In this issue: The Intersection of Law and Technology Paralegal Rainmakers Spotlight Upcoming Events

1. Paralegal Rainmakers Digest
Monthly Newsletter of Paralegal Rainmakers
March 2013 Volume 2 Issue 3
Technology Issue
Law and Technology P.1
Disaster Preparedness P.2
Disorganized Paralegals P.3
Upcoming Events P.4
3 Document Retention Tips
1. Know the Applicable Law
2. Create a Retention Schedule
3. Put it into Practice
Lexis Nexis “ Elements of a Good
Document Retention Policy”
The Intersection of Law and Technology
Paralegal Connection
The advancements in technology is pervading every aspect of our lives. Years ago meeting a
mate on-line was viewed as something only the most desperate individuals resorted to. Now Paralegal Connection is one of the various
on-line dating is becoming the norm with companies like e-Harmony and the do it yourself Paralegal Rainmaker plans. Paralegal Con-
nection takes networking and career contin-
hookups on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites. This technology explosion is not
uous learning to the next level. Paralegal
just isolated to dating. A Pew Research on-line banking study revealed that on-line banking Connection was created to provide parale-
rose from fewer than 9% in 1994 to 43% in 2005. As a legal professional you may be wonder- gals with a method to obtain the essentials
needed to build a successful career in one
ing what this technology explosion has to do with you or your career. Technologies prolifera-
place. Paralegal Connection includes a
tion has benefits and drawbacks for legal professionals. E-Discovery and Cloud Computing are dedicated mail.a-paralegal.com Google
the two that have impacted the legal industry the most in recent years. hosted email address and a variety of other
free and discounted career resources.
The e-Discovery process offers legal professionals the ability to obtain pertinent information Paralegal Rainmakers also offers a free non-
that previously would not be revealed without the use of technology. It is no longer unheard member plan which includes the option to
self register for complimentary webinars
of for an attorney to impeach a witnesses testimony with a Facebook post or destroy an expert and to receive a monthly issue of Paralegal
witnesses credibility with an article on a blog. The use of e-Discovery has allowed for more Rainmakers Digest. Click here to learn more
or visit www.a-paralegal.com/
ingenuous and crafty means to litigate cases. The benefits of technology does not stop at the
paralegalconnection.
discovery phase. What about the jeans wearing, IPad toting, latte sipping attorney who spends
more time away from the office thanks to cloud based practice (cont’d on page 3)

2. Are you Prepared for a Disaster?
Most law firms would not fair very well if seem to be daunting, but if it is broken into
there was a natural disaster in their region two manageable aspects the beast can be
that affected the power and or totally de- tamed. The safety, housing, and mental
stroyed the building where their offices are health aspects of dealing with disasters is left
located. This lack of preparation has opera- to professionals trained to deal with these
tional and financial repercussions. Large scenarios.
well established firms have the luxury of
The first aspect of operational disaster pre-
having staff members or entire departments
paredness is financial and the other is busi-
devoted entirely to coming up with plans
ness continuity. When dealing with the fi-
and practices to deal with scenarios when a
nancial aspect a firm must work with its in-
disaster affects the day to day operations of
surance carrier to ensure that the adequate
their business. These practices take the
protections are in place. The business conti-
form of evacuation planning to quickly being
nuity aspect deals with ensuring that the firm
able to get back to normal operations once a
has the processes in place so that it can con-
disaster has occurred. Since smaller firms
tinue to operate in the event the office or
may not have staff and departments devot-
regular systems are not accessible. Having a
ed to this function a critical aspect of effi-
disaster plan is always better than dealing
ciently operating a firm tends to go unman-
with the disaster of creating a new practice.
aged.
Although, disasters are not normal business
interruptions they can have devastating
effects when they do occur. Some business-
American Red Cross Video
es and residents were still without power
and other basic utilities months after Hurri-
cane Sandy swept through the region and
unleashed her fury.
As law firms that deal with the issues sur-
rounding natural disasters are positioning
themselves to deal with the onslaught of
claims and suits spun by Hurricane Sandy
others are scurrying to determine how they
will get their practice back into operation.
Thinking about preparing for disasters may

