Closing the Loop on Open Source

September 12, 2005 | Filed Under Technology, In the News 

Sooner or later, you may get a call from the Help Desk.

The success of many open source software applications has led many companies to integrate them into their technological infrastructure. One definition of open source is available here; many believe that the concept of collaborative improvement behind open source software leads to more innovation and quicker adoption of useful software tools.

Computerworld magazine has an article called “Ten things your lawyers need to know about open-source.” It’s a good overview and will at least let you understand your friendly IT colleague if they raise the issue.

Two other open source resources may also help: one on contract drafting and another from Slashdot.

Open Source even has its own law center.

You are reading words that were processed the excellent open source weblog publishing platform WordPress. It’s great to use and I support it as well.

And this just in… While not technically about open source, eBay’s acquisition today of Internet-telephony application provider Skype for $2.6 billion is bound to increase interest in open source and free applications that can drive profitable businesses. My quick $.02 on this is that Skype is cashing out at the top, and this is a defensive move by eBay given Google’s new Talk service (which is based on the open source Jabber) and reports that Google may offer a payment service to take on eBay’s PayPal.

The company who gets you to login first each day wins. That’s the reason for the free Gmail. And why Yahoo may take a hard look at Gizmo.

Law On Line II

September 9, 2005 | Filed Under Technology, New Services 

Dennis Kennedy at Between Lawyers was kind enough to write about a prior post here on law firms and the appropriate use of client-centered technology. Check out Dennis’ post and definitely accept his invitation to comment.

To elaborate just a bit, technology often seems driven by what is possible or profitable. People who design it want to be on the bleeding edge (because that’s what’s fun to work on). People who sell it want a lot of features to justify a higher price (which helps them meet their numbers). CFOs who track all this want ongoing training and upgrades (which means recurring revenues).

When we narrow the focus on legal technology and new services, two more hurdles appear: lawyers who can be genetically resistant to change; and an hourly pricing model that isn’t suited to how technology is usually sold. The first hurdle also is present in the corporate law department environment–we share the same DNA.

A better starting point might be to ask clients what they need. Two things you might hear are lowering costs and increasing effectiveness. New legal technology or service models that embrace both will win out over the long run.

This is a safe prediction because:

(a) it is already happening, as noted in my first post, and

(b) I know of projects that are unannounced but underway which will make this happen.

Step back from the law and look at this week’s news. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPod nano. As impressive as the technology is, what is more amazing to me is that he was killing off the most popular mp3 player in the world–the iPod mini.

Mr. Jobs understands that you can’t improve by maintaining the status quo–even when you are #1.

The pace of change with legal technology and services right now is barely glacial. Unfortunately, by the time many law firms get religion on innovating, others will already occupy that priority position in the mind of the client. By the time some corporate GCs do the same, they may find someone else occupying their chair in the corner office.

Turnabout is Fair Play

September 7, 2005 | Filed Under New Services, In the News 

What happens when the outsourcers get in-sourced?

Last week the Bar Council of India (BCI) announced it was opposed the entry of foreign lawyers into that fast-growing country. BCI president Jaganath Patnaik was quoted as saying:

“To allow foreign lawyers to practise in India will not be in the interest of lawyers in general…”

Mr. Patnaik noted that under the 1961 Advocates Act, foreign lawyers are not permitted to practise in India and that he saw no reason to change this law.

Union Minister for Law and Justice H R Bhardwaj went further, using Jedi-mind-trick logic:

“Five years from now I may not be there to stop the entry of foreign lawyers. If our lawyers can benefit from practising outside (abroad) why not allow them?”

Justice Bhardwaj then made an observation that echoes from London to Los Angeles, from Melbourne to Miami:

Praising Indian lawyers and the legal system as one of the best in the world, the minister had complained that the Bar was lagging behind in preparing its members for the change and asked lawyers to change their mindset.

India will likely find that in a world traversed by an information and communication superhighway, it’s very difficult to maintain a one-way street.

Fellow law.com network member Joy London recently took a closer look at the market to outsource legal services in India. Joy and Ron Friedmann also recently updated their useful listing of outsourced legal services.

Calling an Audible

September 2, 2005 | Filed Under General 

I went outside to get the newspapers this morning. The sky is clear in the Midwest and there is a hint of Fall in the crisp morning air. Big 10 football starts tomorrow, as certain a sign as any that Summer is almost over.

I opened the New York Times, and saw on the front page a picture that captures one of the many moments of death and devastation that is Hurricane Katrina. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean.

I then went inside and called my office, informing them that I would be extending the long holiday weekend.

Back next Wednesday with our regularly scheduled subject matter.

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