Law Firm KM - here's a good article in the American Lawyer about knowledge management initiatives in law firms. What sort of tools are good for lawyers to use? "The core technology there is a Web server and a browser," says Jeff Rovner, a knowledge manager at Clifford Chance. How about weblogs? Not discussed. Too low on the radar screen, apparently.
4:33:10 PM
Law Practice Innovation Patents - Okay, first question: how many oxymorons can you spot in that title? Next question: did you hear that lawyers are now making use of "business method" patents? Well, click here to read more. Supposedly, they are patenting innovative law practice methods. Uh, okay.
4:22:01 PM
The kindness of strangers - I got an interesting E-mail last week from a nice fellow somewhere in the Northeast. I don't know that he knew that my birthday was this week, but he told me that he had visited my Amazon wishlist and clicked on the Nikon 5000 digital camera and ordered it. Apparently he didn't mean to order it, and he certainly didn't mean to order it for me. He tried to solve the problem with Amazon, but they said it was too late. The camera had shipped.
So he sent me an E-mail and explained his situation. I replied that, even though it was exactly what I wanted for my birthday, I would return it to him because I thought it was a bit much for a total stranger to spend on my birthday present. Well, the camera just arrived. And it looked really nice in the box and all. Oh well, I went ahead and did the right thing and sent it to him. Maybe Santa Claus will get me the camera for Christmas since I was good.
4:11:59 PM
Cell phones for more than just dialing - this article in CNET News.com reveals that "Nokia and Matshushita want to bring wireless technology to home stereos, office audio-visual equipment and other gear. Meanwhile, your cell phone might control your thermostat." I'm ready, and I'd like my cellphone to be a voice recorder too.
3:32:52 PM
Do the States have to comply with the ADA? - this is the sort of question to which non-lawyers would reflexively say, "well, of course." Most lawyers, however, know about sovereign immunity. Anyhoo, the US Supreme Court is going to review this question and decide whether Title II of the ADA is enforceable against the states. Check Howard's blog for details on this and all other important breaking legal news.
12:57:12 PM
The Homeland Security Bill can be fixed - Glenn Reynolds has an interesting solution, which involves using the trial lawyers. This is the kind of great out-of-the-box thinking that you usually only see on shows like the West Wing. Which is why it isn't going to happen, but it would make for even better theatre if it did.
12:51:07 PM
