Well, it’s August and that means lots of things. If you live in Texas, it means you are seriously regretting your decision to move here because it is just stupid hot and humid. Apparently, housing lots in Hell are sold out as Texans look to move someplace cooler. August also means it is time for my annual “Cool Tech” blog – one of my favorites. Somehow, this is the eighth year in a row where I will share technology and tech-related ideas that can make life easier (or a smidge better) for in-house counsel. If you want to check out past editions of my “Cool Tech” blog, here you go:
There is a lot of great technology discussed in these past editions and they are worth reading to find a gem or two that works best for you.
You probably know that I am a bit of a technology geek. Not that I have any special powers (I am as afraid of screwing something up as you are), but rather because I wholeheartedly believe that technology can make an in-house lawyer’s job easier, improve the capabilities of the legal department, and help show the value generated by the legal team. In my “Cool Tech” posts, I generally try to discuss technology that is free (or very low cost) and adds immediate value. While I think e-billing systems, matter management systems, document management systems, electronic signatures, and so forth, are table stakes for legal departments today, that is not my focus here. If you do want to read about this type of big tech (and all in-house lawyers should), I suggest you check out this really cool fairly new site, LawNext. LawNext is a comprehensive directory of legal technology products and buyer’s resources.[1] I also recommend the CCBJ 2022 Directory of Leading Legal Technology and Project Management Solutions available here. But, with one exception, we’ll stay small and focused, i.e., technology you can buy and start using today, much of which is free. As always, I received nothing for recommending this technology to you. I just think in-house lawyers will find the technology useful. But, enough yapping, let’s get to the fun stuff. Here is my Cool Tech for In-House Lawyers 2022 Edition:
Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel® 