For years now, it has seemed that the art and skill of good lawyering is being pushed upon by technology. Perhaps it started with the first phone installation or the fax machine or the first attorney on the block to get an email address. Regardless from whence it came – it still cometh! And cometh and cometh… And some attorneys keep running and running. You would think that by now, I wouldn't have to post tips about [what some of us might consider] such basic and simple tips as cut, copy, paste – but I live the reality of it all the time <VBG>.
For a few attorneys – every new gadget, upgrade or software package is a welcome and anticipated opportunity to continue revolutionizing their practice. For many (read: most) others technology feels like another speed bump on the road to success serving only to burden their craft and keep them from doing what they love most: practicing law.
It's obvious by now that technology isn't going to stop changing the way we communicate and exchange information in practice of law. What seem to be piles and piles of electronic and physical data, files, dates, contacts, documents and megabytes aren't going to get any smaller. The best we can do is take on the challenge take technology head-on. If you've finally woken up and decided to give it a chance…where can you start? Right here, with these ten simple yet practical technology tips and skills that every attorney should know.
Operating System and File Management Essentials
Most of us have never had a basic training session on Windows or Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer). Lacking the basic skills of copying, moving, finding and organizing documents is absolutely detrimental to an attorney's productivity throughout the day. This is a particularly important skill for all you crazies who won't install a "real" document management system and insist on managing matter files within Windows Explorer. Here are a few things you should learn (and do it soon!) to work more efficiently:
Working with Windows
Check out this great tutorial from Microsoft.
- Parts of a window
- Moving a window
- Changing the size of a window
- Hiding a window
- Closing a window
- Switching between windows
- Arranging windows automatically
- Dialog boxes
Getting into and using Windows Explorer
The simplest way to access Windows Explorer is to right-click the Start menu (or the Vista bubble) or the My Computer icon and select Explore. If your keyboard has a Windows logo key, you can press Win-e to launch Windows Explorer.
Creating folders and managing folders
Renaming, copying and emailing files
Cut, copy, rename and email functions can be found in the right-click (which btw, for the most part you only r-click when you want to see a menu of options for an item).
Using SHIFT and CTRL keys to select files
If you want to select files that are listed in a sequence, hold the Shift key plus the up or down arrow keys at the same time. To individually select files, press and hold the Ctrl key while holding the up and down arrow key to move around, whenever you want to select a file click on the spacebar or your left mouse button.
Learn how to Drag and Drop
Drag and Drop (Useful for moving and copying files)
That's a good start. Next tip (2) and post to come: Searching for Your Files.
