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Computer Related Issues
by Patricia Yevics, Law Office Management Administrator, MSBA
Computers and other technologies are truly a way of life now. they allow us to streamline our law practices and perform tasks at a much faster pace to give our clients better service. What did we ever do without them!
But while our computers are never in error (?!), the humans who operate them too often are. So, before you commit malpractice with the wonders of today's technology, take a look at these tips for safegarding your information and protecting your investment through sound office procedures.
- If you purchase a new computer that comes with pre-installed software, make sure you copy each of the programs before you start to work. That way if you ever experience computer failure of any kind, you'll have the application programs necessary for reinstallation.
- If you purchase an upgrade of an operating system or other software, made a recovery disk and back up your entire hard drive before you install your upgrade. Although software vendors would like us to believe that upgrades are 100% seamless, it's not always the case. Be prepared to return to the pre-upgrade version if necessary.
- Back up! Back up! Back up! Enough said.
- Proofread all computer-generated forms and documents. You may find errors. After all, software programmers are less-than devine...
- Create and distribute procedures for computer use in your office. You should have an office policy on how to name and save documents. If you don't have a separate software program for document management, use the management facility in your word processing package.
- Create a policy for computer security, which includes procedures for virus protection, remote access, back-up, new software installation, data or software downloading from the Internet, using e-mail and password protection. Make sure that the procedures are easy to understand and that everyone knows and follows them, including you!
- Begin using computer-assisted legal research whether an on-line service, CD-ROM based, or combination of the two. There have been cases recently in which lawyers were accused of malpractice because they did not utilize computer-assisted research and, thereby, did not sufficiently meet the client's interests.
At an American Bar Association Tech Show in Chicago, I attended a session on "How to Commit Malprractice with a Computer." The information I pass on to you here must be credited to attorneys David Blinsky and David Vandagriff. For their article and others on this important topic, please feel free to contact me at 410-685-7878, 800-492-1964 x243, or email payevics@charm.net
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