Chair’s column: Computers for seniors, limited engagements, special apps and thanks to the Council for a rewarding year

Computer Basics: Is This Thing On?

As the Senior Lawyer Section’s Technology Committee indicates in the article on page 6 of this newsletter, we had a very successful Computer Basics: Is This Thing On? program on May 9. It was the second time we presented the program this year. While the first program was good and the participants learned a lot, we also learned a lot from the responses and suggestions from those who attended that workshop. Because of the insights the first group gave us, we were able to better adapt to the needs of our senior audience. The response from all the participants at the second program was very enthusiastic, especially because of the help of the young lawyers who worked individually with two students each. I want to join Ed in thanking everyone who helped for all their work. Both programs were a lot of work and we are indebted to all those that contributed to make them so successful.

We plan on doing this program again so would like to get as much feedback from potential attendees as possible. We have been asked to add sessions on Dragon Naturally Speaking, legal research, backing up, what hardware to buy and what programs are best for seniors. We have previously adopted the four-hour format because we feel that’s about as long as most lawyers can deal with computers before overload. We would like to know what you as potential students feel is important to you so we can consider those suggestions along with the other suggestions by the participants. You can e-mail me at jphipps@net66.com with any suggestions as to future programs and possible locations.

Limited Engagements

Last year the Illinois Supreme Court amended Supreme Court Rules 11, 13 and 137 and the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2 C, 4.2 and 5.5, which now govern limited engagements. These rules make it possible for lawyers to take on cases where they don’t have to provide full representation as long as appropriate disclosures and written agreements are made. These rules are perfect for senior lawyers that are trying to slow down or limit their practice or do not want to get into more extended cases. The limited engagement rules allow seniors to provide help for people of limited means and pro se clients to enable them to participate in the court system in a meaningful way or allow them to afford services that they could not otherwise afford.

Lawyers are now assured that they can get out of the case if they properly do a limited engagement. For example, a senior lawyer can try a case on a limited basis and then withdraw at the end of the trial and not have any further responsibilities. Lawyers can advise businesses on a limited engagement basis as well. Lawyers can draft complaints for pro se litigants that want to make a claim but cannot afford to hire a lawyer to do so. I have used limited engagements several times in the last year to assist clients in preparing small claims and defenses and teaching them how to be successful in court. In each of the cases, the client has been gratified by the result because they did well and they didn’t have to pay a lawyer to spend more than the value of the claim.

More importantly, limited engagements allow senior lawyers the opportunity to do pro bono work and help people that need good legal services without being required to take on the whole case. Lawyers can do this through legal aid services, self-help desks at the courthouse or by simply deciding to provide pro bono service for the client that calls and needs help but can’t afford to pay the lawyer. Limited engagements open a whole world of service opportunities and senior lawyers especially should look for places where they can provide pro bono services that are meaningful but don’t commit the senior lawyer to an ongoing case.

There is a world of opportunity out there with limited engagements. Senior lawyers particularly should be open to the opportunities. They can provide service to deserving people. They can provide quality legal services that would not normally be profitable but can be profitable on a limited engagement basis.

Technology for Seniors

Our Technology for Seniors Committee, chaired by Frank Ariano and composed of Frank, Ed Schoenbaum, Loren Golden, Gary Rafool, Tish Sheets and Don Mateer, has been very active and has been instrumental both in helping to prepare the computer basic programs and the Technology for Seniors articles for the newsletter.

Their article in this issue talks about some of the best apps for smart phones and iPads and tablets. I would like to add a few of my own.

Poynt is a great app for accessing restaurants, businesses, movies, gas prices and finding people and phone numbers. ESPN’s SportsCenter app and Watch ESPN app are two of my favorites. They give me updates on the scores, and let me know which network has the television feed. Watch ESPN lets me see live coverage of a large variety of sports being shown on the ESPN Channels. CBS Sports also gives you the scores and live CBS Sports broadcasts, as does the BTN app for the Big Ten network. I use the sports sites through my cable provider quite a bit during football and basketball seasons, especially when travelling.

The ISBA Eclips app gives me access to the Daily Eclips as well as the ISBA Web site. Finally, I like Flight Tracker and Flight Board. These allow me to track my flight even in the air as I travel, and my family as they travel, and also lets me know what gates the flights are coming to and departing from. The Flight Board also gives you status updates. If you fly a lot or have family flying a lot, these are very handy apps to have. We recently missed our connecting flight in Atlanta because of the weather. I was able to go into my Delta and Flight Board apps to find an alternate flight that was not being given to us by Delta. Looking at the apps and alternatives, I was able to fly to Tampa and rent a car to get to Fort Myers eight hours ahead of when I could fly in on the rescheduled flight. A lot of apps are out there for all kinds of tablets and smart phones. As the committee indicates, there are so many things a senior can use. Seniors just need to be open to the opportunities and not be afraid to experiment.

It’s a good time to be a senior lawyer

The advantage of being a senior lawyer is that most senior lawyers have reached the point in her or his career that they can do much of what they want to do. They are not restricted by families to raise and a practice to build. Many of the senior lawyers that I know no longer wear ties except when they go to court and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and practice. Many are making plans to retire or have retired. Several of the members of the Senior Lawyers Section Council have retired and have gone on to do a variety of other things and enjoy retirement. Many of them say that they are busier than they were with their practice but that they are doing what they want to do. Some of the rest of us still practice but we have the advantage of picking and choosing the cases and work we do.

It is a great time to be a senior and the ISBA keeps working on member benefits that will help. Fast Case allows senior lawyers to have access to quality legal research without having to pay for expensive research providers. Free CLE allows us to keep our MCLE up to date and the dues waivers when you get to be 75 are great benefits.

It has been fun to chair the section this year and I want to thank all the members of the Council for their very active participation and spirited contributions. We have come a long way and continue to build on what previous chairs started. The quality of what the members have contributed and continue to contribute to the Council for the benefit of senior lawyers is excellent. I thank everyone for all their outstanding work. ■