Robert Ambrogi Blog
When I give presentations on lawyers’ ethical duty to be competent in technology, audience members often come up to me afterwards and ask something to the effect of, “Ok, I get it, but how do I become competent in technology?”
Preparing for another such talk this week, I thought I’d put the question to Twitter, asking others what their number one piece of advice would be for a lawyer wanting to become more competent in technology.
The more than 100 responses were so good that I decided to collect them here and share them with others who did not follow the thread. They range from “play World of Warcraft” to “learn the basics.”
So here goes.
If a luddite lawyer were to ask you, "How do I get competent in technology," what would be your #1 piece of advice?
— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 10, 2019
Have a “beginner’s mind” and just get started. Nothing beats being curious.
— PatternBuilder (@Afterpattern) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/RayNaCorp/status/1193666149160038401
This. Provide yourself with an opportunity to interact with technology you're unfamiliar with, poke at it, break it etc.
Can't learn this from a PowerPoint slide, gotta do it.
— Cath 🧛🏻♀️ (@drowsygeek) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/drakowski/status/1193648099412959233
https://twitter.com/GTeninbaum/status/1193649742611460096
What do you envision as the highest value/best use of your time and talent, from both your and your clients’ perspective? How will you deliver on that without deploying tech? Ask a tech savvy colleague what’s out there to help.
— Susan Hackett (@HackettInHouse) November 10, 2019
Figure out what you want to do, then learn the tech to accomplish it. Back in the day, I learned HTML because I wanted a firm website in 1995 and I learned Slashcode because I wanted to blog. I learnedTrialPad because I had an important jury trial. I am a practical technologist.
— carolynelefant (@carolynelefant) November 11, 2019
The point is that if you are motivated, you will figure out the tech DIY through reference guides & online tutorials or help from colleagues.
— carolynelefant (@carolynelefant) November 11, 2019
Don't worry about learning how to code, and instead focus on learning how to communicate with those that do.
— Aileen A. Schultz (@CopyPurest) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/matthomann/status/1193736844883767296
See my recent tweet re: advice and empathy.
— Cat Moon (@inspiredcat) November 11, 2019
Learn to drive the car (the @DCaseyF school of mastering useful tech) rather than build the car (there's really only one @Flooie) Learn to work with existing tech, and where you need something new, learn to work with technologists.
— Eddie Hartman (@EddieRHartman) November 11, 2019
Start your own firm, borrow a bunch of money. I have always found debt to be a great motivator and necessity to be the mother of innovation.
— Kevin O'Keefe (@kevinokeefe) November 10, 2019
Kevin, Taking investor money is similar to debt. In startup I was part of, our accountant said "cash is the best teacher." But taking risk is likely correlated with openness to learn, which is core ingredient needed to learn tech. Financial risk just speeds up the learning.
— Bill Henderson (@wihender) November 11, 2019
It works. Borrowing close to $500k to start a law firm (to buy files out of my previous firm) is what resulted in my finding the Internet to be an incredible medium for lawyers looking to grow their business and my later starting two companies. 😉
— Kevin O'Keefe (@kevinokeefe) November 11, 2019
Acknowledge your vulnerability and accept advice from those who are not your professional peers.
— Sonny Cohen – Hi!🇺🇸 (@SonnyCohen) November 10, 2019
Forget about coding. Forget about building apps or no-code stuff. Seriously???
Learn Word: styles, find/replace, PDFing. Then learn Excel, but not just because you don't know that Word has tables.
It's about being competent with tech AS A LAWYER, not in some abstract sense.
— Michael Simon (@RoninMikeSimon) November 11, 2019
Right. Look at what @ProcertasLLC (started by @DCaseyF) does – train lawyers in everyday tools, Word, Excel and PDF.
— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 11, 2019
Plus, @DCaseyF dispels all those silly notions that younger lawyers are somehow "digital natives" who just magically know how to use tech.
We need to teach them all to better use what they have now, then WE (as tech-types) need to build better stuff for them – per @jontobinesq
— Michael Simon (@RoninMikeSimon) November 11, 2019
Put in the time to learn relevant tech and stop looking for silver bullets. People who are good with tech put in years to learn what they know and keep learning. Do you really think your path should be different? As @inspiredcat has said, you need humble curiosity. #justdoit
— Dennis Kennedy (@denniskennedy) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/jeicks/status/1193703855529312256
Learn to type really well
— Anthony M. Laizure (@TLaizure55) November 11, 2019
Get competent in law first.
