The effective use of your professional time is one key to a more profitable practice. The daily routine of many lawyers includes time wasted in reception areas, delayed or canceled meetings, courtroom hallways, traffic, airports, taxis and other out-of-the-office venues. How many times do you find yourself saying, “I don’t have that with me, but as soon as I get back to the office … ?”
New technology allows lawyers to manage data, access client information, communicate with clients and associates, conduct legal research, maintain time and billing records, and manage their schedules in a more accessible manner. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as Palm Pilots, Handspring Visors, Windows CE devices and RIM Blackberries are not only changing the processes of legal practice, they also are changing the location. However, it is important that lawyers realize that with the reward of increased mobility comes the risk of decreased security. As lawyers begin to keep personal e-mail, client information and other confidential data on their handheld devices, they must take precautions to protect confidentiality and safeguard client information.
