RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WORK REMOTELY
As the world has shifted towards working from home surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the initial focus has been on simply gathering the technology to make this possible. However, what security concerns do you need to take into consideration once your remote operation is up and running? Sharon Nelson, John Simek, and Michael Maschke of Sensei Enterprises have published a valuable article touching on this issue for lawyers. Read it here.
Law Practice Tips for Dealing With the Cornonavirus
By Jim Calloway, Oklahoma Bar Association Management Assistance Program
- Good planning is the key to dealing with unexpected circumstances. The plan may have to change as events unfold, but it’s better to start with a plan.
- Determine who can work remotely and who cannot.
- If many are telecommuting, someone may be needed onsite to open mail, scan it and email it to appropriate staff and lawyers.
- Telecommuting workers need a secure method to use for client communication and working with sensitive client information. Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections are preferred. If you are in a smaller firm without IT staff, here are some reviews of affordable VPN’s.
- In many, if not most, cases, a home computer used by children and other family members would not meet proper security and confidentiality standards. A cell phone used to access email is likely more secure than a typical family’s home computer and it would be very secure if using a VPN. Typing on a phone is much slower, as we know.
- I have long advised solo and small firm lawyers to use laptops rather than desktop computers. Working from home is much easier with the same computer you use at the office. Consider buying a laptop now if the situation warrants.
- If you have many digital documents at the office with no way to remote access them and you have a secure computer at home, consider copying them to a portable hard drive or copying them to a secure cloud storage site.
- Video conferencing is a good way to stay in touch with clients in uncertain times. Apple FaceTime can be used for one-on-one meetings. Zoom and Skype are options. If you are an Office 365 subscriber, Teams includes videoconferencing. Microsoft is offering anyone its premium version of Teams for free for six months and has lifted existing user limits on its free version. (More)
- If you have clients who may not be comfortable with some technology tools, ABA TECHSHOW has generously shared a paper for download: Loving the Luddites: Serving Tech-adverse Clients.
- Deadlines are important. Lawyers deal with many deadlines, but now is a good time to triage your deadlines and identify “non-forgivable” deadline dates, like statutes of limitations expiring. To the extent possible, do those now. Offices are one sick person away from sending all of their staff home for 14 days to self-quarantine while courthouses could remain open.
- It is simple to share calendars in Outlook. Lawyers who have not shared their Outlook calendar before should do so with a trusted staff member or, under some circumstances, the office administrator. Keep client information private, but it is unwise to be the only one with a key to the lock.
Virtual Work Policies and Guides
10 Rules Found in Every Remote Work Policy
How to Create an Effective Telecommuting Policy
Remote Access Policy
Telecommuting Policy Sample
9 Home Office Upgrades to Improve Telecommuting
Is Your Crisis Communication Plan Ready?
Remote Work is Trending: How to Make it Work at Your Law Firm
How to Work Remotely as a Lawyer
COVID-19 Advice for Employers
An Employer's Action Guide
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employer FAQs
Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Awareness, Response, and Workplace Plans/Policies (Part 1)
Awareness, Response, and Workplace Plans/Policies (Part 2)
OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
Preparing for the Unknown - Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning for Law Firms
Virtual Client Service
Loving the Luddites: Serving Tech-Adverse Clients
Reassuring Clients You're Prepared for COVID
Awareness, Response, and Workplace Plans/Policies (Part 3)
Working and Meeting in the Age of Social Distancing
How to Avoid Shaking Hands
Virtual Work Productivity
Basic Computer Skills
Productivity Skills and Training
Working From Home? Five Productivity Hacks to Help You Get More Done
Working from Home? Use the Right Tools
The Virtual Work Skills You Need Even If You Never Work Remotely
20 Tips for Working from Home
How to Actually Work When You're Working From Home
Working in a coronavirus world: Strategies and Tools for Staying Productive
Videos
Prioritizing in a Pandemic for Law Firms
Introduction to Microsoft Teams
Virtual Office Security
Law Firm Security
Security Skills
COVID-19 Security Resource Library
Top Tips for Working More Securely from Home
Cybersecurity, Common Sense, and COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
Cyber Security Policy Template
PH-COVID-19 Client Alert Series: Data Protection Issues
US Government Shares Tips to Defend Against Coronavirus Cyberscams
Working from Home: Cybersecurity Tips for Remote Workers
PC Mag Reviews of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Preventing Eavesdropping and Protecting Privacy on Virtual Meetings
Team Collaboration Tips
A Global Legal Tech Space: Aiming for a Truly Collaborative Online Community
The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together
Best Practices for Instant Messaging at Work
8 Communications Tips for Telecommuters to Master
Tech Tips for Teams: Smart Collaboration Tools
Collaboration Tools
Microsoft Office 365 Teams
Slack
Virtual Meeting Tips
Etiquette Tip: How to Participate in an Online Meeting
11 Teleconferencing Tips: Are You Ready for Your Closeup
What It Takes to Run a Great Virtual Meeting
How to Get People to Participate in Virtual Meetings
Working and Meeting in the Age of Social Distancing
Virtual Meeting Tools
Zoom
GoToMeeting
FaceTime
Skype
Webex Video Conferencing
Virtual Meeting Hardware
Video (Logitech)
Microphone/Speakers (Galaxy Buds Plus, Airpods Pro, Logitech)
Voice/Telephony
Virtual Receptionists
Voice Over IP (VOIP) (RingCentral, Ooma, Jive, Vonage, Comcast, AT&T, etc.)
Google Voice
Scanning Documents
Genius Scan
Fujitsu Scan Snap
Sending Forms to Clients
Microsoft Forms
TypeForm
Google Forms
Electronic Signatures
DocuSign
HelloSign
Adobe Fill & Sign
Mail
Mail Forwarding (USPS)
UPS
FedEx
GoogleMyBusiness
EarthClassMail
Anytime Mailbox
CaseMail
Backups
Cloud Storage
Physical and Other Storage
Miscellaneous
More Practice Management and Technology Advice from PMAP
How to Clean Your Smartphone and Keyboard the Right Way
How to Use WiFi Calling When Cellular Service Fails for iPhone and Android