The document provides an overview of essential technology tools and applications to facilitate effective communication and organization for legal professionals and students. It covers social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn for networking and information sharing, as well as Google applications like Reader, Alerts, Docs, and Calendar for managing content and collaboration. The emphasis is on using these tools efficiently to enhance productivity and engagement within the professional community.

1. Technology Basics to Make Your Life Easier
Alisa M. Rosales, J.D.
Associate Director of Public Service Law
DePaul University College of Law Career Services
September 2011
arosale3 [at] depaul.edu
Blogs
Blogging: depaullcs.blogspot.com
 Keep it short, and use the tools to make it cleaner.
 Use your widgets wisely – feed your twitter account, show your favorite blogs,
create a google/CSM/school calendar feed.
 Add an RSS/Feedburner button.
 Use blog posts as links for FAQs
 Use screen shots to advertise events’ posters
 Link into whatever your institution is already using to share content and news
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2. twitter
twitter: twitter.com/DePaulLawCareer
 Microblogging – 140 chararacters or less. Try to post less the number of letters of
“RT @yourhandle” so others can retweet your posts with ease.
 Great for posting information you want your advisees to know without hitting
them over the head.
 Fantastic way to find content for your blog
 Useful for engaging in conversations with other professionals
 Another way to gather general news
 Useful to consider: personal and professional accounts
 Topsy: social media search engine where you can create RSS feeds of the
results (see Reader below)
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3. LinkedIn
LinkedIn: professional networking social media site
 Job postings
 Place for “extras” that don’t fit on your resume
 A place for a little personality – affinities, cause
 Stay connected as your connections widen
 Determine your personal and office policies on connecting to students
 Work within your institution to determine best policy on creating groups
 Create incentives for students to join
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4. Google
Underused Applications: Reader, Alerts, Documents, Calendar
Reader: a place to gather your RSS Feeds
 Can categorize/sort your various feeds
 A place where you can pull together the information without having to hunt for it
 Works for blogs, twitter feeds (using the search engine Topsy), news, and many
calendars
 Various settings which enable you to favorite, mark as unread, and mark all as
read if you are ready to skip an entire feed (helpful for news feeds after vacation)
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5. Alerts: create auto-search components for anything or anyone you are tracking
 Your name
 Any company you are targeting
 Any topic in the news you are tracking
 A research topic for class
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6. Docs: a place to save your stuff
 Works well for group projects
 Save your materials in a computer lab
 Places to organize and back up your work
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7. Calendar: multiple calendars that are easy to publish to the world
 Use for student workers and student organizations
 Highlight what you want to see
 Reduces clutter on group calendars for your institution
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