3. Disorganization and Paralegals
A Disastrous Combination
There are some things that go well together. features that meet or exceed industry stand-
Peanut butter and jelly. Barak and Michelle ards.
Obama. Honesty and healthy relationships.
Before you shout with joy over the benefits
These things were made for each other.
that these processes and systems have to Paralegal Rainmakers Spotlight
You have to have them both in order to
offer it is imperative that the drawbacks are
make something work. There are also those Certified e-Discovery Specialists
well understood. These drawbacks can have
things that are disastrous combinations.
negative impacts on a firm and a firm’s cli- Who They Are:
Like a match and gas. Brown suits and pro-
ents. Certified e-Discovery Specialists are
fessional interviews. Disorganization and
professionals that have met the
paralegals. These things may work well requirements and passed the
One of the drawbacks to e-Discovery is the
apart but combine them and you might as data review process. The process can seem Certified e-Discovery exam admin-
well put the fire department or unemploy- istered by the Association of
unending with information being collected
Certified e-Discovery Specialists.
ment agency on speed dial.
from cell phones, tablets, laptops, hard Paralegals often become certified
drives, servers, back up tapes, social media e-Discovery Specialists because of
The paralegals that are honest with them-
sites, and third party email programs. Be- their role during litigation. Obtain-
selves will admit that some if not all of their ing the credential provides individ-
cause of this voluminous amount of infor-
job mishaps can be attributed to the lack of uals with the knowledge and skills
mation that must be reviewed the chance of needed to handle challenges inher-
organization. Whether it is an unorganized
confidential and privileged information being ent within the e-Discovery process.
personal life that affects their professional
disclosed to opposing counsel increases con- The credential also provides em-
life, an unorganized method of handling
siderably. Although, there are provisions to ployers and clients with the confi-
projects, or an unorganized approach to
deal with this inadvertent disclosure con- dence that these individuals are
managing workload disorganization is most e-Discovery experts.
vincing the opposing counsel and or judge to
likely at the root of the issue. A paralegal
hand it back over can become a nightmare.
can not and will never be as productive and
How to Become Certified
successful as they can unless they address The drawback to using cloud based practice
this lack of organization and begin to deal There are various organizations
management systems is the storage or hous- that offer e-Discovery certification
with it head on. Dealing with disorganiza- ing of the data. It is imperative to know and all have different require-
tion does not require an extensive course in where the servers that the third party pro- ments . The Association of Certi-
organizational efficiency. It just requires fied e-Discovery Specialists is the
vider is using to store the data that is housed
applying the same approach those in self first and may be the only inde-
within the system is located. Are the servers pendent e-Discovery credentialing
help programs employ. Recognize that dis- in someone’s 100 degree garage or are they body. To become certified by
organization is a serious issue, come up with in a secure environmentally controlled data ACEDS an individual must pass a
a plan to deal with it, and put the plan into rigorous exam administered in over
center? This may never cross the mind of
action. 600 sites.
an ill informed legal professional until they
receive the blast email notifying all users of a
(Cont’d from pg. 1) Technology ACEDS can be contacted via the
catastrophic service issue.
following methods:
management systems than was previously
Technology will continue to advance and
possible? Gone are the days when case in-
legal professionals that are well informed
formation has to be stored in cold and mus- Website: www.aceds.org
will be positioned to take advantage of the
ty file rooms, hacker prone computers, or Phone: 786-517-2701
advancements without sacrificing their ethi-
expensive servers. Technology allows for Email: dpelland@ACEDS.org
cal responsibilities.
tremendous amounts of data to be stored
on third party servers with built in security

4. Upcoming Events
American Red Cross
Various dates , times, and locations Disaster Response Training
Click here for more info or visit https://classes.redcross.org/Saba/Web/Main
Lorman Education
March 19, 2013 Ethical Considerations in Utilizing Social Media
Click here for more info or visit http://www.lorman.com/audio-conference/391308
Rainmakers Virtual College
March 19, 2013 Cloud Computing for the Legal Professional
Click here for more info or visit www.rainmakerscollege.com/cle-courses
Virtual LegalTech
March 21, 2013 On-line Educational Legal Event
Click here for more info or visit http://www.virtuallegaltechshow.com
ABA TECHSHOW
April 4-6, 2013 Educational Legal Event
Click here for more info or visit www.techshow.com
Paralegal Rainmakers
an Agility Service
SAVE THE DATE
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations 25th Annual Educational Conference 9175 Judicial Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
June 22, 2013 Power of the Past—Force of the Future 866-255-7175 Option 4
Click here for more info or visit www.caparalegal.org
www.agilitysvcs.com