All Our Tips
To Avoid Corruption – Formatting a Memory Card Is Better Than Erasing Images on It
With DSLRs, it has become very easy to fill your SD or memory card to capacity. Many of us have will have found ourselves deleting pictures when we run out of space. Doing this in the middle of a photo shoot is
fine. However, if you are taking a bunch of pictures off a memory card, remember to reformat the card. This wipes the card clean and will remove all picture and camera data. Simply erasing your pictures can leave data on the card and can make it more likely corruption may happen. For this reason when you take pictures off your camera you should always reformat your memory cards to reduce the risk of data corruption occurring. You will find the reformat memory card command in the the setup menu on most digital cameras.
Building the Better Biography Online (For Lawyers)
Lawyers’ online biographies – they really do make a difference.
The 2013 In-House Counsel New Media Engagement Survey includes a wealth of valuable information on the current state of the legal profession’s online activities and attitudes. Among its key findings is the vital importance of lawyers’ online biographies in the hiring decisions of corporate in-house counsel. While personal referrals were still viewed as the most important component in corporate counsel’s hiring research, lawyers’ website biographies were the next-most important criteria, with 91% of survey respondents viewing online biographies as either very important or somewhat important in their outside hiring decisions.
I have no doubt the same pattern would emerge in any survey of the general public. People really do read these biographies and they weigh heavily in the public’s choices of the professionals they retain.
With this in mind, is it perhaps time for your online biography to be reviewed, updated and refreshed?
Much has been written about lawyer bios. In The Art and Science of Lawyer Bios, lawyer and consultant Bob Ambrogi identifies the core structure of a strong lawyer biography as follows:
A professional biography should be structured no differently than any other piece of good writing:
- It should have a theme.
- It should use facts to back up that theme.
- It should be written in a compelling style that draws in and holds the reader.
- All of this should be done in no more than six paragraphs.
In the case of a lawyer’s biography, the theme should emphasize what makes that lawyer distinct — what makes that lawyer stand out from the competition.
A dissenting voice, Matt Homann, points out “Your Clients Don’t Care Where You Went to Law School,” and reminds us to keep our readers needs, sensibilities and actual requirements in mind when drafting our online self-descriptions.
Both points are well taken. My own thoughts on lawyers’ online biographies are as follows:
- Your bio can make the difference – prospective clients will read what you’ve said and evaluate you based on what they see. If it isn’t there, they won’t know about it.
- Include the basics – undergrad and legal education, year of call, other credentials and your general career background.
- Do define your areas of practice clearly and completely – this is how you inform people about the kinds of work you. Have you added Estates Litigation or Entertainment Law as areas of practice recently? Is your bio updated to reflect this?
- Summarize your professional accomplishments, memberships and publications, including online publications. They give readers context on who you are and where you have your greatest expertise.
- I’m a bit of an agnostic on whether you should reference your favourite recreational activities or family life in your online bio. These points can humanize your biography, and that’s a good thing, but keep it short and subtle. If you believe your likely clients of the future will think these references are important, feel free, but don’t overdo it.
- If you are a newer lawyer, don’t oversell or embellish. Rather, build your credentials and then reference them. It needn’t take long. Write a few well-researched blog articles on your area of practice and refer to them in your bio. Join a CBA committee or your local lawyer’s association and participate in events or panels. Do volunteer work on a local Board for a worthy cause. All such engagement can be used to build depth in your bio.
- Above all, keep it current – take the time to update your biography regularly. It may no longer be singularly impressive to the reader that you delivered a great speech or leading paper in 1991, particularly if there is no hint of any follow-up or subsequent accomplishment over the intervening years. They will want to know what you have been doing lately, so include this information.
Today’s Slaw Tip: It’s time to build your better bio online.
– Garry J. Wise, Toronto (@wiselaw on Twitter)
Look for Groups
I like to learn from others. Stories and experiences and pain points that are described by other people inspire ideas for projects or methods that can be adopted to make things better/faster/more efficient in my organization.
Conference attendance is an important aspect of group interaction for me. There are other ways to connect with groups rather than in person.
- Newsletters and other reading material from special interest groups
- Local events
- Webinars
- LinkedIn groups
What is your favourite source for inspiration from a group?
