Keeping more than one calendar invites transposition errors.  Plus, it’s more likely that any one person will fail to do two things, than any one person will fail to do one thing.  (Enter a meeting twice?  The chances of success go down from it happening once.)  Then there’s the whole ‘too many chefs’ thing.  And, though it won’t matter for ethics purposes, under the dual calendar system, it’s too easy for lawyers to pin scheduling mistakes on staff.

The justification for a dual calendar system made some sense prior to the internet age.  There wasn’t really a better solution.  (I imagine Bob Cratchit keeping two sets of books for Ebenezer Scrooge.)  Now, there is.

In 2017 (wow – that was weird), the better strategy by far is to maintain one calendar.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that you access only one calendar.  The rise of cloud computing, including the modern facility of integrating between systems, makes it possible to link several calendars.  Enter appointments and tasks into any of those calendars, and the events and responsibilities will populate to every other calendar you’ve linked to it.  In terms of streamlining that process, a preferred workflow would be to utilize your law practice management system calendar as your primary entry point, and sync it to your email system,  which method would also allow you access to each of those systems’ mobile applications.

Create once, and populate everywhere . . . Just don’t get a God complex about your newfound power.

And, if you don’t think calendar management is essential to law practice management, I can tell you that the number of ethics and malpractice claims that arise out of missed deadlines and appointments is staggering.

. . .

Liner Notes

That’s some ill communication right there.

‘Sabotage’ by Beastie Boys

The below review is written by Nerino Petro, CIO at Holmstrom Kennedy PC, and a former practice management consultant for the state bar of Wisconsin.

. . .

Here’s a wakeup call for lawyers — you DO need to know about information technology!  As more and more states adopt the American Bar Association Commission on Ethics 20/20 recommendations requiring lawyers and firms to understand the technology used in their offices, lawyers and their staff need to have at least a basic understanding of how to secure their digital information and computer systems.  To that end, you need to buy and read ‘Locked Down: Practical Information Security for Lawyers’.

The authors have created a terrific resource that covers all aspects of law office digital security in a well-organized and detailed book.  To meet your ethical obligations and educate yourself about the dangers facing your practice and the steps you need to take to protect yourself, you need to have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of information security and how those affect you and the technology you use.  If you want to acquire that understanding: This. Is. The. Book. To. Own.

You can read the book from start to finish, or you can start with the first several chapters, and jump around thereafter.  Since it is organized into clearly-titled, standalone chapters, this book can serve as a go-to resource for you and your law firm staff.  It’s full of practical examples, resources for accessing additional information and sample policies for small firms that can be easily adapted for your practice.  This is the best resource I’ve found to get you and your staff up to speed on protecting your digital assets.

You can buy the paper book or ebook here, direct from the ABA.