— The Jason (@TJSmithEsquire) November 10, 2019
IMHO this is the wrong answer. It takes years to get competent in the law. You don’t have years to wait. Must be done concurrently.
— Kelli Proia 🦖 (@lawducate) November 10, 2019
If you're not competent in the law, you're committing malpractice, regardless of your tech competency.
— The Jason (@TJSmithEsquire) November 11, 2019
Yes. That’s why it’s not either/or. It has to be both law and tech at the same time.
— Kelli Proia 🦖 (@lawducate) November 11, 2019
And both the law and the technology you must know to be competent? Depend on your practice!
These blanket answers are not helpful as they suggest any lawyer must know all the things.
One size does not fit all.
— Cat Moon (@inspiredcat) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/vLexColin/status/1193653633293963264
Pivot tables!! You've just excluded three-quarters of the legal profession.
— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/vLexColin/status/1193654762933280768
https://twitter.com/jimcareynj/status/1193665109304004610
Ask why 5 times and start solving the underlying problem.
— Carlos Gámez (@chgamez) November 10, 2019
Check out the offerings of the @ABAesq Law Pracitce Division or just check out Law Technology Today! Also highly recommend #ABATechShow https://t.co/RwFg3NkP8M @LawPracticeTips @ltrc
— Sofia Lingos | Trident Legal (@SofiaLingosEsq) November 11, 2019
Treat tech like you would any other aspect of attorney competency. No one starts out board certified. You work your way up slowly. I usually recommend starting with legal tech blogs, LinkedIn Learning (start with MS Office), and a cybersecurity expert to start a conversation.
— Jennifer Wondracek (@JenWondracek) November 11, 2019
I think it is also important to note that most of the new tech ethics rules use the *reasonable efforts* for relevant technologies.
— Jennifer Wondracek (@JenWondracek) November 11, 2019
To quote Human League, "I'm only human." "Reasonable efforts" is not only a reasonable standard, but about the best we can aim for given the complexity of technology and its interface with legal practice.
— Grandpa Ken (@KenHirsh) November 11, 2019
Go to LinkedIn Learning and sign up for some online training in technology basics or buy a few "XXXXX for Dummies" books in specific tech areas that you want to skill up in.
— Dennis Garcia ⚖ (@DennisCGarcia) November 10, 2019
If you thought law was a marathon, not a sprint…technology competence is running through tar into a pool of maple syrup – in the middle of winter. It's going to take time and patience.
— Perry L. Segal – Charon Law PC (@CharonShield) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/JenniferMRomig/status/1193653413604724736
Use it, personally, as often as you can, long before you put it into production for clients.
— Jonathan I. Ezor (@jonathanezor on Threads) (@JonathanEzor) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/danielschwartz/status/1193645561230118915
If deals with consumers AT ALL, #1 would be "learn how the major social media platforms work."
— Josh King (@joshuamking) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/latvrdy/status/1193675836416823297
First – upgrade your tech. Office 365 is so much easier to use than say Office 2007. Same with Adobe DC. Once you have done this spend some time learning the pieces you use the most.
— Ryan McKeen (@ryanmckeen) November 10, 2019
If they are asking that, they aren’t a Luddite. Don’t be so condescending if you want non-tech savvy folks to listen to your opinion
— Patrick Dixon (@patrick_dixon) November 10, 2019
The question is not meant to be condescending. It usually comes right after I give a talk on the ethical duty of tech competence. Those who do not feel competent suddenly ask, "Whoa, what do I do?"
— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 10, 2019
Then I would suggest avoiding the pejorative Luddite when referring to people who genuinely want to learn about technology.
— Patrick Dixon (@patrick_dixon) November 10, 2019
I've come to the radical conclusion that lawyers SHOULD want to be Luddites – if only they (and 99.9999% of everybody else) knew what Luddites really were: they didn't fear tech in general, they feared factory owners' ability to use it to replace them with vastly cheaper labor.
— Michael Simon (@RoninMikeSimon) November 11, 2019
Look for course at local community college designed to teach MS Office to teachers (common name: technology for educators); check state bar ass’n for offerings; hire a consultant or qualified law student.
— Shellie Reid (@edgeofempty) November 10, 2019
Master the tech you have the shelf today. Then ask yourself, can I improve this workflow with something/someone else?