Using Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 After April 8, 2014 Will Expose You to Security Dangers
Microsoft will no longer be supporting Windows XP SP3 (Service Pack 3) and Office 2003 (SP3) as of April 8, 2014. After this date there will be no new security updates,
non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates from Microsoft. Your computer will still operate, but if you continue to use Windows XP or Office 2003, you will become more vulnerable to security risks including harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information or destroy your data. For this reason, you should immediately start planning to migrate to more current versions of Windows and Office on all law firm and home computers running Windows XP SP3 and/or Office 2003. .
Secure Passwords
♫ Password, please use the password
It opens the door to my heart…♫
Password, recorded by Kitty Wells.
The writer spoke yesterday at the Privacy and Access 20/20: A New Vision for Information Rights‘ workshop on Legal Ethics dealing with issues of privacy, security and technology for lawyers and their clients. The writer spoke along with Dr. Benjamin Goold, Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean Academic Affairs, University of British Columbia and Tamara Hunter, Associate Counsel and Head of the Davis LLP Privacy Law Compliance Group.
This workshop was part of the pre-conference sessions and was a two-hour practice management and ethics seminar from a privacy law perspective. We addressed such issues as the use of technologies such as cloud computing by lawyers, and information security considerations including encryption, adequate passwords and mobile devices.
We dealt with a whole range of matters including the Law Society of British Columbia’s Cloud Computing Checklist and other other issues such as maintaining strong passwords.
I thought I would post on how lawyers can maintain strong passwords and not cause themselves grief in trying to remember complex series of upper, lowercase and symbols to craft strong passwords.
First, how do you create strong passwords? I use the Perfect Password generator on Steve Gibson’s website www.grc.com. Steve states that “Every time this page is displayed, our server generates a unique set of custom, high quality, cryptographic-strength password strings which are safe for you to use.” You can read the techy details of how the passwords are generated and why Steve states that they are safe on his password web page. Suffice it to say that Steve has a long history of protecting client information and system security.
OK so you have a 63 character random password that is highly secure. How can you possibly remember this? For one, *don’t* put it into an Excel spreadsheet or Word document on your computer. Malware will scan for these and then you will have lost all your passwords if your computer is compromised.
Much better to use a proper password manager such as LastPass. It works on practically every platform:
It is easy to use and has received praise from C|Net, PCMagazine, LifeHacker and many others. Best of all you only need to remember one password – the one to open LastPass. You can then enter your long secure passwords into web forms with just one click.
There is a free version or a premium version for $12/year.
With so many lawyers entering data on the cloud (not to mention using banking and e-commerce sites and such) it is comforting to know that you are secure by using complex passwords and protecting them in a proper way.
So to ensure maximum privacy and security, please use strong passwords and a good password manager – and use them to open all sorts of electronic doors…
-David J. Bilinsky, Vancouver.
Get That URL From Someone Else
My very first Slaw Tip back in January 2011 was titled Read that URL. Today’s tip is a reminder of that along with a twisty question.
- Libraries provide links to web sources (The sources are things on the web which means they move around)
- Libraries update their links when websites move (Quickly, because we use the links that we provide for our own research work)
- Why are you keeping extensive bookmarks that you have to update yourself?
Read the URL you are navigating to AND don’t waste your time looking for things that are on your firm’s intranet or your local law library links page. Don’t have an intranet at your shop? Check out the Practice Portals from the Courthouse Libraries BC for a great example of link collecting work that you can leave to others.
Avoid Data Disasters by Properly Ejecting USB Devices Before You Remove Them
How many of you take the time to “eject” your USB devices before you remove them? I know some of you didn’t raise your hand. Does it really matter? Yes it does. Why? Because you can end up with corrupt data if you yank a device out while data is still being written to it.
Some devices will have a flashing LED that tells you when data is being written to the device, but many devices do not. And even on devices that have a flashing LED, you can’t always tell when the data writing is complete. If the computer is multitasking, the LED may even stop flashing before all the data is written.
The lesson here is simple: Take a few extra seconds and eject your devices properly – don’t tempt data disasters.
Legal Technology Education Goes National
On Friday Oct 4, 2013 a unique event will occur in Canada’s legal community. For the first time there will be a Canadian Legal Technology conference that will be accessible right across the country, courtesy of the ability to webcast all tracks and sessions concurrently (except for the noon keynote that will be recorded and put up for viewing later due to technical restraints).
