Author Archives: Daniel J. Siegel

About Daniel J. Siegel

Dan Siegel authors the Technology column in The Philadelphia Lawyer, quarterly magazine of the Philadelphia Bar Association; he also authors the Technology column in Trial Magazine, the official publication of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)). Dan is a nationally-known writer and lecturer about technology in law offices and in litigation. Sensing the need for a firm to address the technology needs of attorneys, Dan opened Integrated Technology Services, LLC, which focuses exclusively upon ways for lawyers and legal support staff to handle cases more efficiently. An attorney since 1984, Dan serves in many technology-related positions. He is Vice-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Law Practice Management Division and co-chairs its Practice Technology Committe. A solo practitioner, Dan chaired the Computer Committee at Anapol Schwartz in Philadelphia. Dan is also a certified Trainer for LiveNote and certified to support and train Time Matters, CaseMap, TimeMap and LegalFiles.

Attorney Daniel J. Siegel Lectures About Technology & The Law

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Attorney Daniel J. Siegel of Havertown, Pennsylvania, has recently presented a number of programs focusing on the intersection of law and technology. In particular, Siegel is scheduled to present a three hour program, “Android for Lawyers” for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on Friday, April 25, 2014 in Philadelphia. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1lNl6fb.

Siegel is also a course planner for and is speaking at “The Technology Institute,” to be held on June 11, 2014 in Philadelphia.… Read the rest

I’ll Take “Advancements in Legal Technology” for $1,000 please, Alex

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Recently, there has been some discussion out of IBM about the possibility of using Watson-like technology for legal research, litigation and discovery. While this sounds like a great idea in the abstract, in reality, it remains to be seen whether Watson is capable of such an undertaking.

For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, Watson is a room-sized computer created by IBM and named after its first president, Thomas J.… Read the rest

Cell Phones are Computers – The Evolution of Technology

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

For most people, the word “computer” conjures up images of a traditional desktop computer and monitor, or perhaps a laptop or even a netbook. Few, if any, would associate the word with their cellular phone. However, it is undeniable that modern cell phones are, more and more, performing tasks for which we would ordinarily use our computers. We can check our email, surf the web, stream music and videos, and download software, all with a little device that fits in our pocket.… Read the rest

Legaltech New York

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Yesterday, my associates, Molly Gilligan, Diana D’Auria and I, spent the date (actually our annual jaunt) at Legaltech, New York, the large commercial legal technology show (not to be confused with the ABA’s Techshow, where I will be speaking in April). As usual, there were many vendors and we were able to visit with friends from our many partners, including LexisNexis TimeMatters, CaseMap and Concordance, Legal Files case and matter management software, AccessData Summation (I have just become a newly-minted Summation Support Specialist, which replaces my prior certification as a Summation Certified Trainer) and Payne Systems (Metadata Assistant).… Read the rest

Websites Can Impact a Law Firm’s Malpractice Insurance Rates

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Clients look at websites, other counsel look at websites and – not surprisingly – so do legal malpractice carriers. In fact, they use the sites as a way of verifying that the information contained in a law firm’s applicable for malpractice insurance is accurate and consistent with their marketing statements. According to an article, “The Underwriter Speaks, How Your Professional Liability Insurance Carrier Looks at Law Firm Websites,” published in the January 2011 newsletter from Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, “The website can be a great resource for underwriters to gather data such as lawyer’s bios and avoiding the need to go back to the applicant to obtain the description.… Read the rest

Great Free Microsoft Office Manuals

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Free is always a great price, but this time, free is not only a great price but a great product.  A company, Mouse Training, has release its training manuals and Quick Reference Guides for Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP (2002) and Office 2000. The materials include Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Project and Visio.

All of the documents are in pdf format.… Read the rest

Free CaseMap 101 Webinars

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

I am very pleased to announce that I will be presenting a series of monthly webinars about LexisNexis CaseMap, the award-winning litigation management software – the webinars are based on my book The Lawyer’s Guide to LexisNexis CaseMap, which was recently published by the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section. The series will provide numerous tips designed to help you get the most from CaseMap.… Read the rest

27 Inch Monitors Come Down in Price, Improve Productivity

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

For years, I have written and lectured about the bump-up in productivity that results when you use a large monitor. But, like many people, I’m not a big fan of dual screens, and the price difference between 22/23 inch and larger monitors has been dramatic. But not anymore. I just purchased a 27 inch Samsung monitor for $259.99 at BJ’s, and the display is gorgeous.… Read the rest

History Repeats Itself – Don’t Let it Happen to You

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

In February 2009, I was contacted by a potential client, who was opening a law office. I recommended that he purchase case management software, Adobe Acrobat Professional and a scanner; he also needed time and billing software. Because he was just starting and wanted to focus on the time and billing software, I explained that the ideal product for him was one I did not support and offered to refer him to another consultant who is an expert on that product.… Read the rest

Managing the Risks and Benefits of Technology in a Law Office Presentation Online as Podcast

Posted by Daniel J. Siegel

Attorney Dan Siegel’s seminar, “Managing the Risks and Benefits of Technology,” which hepresented on September 14, 2010 to the Philadelphia Bar Associaiton’s Professional Guidance and Law Practice Management Committees and Young Lawyers Division, and through the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, is available as a podcast at http://www.techlawyergy.com/profresp091410.mp3 or the Philadelphia Bar Association’s website – http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/Podcasts_Speaker_Programs?appNum=2. Thanks to Barbara Rosenberg and Hope Comisky (co-chairs of the Professional Guidance Committee) and Paul Kazaras (of the Philadelphia Bar Association) for inviting Dan (president and founder of Integrated Technology Services, LLC) to speak.… Read the rest