— Chase Hertel (@Chase_Hertel) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/heatherbussing/status/1193711740703232000
Start with the tools you use all day every day like the MS Office suite. For example: styles in Word, tasks in Outlook, OneNote. If you're in a firm with a trainer, ask them. They know all the secret goodies that may not be obvious.
— Michelle Spencer (@txmischief) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/Dave_Ferguson/status/1193896239919591433
Think about all the applications you use regularly in your daily life. Now look or ask an IT person how can you get the data out, what data is available, and is it in a format that is ready for use. This helps illuminate the process and pitfalls.
— Sarena Regazzoni (@sregazzoni) November 11, 2019
Accept mentoring from a younger lawyer you trust
— Steve Puiszis (@StevePuiszis) November 10, 2019
Interesting that many assume tech incompetence to be a function of age. I'm sure there's some truth to that, but I've heard plenty of horror stories about younger attorneys as well.
— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/drakowski/status/1193723315468357632
Figure out what problem you are trying to solve and then ask for suggestions on tools that solve that problem.
— Chris Valdheims (@cvaldheims) November 11, 2019
Hire a patience proficient paralegal or paratechnical. Join ACEDS and attend their webinars. Read & use @craigball’s Ediscovery workbook. Take the time to read and learn the concept taught by the @edrm.
— Sheila Grela, CEDS (@sgrela_cp) November 11, 2019
Become proficient at googling.
— Mike Gras (@MichaelJGras) November 10, 2019
First learn how to use styles in Word.
— Stephen (@steveschuck2) November 10, 2019
Most local bar associations in mid to large cities have technology practice groups. Go to CLE lunches, ask about resources in the community, look for local tech startup community group or city incubator space and volunteer with your talents. Ask 14 yr old abt her robotics team
— BAW Chicago (@bwychicago) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/kjmofo/status/1193658933312778241
Just about every legal tech tool offers free demos. Demo liberally. At worst you learn about a new solution, at best you adopt one. Either way it’s very easy.
— Otto Hanson (@freeplatitudes) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/MillDollarAtty/status/1193646239058972672
Spend a weekend with @dceddia’s Pure React. You’ll pick up the most widely used JS framework and become familiar with JS as a language in the process. With create-react-app these days, and Dave’s simple book, diving in couldn’t be easier.
— Nick Sethi (@litewarp) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/justiceCh1ck/status/1193755730395971584
Start your own law firm or try to behave as if you are; Scale what is working.
— Jeremy Secker (@jeremysecker) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/KrokerMax/status/1193647936753803265
Push buttons. If you use a piece of software, you should periodically push buttons and explore menus to see what they do. That’s where learning happens.
— John J. Cord (@CharmCityLawyer) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sidkobewka/status/1193752759712894976
Take #elearning courses via @edXOnline.
— Craig Atkinson (@craigaatkinson) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/GreatRescission/status/1193747484012613632
ask the professionals in your firm’s KM or IT department for a standing 30 minute appointment where you invest in learning. Bring a real technology issue or pain point with you to each session. Listen. Build a relationship. They will go out of their way to help you. #legalit #km
— Cindy Thurston Bare (@CindyThurston) November 11, 2019
Get started. Pick something. Anything. Master it. Small pieces.
— Nigel Stott (@nj_stott) November 11, 2019
Noone seems to suggest this: Learn the fundamentals, and the rest will be less daunting. Read up on how computers actually process information, what the components do, how programming languages work, the binary logarithm.
— Fredrik Svärd (@fredsvard) November 11, 2019
Get strong at Excel and good at making basic webpages, HTML and CSS. Those two will take your long distance towards self management and the ability to market independently.
— Bruce Godfrey (@BruceGodfrey) November 11, 2019
Ditch the @hotmail.com email address
— Jim Hacking (@jimhacking) November 10, 2019
Find your learning style.
Try https://t.co/ZWwX6EMpFP or khan academy and pick 1 thing a month to learn. Get hands on.
If reading or videos resonate more, try those. If having someone evaluate the work you do then show you how to optimize , hire a tech saavy paralegal student.— Janice Hollman (@janice_hollman) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/AmyParalegal7/status/1193933187958870016
Sadly, with 40 years of professional work in tech law, that question is still being asked. Honestly, I would encourage them to leave the practice of law; to ask the question confirms they are not competent to practice law in the current age.