The Pacific Legal Technology Conference is accessible from 8:45 Pacific to 5:30 Pacific – in person or on the web. This conference has grown and grown due to one important factor: its foundation is the result of an on-line survey of all past attendees. That on-line survey, designed by the planning board, contains all the possible topics that they can think of – then it is the survey respondents’ turn to tell us what topics are most important to them. This conference is not just about legal technology – it incorporates technology right down to its core. Its focus is that of the practising lawyer who is battling with all types of problems – and who is looking for concrete and practical solutions to help her practice better, faster and not the least of all, cheaper (such as the session “Tech applied to Dull Ordinary Things that MUST get Done”).
The theme this year is “Lawyers, Leadership and Technology” and focuses on leadership and change management. These are themes that are coming to bear on the practice of law as we move forward, underscored by the increasing rate of change in technology with which all of us have to cope. The session: “Implementation: The Hardest Technology to Change is the Human Brain” deals with the challenge of incorporating change into our environments.
Dan Pinnington in his post on Slaw on the conference stated that: “I think this is the best legal technology conference in the country.” As a past American Bar Association TECHSHOW Chair he should know. Dan also said:
I am disappointed that I can’t attend or speak this year because of conflict. As a past attendee and speaker, I can say you will get the same high quality content, speakers and materials that you would get at ABA Techshow.
While we will miss Dan this year, there will be experts from right across North America – from Florida to Alaska and of course, across Canada. Simon Chester (a past ABA TECHSHOW chair), Richard Ferguson (an ABA TECHSHOW speaker), Debbie Foster (an ABA Techshow Chair), Joe Kashi (an ABA TECHSHOW speaker), David Paul QC (long standing CBA author and presenter) and others round out the rich roster of speakers.
Sessions include a heavy emphasis of ethics: “Backups, Security, Privacy and Ethics in a Mobile World” and “Ethically Growing your Practice with Social Media”. The conference qualifies for 6.25 PD credits in Ontario and 6 in Saskatchewan and BC.
Litigators have their own track that includes “What Technology should you Take to Court or a Mediation (iPads to Electronic Courtrooms)” The closing session “All the Gadgets, Sites and More we can Squeeze into 60 minutes” focuses on providing as many useful tips as the speakers can fit into an hour.
The next Pacific Legal Technology Conference won’t be until 2015. Just imagine how much the legal technology landscape will have changed by then! I can hardly wait!
-David J. Bilinsky
Chair, The Pacific Legal Technology Conference [and past ABA TECHSHOW Chair]
Revisit
I read novels more than once, which is a family trait in my household. We also watch television programs and movies more than once. There have been instances of multiple format consumption as well – I like the text version of To Kill a Mockingbird a whole lot more than the audiobook and movie.
We recently acquired a new LED HDTV with blah blah blah (options that make it provide remarkably clear, disturbingly life-like, images). The features are not important, but the takeaway illustrates something useful: a new method of viewing or using something may make it worth the time investment to revisit it.
An example, you have read a particular text that is now part of an online service, revisiting the content using a new format may cause you to see the content that you think you know differently. The consumption experience can change the way you remember the content consumed.
We have been watching Episodes I – VI of Star Wars on our new TV. Though this is the third or fourth time through revisiting this content, I am seeing (learning) new information that I have not noticed in the past.
15 Tips for Preventing Identity Theft and Online Fraud
Cyber criminals and identity thieves want to steal your personal information to commit fraud. They may try to get a credit card in your name or to access funds in your bank account. On top of directly losing money, your credit status can be damaged and it can take a great deal of time and expense to restore your good name.
And this goes beyond being an issue of personal concern. LAWPRO has seen situations where law firm bank accounts were hacked and where law firm bank account information was used on counterfeit cheques.
There are many different ways to steal personal information. Identity thieves will target you online and by “dumpster diving” in your garbage. You should also be familiar with the common ruses that criminals use to trick you into disclosing personal information.
Here are some simple steps you should take to protect yourself from identity theft and online fraud:
1 Protect your Social Insurance Number: It is a cornerstone of your identity and one of the best pieces of personal information an identity thief can have to create a new you. Don’t carry your SIN card in your wallet or write your SIN number on your checks. Only give out your SIN when absolutely necessary for tax purposes, and never for identity purposes.
2 Keep your PINs private: Never write the PINs for your credit/debit cards on the cards themselves or on a slip of paper kept in your wallet. Watch for “shoulder surfers” and always use your free hand to shield the keypad when using an ATM or paying a cashier.
