Standing Committee on Legal Technology

Attorney Trent Bush demonstrates how to use the paste special feature to save time and trouble when creating documents, powerpoint presentations, and spreadsheets.

When it comes to sharing digital files -- whether documents, music, or almost anything else -- the ubiquitous Dropbox is sure to come to mind. But lawyers have to meet a high security standard, and "[a]lthough Dropbox encrypts the files on its server, Dropbox has had at least one security incident in the past, and Dropbox maintains a master key to the files," writes Chicago lawyer and tech expert Todd Flaming in the latest ISBA Standing Committee on Legal Technology newsletter.

What if you want more security for the files you're sharing on Dropbox? "[C]onsider using an add-on product called Boxcryptor," Flaming writes. "It creates a virtual drive on your computer that allows you to encrypt your files locally before uploading them to the cloud."

How? "Boxcryptor uses your own personal encryption key to encrypt every file before the file is saved into Dropbox and decrypt the file before you open it," Flaming writes "Thus, when the file is uploaded to Dropbox, it is already encrypted, and no one has the key."

Find out more in Flaming's article, where he also discusses the pros and cons of Boxcryptor and gives a remarkably short but clear explanation of cloud computing and how it works.

Two tech-savvy ISBA members, one a litigator and the other a transactional lawyer, describe some of their favorite iPad apps in the April Illinois Bar Journal. One top pick is TranscriptPad.

True to its name, TranscriptPad is designed to enable a litigator like Naperville lawyer Bryan Sims -- or anyone else, for that matter -- to work with transcripts. "I love this app," Sims says. "I use it all the time."

Because many apps are free and few cost more than $10, "people are going to think it's outrageously expensive at $90," says Sims, a member of the ISBA's Committee on Legal Technology. "But for what it does, that's a great price."

It's perfect for reading, annotating, and coding transcripts, he says. "If you just want to read your transcript, it's got a little play button, and you can let your transcript scroll by if you like. You can speed it up or slow it down."

Learn how to admit social media into evidence with this half-day seminar! The social media landscape is dynamic and complex – and is often accompanied by privacy concerns and ethical issues. Join us in Chicago or via live webcast on Friday, April 4th for the opportunity to update your knowledge on social media and the law! Attorneys with all levels of practice experience attending this seminar will gain a better understanding of: What social media is and how to use it; how social media differs from other forms of communication; privacy and security settings; how to use social media as a news outlet; how to preserve social media evidence; the ethical issues that emerge with the use of social media; and how to argue for (or against!) allowing social media into evidence during litigation.

The program is presented by the ISBA Standing Committee on Legal Technology and qualifies for 4.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.