— Jeffrey Ritter (@Jeffrey_Ritter) November 10, 2019
@atlblog @practicepanther@NACDL @PACDLawyers Dear Jeffrey,
Please read all of the helpful NON Donkey answers above and below yours and reconsider your horrible advice.
Sincerely,
The marginally technified— Dan Armstrong 🏛🗽⚖ (@Trialawdan) November 11, 2019
Learn the main file types, what they are used for, and the programs that use them; learn to distinguish between your os and your programs/files.
— cypresslaw (@cypresslaw) November 11, 2019
From there maybe explain SaaS generally (since their already using it) vs native apps they use. Also suggest a password manager.
— cypresslaw (@cypresslaw) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/JRRamsland/status/1193652286230343683
Quickly augment your study with. hands on work. Pick a problem. to solve that aligns with your passion and go at with your chosen technology (from a lawyer/technology nerd).
— Ami Stanhope (@Turings_Ghost) November 10, 2019
Also, assume that if your solution is slow and painful, there is a better and faster way. Google it, and you will learn something new.
— John J. Cord (@CharmCityLawyer) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/ChynnaFoucek/status/1193670512276316160
"You don't. It is too complicated. Hire a professional and pay them an exorbitant amount." Sound familiar?
— Johann Drolshagen (@JDrolshagen) November 10, 2019
Ignore everyone who said "learn to code" or even "build a website." Luddite lawyers do not need to know this stuff. Learn the basics, do them better: make prettier Word documents, attach files to emails, use keyboard shortcuts for copy-paste, maybe even understand cloud storage.
— Kerry Martin (@KerryWMartin) November 10, 2019
Find an amazing legal technologist and shadow them!
— ACEDS Toronto (@ACEDSToronto) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/LanceTPeterson/status/1193684495821524992
Use all 10 fingers and educate yourself on the in and outs of reply all and the caps lock.
— Probate, Estate Planning, & Income Tax (@LTWLAW) November 11, 2019
Legal tech is more than an electronic version of your paper brief/discovery set/etc. Best results require a different way of thinking and working.
— kiriharkess (@hkhakl) November 11, 2019
Install "Clippy" for Microsoft Word 97, and begin asking it all of life's tough questions.
— Anthony Rosborough (@arosborough) November 11, 2019
Become a doctor.
— James M. Grandone (@JamesGrandone) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/swrose55/status/1193769822963851264
Just like learning the names of the notes and some scales when picking up an instrument. Saves time in the long run. I also think knowing the fundamentals makes it easier to understand what tech can and can't do, helpful when buying and implementing tools for example.
— Fredrik Svärd (@fredsvard) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/knott_richard/status/1193787807338287104
Start with assumption that, “there must be an easier way to do this (whatever the thing is that you are doing)” and then google the answer.
— Stuart Whittle (@stuartwhittle) November 11, 2019
Just start googling and reading as much as you can. Getting familiar with concepts at a 40,000 ft view is an important first step.
— Will Harrelson (@willharrelson) November 11, 2019
And no shame in the “boomer” google search like “how do I add technology to my law practice?” Just start pulling the thread and you’ll find what questions come next.
— Will Harrelson (@willharrelson) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/chhill1213/status/1193856740351197184
Answering your luddite lawyer question: Find a tech savvy fellow attorney and ask them to show you how they use and benefit from #legaltech and #contractautomation
— Patrick Rafter (@prafter) November 11, 2019
Don’t underestimate yourself – you can do this!
— J. David Jordan (@j_djordan) November 11, 2019
Define “competence” as it relates to you, and the model rules. Use that benchmark to find what is within your competence & when you need assistance. Seek out training on the basics from a reputable source, learn what you need. Basics first, along with what you use daily. Repeat
— yellow peril master (@swansonerik) November 11, 2019
I’d say “Hello, I’m a Law Librarian, how may I assist” (have trained many many lawyers).
— Nikki Tees (@LSLLibrary) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/AmyParalegal7/status/1193938959895805954
There are great trainings and resources @LSNTAP for those looking to work with #middleclass and #lowincome communities. And @SRLN15 has a #formsandtech group that also has materials/trainigns. I would also invite them to go to @LSCtweets https://t.co/FmCn9NKKH1
— Claudia Johnson (@C2AJ) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/swrose55/status/1193769935387930624
https://twitter.com/swrose55/status/1193770440759611393
Just try your best
— Jilljustwantstowrite (@JillYWhitehouse) November 10, 2019
Buy a laptop!