3 Don’t let your mail fall into the wrong hands: Thieves can get a considerable amount of personal information from your mail. Empty your mailbox promptly, or better yet, install a mail slot that goes directly into your house. Ask the post office to hold your mail or get a neighbour to collect it when you are away. Pay attention to your billing cycles and if bills or statements are late, contact the sender.
4 Keep your receipts: Receipts are essential for cross-checking your billing statements (see the next tip). Keep receipts for refunds and incorrect charges as well.
5 Review bills and statements: Carefully review your bills, credit card and banking statements for unauthourized charges or transactions. They are an indication that your credit card has been compromised or that someone has access to your account.
6 Store personal information in a safe place at home and at work: Never leave sensitive personal information lying around. This just makes it easier for a thief to steal your information.
7 Tear up or shred unwanted or discarded receipts, credit offers, account statements, expired cards, etc.: Destroying these documents will prevent dumpster divers from easily getting a wealth of personal information.
8 Never respond to “phishing” requests for personal information in the mail, over the phone or online: This includes cold-calls asking you to complete a survey or offering a prize. And most importantly – this is probably the most common way that personal information is stolen – never ever reply to unsolicited or suspicious emails, instant messages or web-pages asking for your personal information (e.g., usernames, passwords, SIN number, bank account numbers, PINs, credit card numbers, mother’s maiden name or birthday), even if they appear to be from a known or trusted person or business. These “spoofed” messages or websites (see the next tip) will suggest your account has been compromised and will ask you to reset your password. By replying to them you are giving your personal information directly to the thieves.
9 When logging in always check for a secure connection to the correct website: First, look at the address bar in your browser or place your mouse over the link to see if the URL looks correct. It should start with the proper URL (e.g. cibc.com) and not a URL that appears unrelated (e.g., http://12.67.876.5/aed/bnklogin). You should also check to see if the web address begins with https://, as opposed to http://. Look for the “s” which signals that your connection to the website is encrypted and more resistant to snooping or tampering. It’s always better to go directly to a site by using a bookmark or typing in the site’s address directly into the browser address bar.
10 Be careful with odd messages from people you know: If you get a message from someone you know that has odd information in it, their email account may have been compromised by a cyber-criminal who is trying to get money or information from you. These usually take the form of an urgent request for money because the person is stranded in another country and their passport or wallet has been stolen. Don’t reply to or click on links in these messages. Contact the person by phone or use an alternate email address to tell them this has happened.
11 Install anti-malware software and firewalls on your computers: Computer viruses, spyware and other types of malware are a fact of life. Just clicking a link in an email or on a website can infect you. All your computers should have anti-malware software installed on them. And to keep up with current threats, make sure your anti-malware software is configured to automatically update itself. When you are connected to the internet, the internet is connected to you. Information can flow freely both ways across your internet connection. You also need a firewall to act as a gatekeeper to prevent unauthorized access to your computers and network.
12 Learn how to safely surf the web: Your internet browser is one of the more dangerous tools in your office. Even casual surfing on the web can expose you to malware and divulge personal data. Learn
how to safely surf the web and how to configure your browser so that surfing is less dangerous. This involves disabling some browser features, controlling which cookies can be stored on your computer, and preventing pop-ups.
13 Use “strong” passwords: Don’t use a common word or name – and especially one connected with you. Any new password should be significantly different from passwords you have used previously. Make your passwords at least eight characters long – the longer the better. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, plus numerals and symbols. Use different passwords for different programs, and especially for bank accounts and other sites with sensitive information.
14 Protect the confidentiality of your passwords: Never share your passwords (even with family or friends) and be careful that no one sees you type in a password. If you absolutely have to write down passwords, write them out so they have to be translated in some way. Don’t save passwords on your hard drive unless you use a password manager (e.g., LastPass, RoboForm, 1Password). Change any compromised password immediately, even if you only suspect it has been compromised. Change important passwords every 60 to 90 days. Don’t let your operating system, browser or other programs cache your passwords.
15 Check your credit report once a year: This can help you spot if someone is using your identity without your knowledge. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gotten access to your personal information.
This article originally appeared in LAWPRO Magazine “practicePRO: 15 Years Of Claims Prevention (Vol. 12 no. 2).
