LMS Talk

New White Paper: Law Firm Management in the Cloud

2011-09-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, there has been a plethora of articles and studies discussing the pros and cons of cloud-based computing. There have also been several different attempts to define cloud-based computing and at times, this results in confusion in the marketplace. Is this a rehash of the Application Service Providers (ASPs) we saw in the late 90s or is the new “Software as a Service (SaaS)” model completely different? And just what is “the cloud?”

In its most basic terms, “cloud-based computing” is a technology platform for software applications that are hosted on a computer system somewhere other than your office and is accessible anytime and from anywhere via the Internet using a standard web browser. Instead of making an initial hefty computer investment, like a traditional client-server system, cloud-based computing is typically charged on a per user per month subscription fee. Read the complete article by Downloading from website.

2011 ALA Annual Conference: Possibilities Turned into Reality

2011-06-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

More than 1,200 attendees and 200 exhibiting companies were part of this year's Annual Conference in Orlando. Rippe & Kingston wants to thank everyone that stopped and visited our booth. If you didn't get a chance, click here to request information. Take a look and see if you can find yourself in the grand finale.

LMS runs in Google Chrome Beta 10 and Dev 11

2011-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaOn the 19th of this month, Google took a step up their version ladder by releasing Chrome 11 Beta and a Chrome 11 Dev builds. If you’ve already been using one of the builds, it should have already updated to the latest version all thanks to the automated update system.

I am pleased to tell you that I have tested LMS and now it runs even faster with Chrome!

Did you watch Watson on Jeopardy?

2011-02-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

As an IBM business partner we were quite pleased to see this amazing technology demonstrated on Jeopardy.
We received this notice from IBM:

Dear member of PartnerWorld,

On February 14, 15 and 16, IBM's Watson computing system makes it debut as the first-ever non-human contestant to compete on the Jeopardy! quiz show. The format of Jeopardy! provides the ultimate challenge for a computing system because it covers an unlimited range of subject matter and clues that involve analyzing subtle meaning, irony, riddles, and other complexities in which humans excel and computers traditionally do not. But this is more than just a game. Watson's ability to process this kind of data represents a major leap forward in natural language processing, systems design and deep analytics -- innovations with the potential to transform industries. This is a great representation of the innovation IBM and our Business Partners can offer our customers.

Compliance and e-Discovery Challenges.

2011-01-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

Organizations of all types and sizes face increasing compliance and e-discovery challenges. A proactive strategy for managing these risks includes email archiving and search tools that allow organizations to respond quickly and effectively when the need arises. By accelerating the response to discovery requests, organizations can significantly reduce the risk and potential costs associated with them.

What is e-Discovery?
Effective December 1, 2006, a number of substantive revisions were made to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). Some of the most significant changes appear in Rule 26, which governs the production of evidence in most federal court cases, and in particular as the rule applies to electronic stored information (ESI). ESI covers any and all information that can be stored electronically - including email, instant messaging threads, Skype chats, social media transcripts and other forms of electronic communication. In a nutshell, the changes to the FRCP require organizations to manage their data in such a way that this data can be produced in a timely and complete manner when necessary during legal discovery proceedings.

The Risks of Non-Compliance
Unlike some more specific compliance regulations, e-Discovery rules affect every type of company in every industry. If you can be sued in a federal court, then the rules apply. Failure to comply can mean fines, sanctions, executive liability, and other far-reaching effects on business and the bottom line.

Google Message Discovery
Google Message Discovery, part of Google’s Postini suite of security and archiving services, allows you to create a secure and searchable email archive. Google Apps for Business customers can purchase Google Message Discovery archiving and search tools as an add-on product for Google Apps or use it independently with other systems.

Rippe & Kingston is an Authorized Reseller for Google Apps as well as a leading provider of software for Law Firms. Learn more about Postini and LMS (Legal Management System).

Task-based Budgeting and Billing for Law Firms

2011-01-04T05:43:00.000-08:00

This approach is rapidly becoming an industry requirement, as many large corporations or insurance carriers are demanding increased accountability from outside counsel firms. Insurance companies have set standards for repetitive types of legal cases, i.e. automobile accidents, slip and fall, etc. How much time should be allowed for discovery, reading a letter, or completing a deposition? Task-based time recording requires the timekeeper to enter time by task / activity code so that the various elements of the case can be measured by category and compared against national standards. Task-based time recording has now become an important requirement for many law firms. Task-based budgeting and billing also allows the firm to offer its clients improved reporting on work performed. Budgets can be established with the clients at the initiation of a new case, and invoices can detail or summarize the time and fees allocated to each of the various categories on a matter. Learn more

LMS: New Web Site!

2010-11-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

LMS published their new web site earlier this evening. Some of my favorite features are listed below:

Immediate Support...you are just one click away from support!
Dynamic Content...many components will change each time you visit the site
Category Navigation...helps direct you to the appropriate content
Web 2.0 look and feel ...fill out one of the request forms and you will see
Works great in any browser....Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera
Zoom Features in certain areas....click on the image of our headquarters
Interactive Directions with Google to our offices
Site Search...search the entire LMS domain and Blog in one simple spot
Events Calendar...Keep up with legal events, trade shows and online webinars
Resource Library...The current product data sheets and articles are now available

Take a few minutes and bounce around the site.

LMS on Android Tablets

2010-11-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Good news for all LMS users....more tablets to run your browser based solutions. After facing virtually no competition for months after releasing the iPad, Apple's dominant market share faces a challenge as consumers consider purchasing tablets that could be viable iPad alternatives.

Personal Prediction: Within a year Android tablets will outsell the iPad. The market will be inundated with them.

Some buyers are looking at Android tablets to get features such as cameras, Flash compatibility, USB ports and full 1080 p high-definition video capabilities, which are some prominent features the iPad lacks. The really good news is that all of this competition drives the price down and feature set is expanded...we all win!

Rippe & Kingston is the leader in providing Cloud Based Solutions for Law Firms. Learn more about the LMS Cloud.

LMS: Very Web Friendly!

2010-09-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

In today's market you better be running on the web. Legal Management System (LMS) has been doing that for years. However, in the early days it was acceptable to say you need to use Internet Explorer from Microsoft. That is no longer true. The market and LMS have changed considerably. The market statistics in 2010 of the major browsers broke down like this:

Internet Explorer: 30.7%
Firefox: 45.8%
Chrome: 17% (moving very quickly up the charts)
Safari: 3.5%
Opera: 2.3%

This means that you can now access your LMS System from anywhere, anytime and just about any device. Many of the new devices and smart phones leverage Android and Chrome. LMS has you covered! Others prefer the Apple products and Safari...no problem! LMS runs equally well on all the platforms.

Technology Finally Delivers on All the Promises!

2010-08-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, companies and their claims come and go in our Industry. It's the reason Law Firms need to be as confident in those who develop the technology as the technology itself. It's the reason no matter what lies ahead for the Legal Industry's amazing technological transformation - you can be assured Rippe & Kingston will be there every step of the way.

For over 30 years, law firms of all sizes have relied on Rippe & Kingston for the financial tools to run their practice. Legal Management System (LMS+) provides Management with the needed oversight, reporting tools, support infrastructure and early warning systems to keep law firms profitable and on track.

Visit our web site to learn more

Please define Cloud Computing

2010-08-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

Cloud Computing

Sometimes terminology is used so often that we assume everyone knows what we are saying. Yes, I am guilty! That being said, allow me to summarize what I published a couple of years ago before the terminology was so widely used.

Cloud Computing is a general concept that incorporates software as a service (SaaS), Web 2.0 and other recent, well-known technology trends, in which the common theme is reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users.

Cloud Computing is generally broken down into 4 areas:

Software as a Service (SaaS) - Special-purpose software made available by a third party over the Internet, with a usage-based pricing model. Some call it "application as a service." A couple of examples are Google Apps, Salesforce.com & Zoho. R&K has participated in this deliver model with solutions like LMS and Contract Guardian.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - A service that provides the core computing resources and network fabric for the cloud deployment. Examples include Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud, Rackspace Hosting's Mosso service.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - An integrated software environment for which systems administrators and developers can build, test and deploy custom applications. The Google Apps Engine and Force.com are perfect illustrations.
Core Cloud Services - Stand-alone components build on cloud platforms that can be woven into cloud applications, such as billing, systems management and storage. Amazon's S3 and Microsoft BizTalk Services are cases in point.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Rippe & Kingston.

Online Support For LMS in a Cloud Environment

2010-08-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

LMS Online Support Services in the Cloud Environment is provides you immediate access to the experts in the industry. The support team will directly access your desktop (with your permission) so that they can see and understand exactly what you are sharing. The support team averages over 7 1/2 years of Law Firm Information Technology Experience. Learn more about the LMS Online Support.

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2010-08-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

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