is the most recent publicly available version of Microsoft Windows; it is a chain of operating systems designed for the use on personal and professional computers. Windows was released to the public on October 22, 2009. Many people are referring to Windows 7 as a ‘repackaged Vista’ however this new operating system provides many new tools and features that focus on enhanced productivity through improved usability.

Endless research and development was conducted by Microsoft in order to establish key capabilities which users feel the new version of Windows must contain:

• Improved productivity by giving end-user instant access to information
• Providing tools for IT to securely support their business
• Protect corporate data
• Achieve cost efficiencies
• Take advantage of the virtualisation trends in client computing

With this being said, there are several benefits to upgrading your OS to the new Windows 7.

Windows Search- This enhanced search feature resembles the “auto-complete” function that is a familiar tool in Microsoft Word. The moment a user starts to type a word in the search field, Windows 7 will list items that match the typed characters.

Compatibility- The flexibility of Windows 7 gives users the ability to run almost any software that is Windows compatible. Windows 7 will work with more accessories and programs than its predecessors, Windows Vista and Windows XP. LawMaster is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner; therefore it is compatible with the new Windows 7 operating system.

Decreased boot time- the average Windows 7 machine will boot will boot up in under 60 seconds. With the decreased boot time, users can get to work as soon as they sit down.

Libraries- Windows 7 provides a new, more intuitive way of organizing and locating documents. Instead of wasting time trying to remember where a previously created document is stored, a user can now search for their documents by type in different “libraries” such as communications, contacts, documents, downloads, music, pictures and videos.

Jump Lists- This updated menu is a timesaving tool that allows a user to preview open applications and folders. When the mouse is moved over the taskbar, a popup menu appears and lists all open windows. Right clicking will provide a brief history of recent changes and other useful information.