Emergency management covers a broad range of
issues that can be better managed with software and other technologies.
Emergency Management in the U.S. is
surprisingly broad. A lawyer in this area will encounter issues as diverse as
Grant Management and Administration, Public Assistance Program, Environmental
and Historic Preservation Requirements, Hazardous Materials, and Project
Funding. Incorporating technology into a law practice in this area can make the
practice more efficient and increase client satisfaction. In fact, technology
may enable the practitioner to exceed client expectations.
In this first article in a series, Michael J.
Riley, Sr. focuses on Case Management by software. The complete articles will
be published on the blog of Michael Riley at https://michaeljriley.blogspot.com/
Technology is advancing, and the legal
profession must keep up with these technological and societal changes. Many of
us still remember when they first saw a personal computer, when cell phones
became widely available, and when cell phones turned into smart phones that
have become indispensable for many.
Incorporating technology into a law practice
can make the practice more efficient and increase client satisfaction. In fact,
technology may enable the practitioner to exceed client expectations. Here are
a few, simple-to-implement options.
Case Management Software
Long gone are the days of paper routing
slips, desktop inboxes and consecutive reviews by paralegals and attorneys
during which papers and files are shuffled back and forth. With case management
software, incoming documents are reviewed in a pre-determined sequence or as
authorized, and files or documents are updated the same way. The staff has
real-time access to documents and status reports. Important dates are
automatically entered into a calendar. Case Management Software also enables
legal teams to focus on a pre-set process, thus saving time and energy, and
greatly reducing the stress in this deadline-driven profession. Case Management
Software can also greatly reduce costs for the law practice and the clients by
standardizing and accelerating document creation and maintenance.
There are many different kinds of Case
Management Software, some general ones such as:
https://www.capterra.com
https://www.clio.com
https://www.mycase.com
https://www.trialworks.com
https://www.cosmolex.com
In fact, there is at least one software that
is tailored for emergency management, https://www.emergency-response-planning.com/incident-crisis-emergency-management-software
SMARTPLAN™ Software is
response planning and emergency management software. It can be used for
different locations and is web-based. Included are preparedness programs based
on “best practices”, company protocols, and regulatory requirements.
These are just a few examples, and should not
be considered endorsements of any of these products. Each law practice should
make sure to test them carefully before buying, and take advantage of the free
test versions or consultations that many software providers offer as part of
their sales process. Find the right software to fit your own needs and your
client’s expectations
Research and Mobile Technology
Subscription research services such as LEXIS
and Westlaw have been available to attorneys online for decades, gradually
rendering hard copy law libraries obsolete. The internet has done for law what
it has for every other area of modern life, providing instant access to
information.
To be continued. - The complete article will
be published on the blog of Michael J. Riley at https://michaeljriley.blogspot.com/
*NOTE:
The inclusion of a technology or app in this article does not mean an
endorsement or approval. The listed technologies are just for illustrative
purposes. None of these particular technologies are endorsed or recommended by
this author.
Trained as a lawyer, J.D., University of Tennessee-Knoxville (1980), Michael J. Riley, Sr. currently
serves FEMA as an Emergency Manager, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Operations Division Supervisor. Expertise
includes Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, contract compliance, procurement, and
Civil Rights. He has served the American people and international community in
various different locations affected by natural disasters, including Puerto
Rico and Haiti.
Michael J. Riley, Sr. is an attorney in New Orleans with experience in emergency management and economic development.
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