It seems that most lawyers like books. They like paper. They like paperclips. Most got good grades in school because they were neat. The good grades got them into college and later into law school.
Robinson & Henry P.C. has had a law firm in Castle Rock, Colorado for the past two decades. During that time the legal business has been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. Lawyers have replaced typewriters with computers and we all now electronically file paper we used to hand deliver to a court clerk. But that's about it.
There's just got to be a better way and Robinson & Henry is trying to make this better way come about. The law firm has now moved into a new building behind Target on Maleta Lane. Since the space was built from the ground up, they had the chance to make their law business truly modern. The new space offers four times as much space and they have added seven new support staff members. Robinson & Henry now has four attorneys. With the move the firm has added the following new electronics -
** For phones, a Panasonic Digital Super Hybrid System with each phone having 24 programmable line buttons, jog dial control, 3 line/24 character LCD display, auto answer, auto redial, mute, XDP (Extra Device Port) and WOHCA (Whisper Off-Hook Call Announce).
** An advanced data server with Windows Server 2008 software, Exchange Server 2007, Office Live Small Business 2008, Windows SharePoint Services, and Windows Server Update Services.
** The firm now keeps their documents in the "Internet Cloud" by use of the Netdocuments System
** Microsoft Business Contact Manager to store data about customers, review and track the progress of the firm's business through reports and Business Projects and view financial data from the accounting system in Business Contact Manager for Outlook.
** The firm has created a virtual private network (VPN) that uses the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to our organization's network. A virtual private network can be contrasted with an expensive system of owned or leased lines that can only be used by one organization. The goal of a VPN is to provide the organization with the same capabilities, but at a much lower cost.
** High Definition Webcams - The firm uses the QuickCam Orbit AF which is Logitech's flagship webcam featuring Carl Zeiss optics, integrated microphone, and a cool motorized tracking that automatically follows your every move. The QuickCam Orbit AF also has premium autofocus, up to 30fps, a true 2-megapixel sensor, with up to 8-megapixel photos (enhanced), 960 by 720 pixels, 24-bit true color Video capture, and RightLight 2 Technology which adjusts intelligently to produce true-to-life clear images in dim or poor backlight settings.
** To tie it all together, the firm now uses Comcast's Business Class. Comcast's Internet now downloads up to 16Mbps, uploads up to 2Mbps Internet speeds up to five times faster than DSL. Their PowerBoost? adds an extra burst of speed for large files. Bill Henry of the firm said "As an example a megabyte file used to take 5-1/2 minutes to bring up. It now it takes 6 seconds."
With this huge increase in speed, Robinson & Henry can now use video over the internet for client interface. Lawyers can visit clients over the internet and be seen in real time. The Lawyer can look up documents with the client and can send the document to them instantly, online. Robinson & Henry has named this new way the "iLawyer Program"?. Mike Robinson said "With these changes we can quickly look up all available documentation on a client's case and make the fast decisions that are the difference between winning and losing a case."
Because R&H employees can come into the firms computer system offsite, there are many times when a worker logs into the office late at night because they have thought of a new angle in a case.
Using the new elecronics, the firm has now begun adding people that work exclusively at home. One of the new workers actually lives in the San Antonio Texas area. It appears that this new technological way of lawyering brings down the costs to clients. The experience shows that this "new way" makes their workers happy. ????
Robinson & Henry P.C., Attorneys at Law, 757 Maleta Lane, Castle Rock, CO 80108, ph. 303-688-0944.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment