Law Firm Automation – in 1972

By Doug Hafford – VP Consulting Services, Afinety, Inc.

In 1972 I was a sophomore at Grossmont High in La Mesa, California.  Most of my interests at that time had little do to with the legal industry and more to do with sun, surf, sand and my basketball career.  I was only able to grow to 5’10” and the NBA was standoffish so I eventually found my way to IT consulting.  Looking back, it is hard to imagine how a staff person in a law firm in 1972 could see into the future but the seeds were indeed there.  So let’s look back and see what exciting technology was available.

The IBM Typewriter

When I formally started in the business, a lot of what we did was to replace IBM typewriters with Personal Computers.  The IBM "Selectric" II Typewriter introduced in 1971 (ten years after the original Selectric), featured a number of additions to typing technology. Its unique "dual-pitch" mechanism enabled the typists to switch from ten-pitch (ten characters per inch), commonly used for routine correspondence, to twelve pitch (twelve characters per inch), for use in typing business forms.  By merely switching a lever, a change in pitch can be made in a matter of seconds, and all on the same typewriter!

Another feature of the IBM "Selectric" II Typewriter was the IBM Tech III Ribbon. Enclosed in a snap-in/snap-out cartridge, the mylar ribbon only had to be changed five times yearly as compared to the 64 changes necessary with the previously used carbon ribbon.  Revolutionary! 

Outstanding Client of the Quarter: Madory, Zell, Pleiss & McGrath APC

Fall 2012

Every quarter, Afinety selects a firm to name as the “Outstanding Client of the Quarter.”  This quarter we would like to recognize Madory, Zell, Pleiss & McGrath APC.  The firm will receive a catered lunch delivered to their Tustin office, along with our thanks and admiration. 

All of our clients are special to us and the relationships we form with them are very much a partnership.  The Outstanding Client of the Quarter is selected for their professionalism as well as the benefits they receive from Afinety’s unique standardization and planned refresh approach.  A professional firm like Madory, Zell, Pleiss & McGrath APC requires a professional computer system and this becomes part of their own clients’ perception of the firm. 

We caught up with firm’s legal administrator, Marilyn Hodges, who started with the firm in 1962, as well as attorney / network administrator, Patricia Scidmore, who has been with the firm since 1992.

Leasing for the 21st Century Law Firm

by Christina Lord, First American Legal Finance and Kendra Edson, City National Bank

Technology can be a strategic asset – or a drain on resources.

Traditionally, law firms treat technology as a capital asset, similar to office furniture and office space.  Purchases are analyzed each year against the merits of other capital expenditure requests. 
Lately, there has been a shift to treating “technology as a utility,” as it can be a far more efficient approach. Firms that treat technology as a utility choose not to directly own the technology.  Instead, a third party owns the technology and the firm adopts a “pay-as-you-go” approach, much as it does for electricity, or any other utility.

Here today. Gone tomorrow.

The core philosophy of the technology as a utility approach is that technology is not like traditional capital assets.  Unlike office furniture, technology changes overnight; the equipment you purchase today may be obsolete by tomorrow. 

The critical nature of IT infrastructure demands that law firms view it as an ongoing operational commitment (an operating expense) and not a sunken capital expense (capital expenditure).  It is important for firms to assess the financial and formal implications of adopting a lease-based technology program – including, but not limited to creating a smooth, predictable budget and diversifying their funding sources.