— Thomas Creech Law Offices (@lawyerman97) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/ChynnaFoucek/status/1193669957122510850
Go paperless off the bat.
— Matthew Hawley (@hawleylaw) November 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/JoshuaPluta/status/1193768418849148928
https://twitter.com/BrianMoriarty1/status/1193703623995334656
https://twitter.com/GuyKitchen1/status/1193705324844371969
Lawyers trying to get competent in technology should learn Python. It's a powerful programming language that will give them superhuman powers.
Start with Introduction to Python for Data Sciencehttps://t.co/RlnEk2u0Vr
— David Michaels (@davidmichaels) November 11, 2019
The Luddites knew the technology well, they just correctly predicted that machine automation in the first Industrial Revolution would spell the end of manual work. But automation in the legal sector will create jobs for the next 20 yrs as it opens up latent demand.
— HughLogue (@HughLogue) November 11, 2019
Read tech blogs regularly so as to develop a healthy lack of trust in what software promises vs. what it actually does.
— Victor Forberger @vforberger@fosstodon.org (@vforberger) November 11, 2019
And, coding is NOT the same as being tech savvy.
— Victor Forberger @vforberger@fosstodon.org (@vforberger) November 11, 2019
Learn keyboard shortcuts for your most used programs (Word, Outlook, etc.)
I'd guess most people could easily double their speed at editing documents in Word if they stop using the mouse.
— Gordon Cassie (@gordon_cassie) November 11, 2019
Being "competent in technology" sounds like being competent in transportation, when what someone wants is to learn how to drive. My advice is to identify a task that you do manually but for which a clearly more effective tech solution exists, and learn it. Then rinse and repeat.
— Timothy B. Corcoran (@tcorcoran) November 11, 2019
This is the way I have tried to answer that question over the years (not very simply, briefly, or clearly, but I am doing what I can …) https://t.co/6IL5esvh41
— Jack Pringle (@jjpringlesc) November 11, 2019
Ask your staff and paralegals and see what technology might be best for you to learn that would be helpful to you as the attorney and your clients. They know you best. It might be something small but anything is process. #legaltech
— Pegeen Turner (@pegeenturner) November 11, 2019
I consider myself moderately tech savvy, but do not know how to set "pivot tables," mix "wix," or the oven setting for IFTTT "recipes." You've piqued my curiosity, though.
P.S. Being curious is how you get moderately tech savvy.— Tulsa Family Law (@tulsafamilylaw) November 11, 2019
act like your job depends on it. https://t.co/wjhXw3LERA
— gia kagan-trenchard (@gkagantrenchard) November 11, 2019
Practice makes perfect https://t.co/EDRg7sS31b
— @bimbette.bsky.social (@ccomplexarchive) November 11, 2019
Start tapping into more “streams of content.” For example, use a tool like Feedly to tap into RSS feeds. https://t.co/FnAUMEgtPo
— Daniel S. Christian (@dchristian5) November 11, 2019
Depends upon what you want / what is costing you time. I've done IT for years – if you're in discovery-heavy cases, Adobe Acrobat (an older version is just fine) is great bc of Bates numbering. If you do Crim Law there are other options. Tell me what you want; I'm happy to help.
— Amy Barnes (@amybarnes_usa) November 11, 2019
Honestly!?! If you’re a lawyer, you should be able to figure out a strategy to conquer the necessary technology to do your job. There are millions of resources. And it should be a priority to avoid malpractice.
— Nicole Wipp (@nicolewipp) November 11, 2019
Google how to format things before you format. If it feels like there should be an easier way, there probably is. Ex, if you have a list of names + template letter, you can Google and find out mail merge exists. All the time there's stuff like this in the tools you already use.
— Wilhelmina Randtke (@randtke) November 12, 2019
Periodically go on the meta level. Break down your goals, check whether there's a better way to get there, then put in the time and try. If you don't get past the learning curve, fine, try again next time you are introspective. If you do get past the learning curve -> payoff.
— Wilhelmina Randtke (@randtke) November 12, 2019
Worry about the basics first: are they and their colleagues able to use the base functions to a decent level?
— Pale, Stale Male (@Palestalemale1) November 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/sgbassett/status/1194218399313866752
https://twitter.com/charityanas/status/1194239183243620355