by Brett Burney

FREE Webinar: “5 Ways for Attorneys to Reclaim Time with TextExpander – A Beginner’s Guide”

In this FREE webinar you’ll learn about 5 ways that the amazing TextExpander actually helps you RECLAIM time in your day!

Once again, I’m honored to be presenting a FREE webinar on how law firms can use TextExpander to be more efficiently.

If you’re a lawyer, then you do a LOT of typing throughout your day.

If you do a lot of typing, then you can SAVE TIME by having TextExpander type things FOR you!

This FREE webinar is entitled “5 Ways for Attorneys to Reclaim Time with TextExpander—A Beginner’s Guide” and takes place at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

You can find more information on the registration page.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to reclaim minutes every single day!

by Brett Burney

iStat Menus – A Dashboard To See What’s Happening On Your Mac

Some people just drive a car and don’t pay attention to anything but their speed. Others want to see a lot more on their dashboard! If you fall into the second category, then you’ll enjoy having iStat Menu on your Mac.

Some people just drive a car and don’t pay attention to anything but their speed (don’t wanna get a ticket!).

Others like to know their current & average gas mileage, tire inflation, remaining oil life, brake wear, temperature, battery charge level, and more. If you’re that kind of person, then you’ll love iStat Menus  for your Macs.

I’ve been using iStat Menus since at least version 3, and the folks at Bjango just released version 6 last week. I can’t image running a Mac without the most helpful components that sit in my menubar:

  • I use it to see if my CPU is getting slammed
  • I use it to see how much memory (RAM) is being used by open applications
  • I use it to measure my network connection and see if anything is using more than it should be
  • I use it to see how hot my MacBook Air is running
  • I use it for the advanced battery monitoring
  • And I really appreciate the granular customizations for time and date

Version 6 puts a little more polish on the interface and makes all my usual components look a little better.

But version 6 also adds a few more customization options for changing the color and background of the dropdown menus and items.

I also like that I can assign a hotkey to menus. For example, I like using iStat Menus to show the time and date because it offers more options for customizing how it looks. I also like clicking on it to quickly see the month and find a date. But now I assigned ⌃+⌥+⌘+D as the keyboard shortcut to quickly pull that down so I don’t have to move my cursor (hitting the shortcut again hides it or just hit the Esc key).

Version 6 also includes:

  • The ability to combine menus (I actually use iStat Menus to see things at a glance so I don’t see myself using this)
  • Weather (although I have several other sources for weather)
  • Reorderable (is that a word?) dropdown menus (I like this a lot to further customize the dropdown menus)
  • And the ability to add TWO lines to your time and date section (it gets really small!)

I do wish there was a way to sync my settings between my MacBook Air and Mac mini, although they do allow you to export and import settings. I like most everything set up the same on all my Macs, but there are some tweaks that are different depending upon the machine.

If you’re curious about what’s going on under the hood of your Mac, then you should try iStat Menus. A single license is $18, but the “Family Pack” is $25 and allows you to install on up to 5 Macs.

by Brett Burney

Tips, Notes & Links – Tunnel Bears and Text Edits

Tips, Notes & Links – my useful discoveries from around the Web accompanied by my thoughts for Mac-using legal professionals.

Tunneling with Bears

If you travel with a laptop, you’re probably carrying confidential and sensitive information from your clients (just consider your e-mail!). You need to get work done while away from the office, so you find the closest Starbucks or coffee shop and hook into their free wi-fi. But everyone else is using that open wireless network connection which means your confidential info may not be so confidential anymore.

That’s when you need to use a virtual private network (VPN) service. MakeUseOf just had a great piece on Tunnel Bear which I may have dismissed were it not for David Sparks talking about Tunnel Bear a couple years ago. Great service to check out if you travel a lot.

Accessorize for the Prize

Nice list of accessories from iDownloadBlog available for the newer MacBook Pros that only sport USB-C ports.

I’ve heard lots of good things about the Satechi USB-C Pro Hub.

Pro Tips for TextEdit

I don’t use TextEdit all that much since I live in Microsoft Word, but here are 9 “hidden” features in TextEdit – my favorite is the Advanced Search component.

The Outlook Looks Stellar!

I’m THRILLED to see Microsoft bake in more and more requested features to Outlook 2016 for Mac! They’re listening!!

The biggies look like “Send Later” and “Delivery/Read Receipts.”

Full list here.

(Gummy bear breakfast cereal picture courtesy of GRATISOGRAPHY by photographer Ryan McGuire)

by Brett Burney

FREE Webinar! Brett Burney to Present “Advanced Mobile Lawyering Tactics” – Friday, July 14, 2017

How deep have you incorporated a mobile device into your law practice? Still just checking e-mail and making birds angry? Wanna do more? Join me tomorrow (Fri., July 14, 2017) for a FREE!! webinar on “Advanced Mobile Lawyering Tactics” to learn how to REALLY use your mobile device.

How deep have you incorporated a mobile device into your law practice? Still just checking e-mail and making birds angry? Wanna do more?

Join me tomorrow (Fri., July 14, 2017) for a FREE!! webinar on “Advanced Mobile Lawyering Tactics” to learn how to REALLY use your mobile device including:

  • File management
  • Note taking
  • Portable scanner
  • PDF converters
  • Legal research
  • Mind-mapping
  • Security tips
  • And more!

I’m presenting this FREE!! webinar with Ernie Svenson (aka Ernie the Attorney) as part of his amazing Law Firm Autopilot course.

As usual, we’ll stay on after the end of the webinar to answer all your questions so let me know if you’ll be there!

Register HERE for “Advanced Mobile Lawyering Tactics.”

by Brett Burney

FREE Webinar for Lawyers Using TextExpander! “How Efficient Law Firms Automate Communication and Writing” – July 19, 2017

Learn how you can spend more time on the practice of law, and less on the management of your practice. We’re covering 7 TextExpander tips and tricks every attorney must be using now to start saving up to an hour per day.

I’m honored to be co-presenting a FREE webinar on how law firms can use TextExpander efficiently and expertly along with Smile Software and GlobalMac IT.

If you’re a lawyer, then you do a LOT of typing throughout your day.

If you do a lot of typing, then you can SAVE TIME by having TextExpander type things FOR you!

I’ve been doing a lot of presentations recently to lawyers and law firms to show them how TextExpander can be an amazing addition to the tech-tools they use everyday.

In this FREE webinar, we’ll show you how TextExpander works, how to create your first snippets, and share some tips & tricks for making sure TextExpander becomes an indispensable tool for your practice.

More information on the Registration Page.

Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to talking with you on July 19, 2017 (the webinar will be recorded so be sure to sign up even if you can’t make the live presentation).

by Brett Burney

Automatically Create a Set of Folders (and Sub-Folders) with Client Folder Maker (Free!!)

Client Folder Maker is a simple and easy-to-use utility that will automatically create a set of folders & sub-folders directly in your Finder window.

I came across an extremely handy utility the other day while helping a lawyer get his all-Mac office set up. Like many Mac-using lawyers, he planned to “manually” manage his documents and files which meant he needed to 1) always be consistent on naming files and 2) have a consistent structure of folders in which to save his files.

By the way, there’s nothing wrong with “manual” document management. Larger firms use legal-specific document management systems (DMS) such as iManage, OpenText, Worldox, or NetDocuments to manage files, but these are overkill for smaller firms, and they don’t fully support macOS. Honorable mention does go to DocMoto, however, since they offer the only Mac-native option for document management, and I know several Mac-based law firms that are happily using the platform.

… back to my story …

For file-naming consistency, I always recommend using TextExpander (sign up for the free webinar I’m doing with Smile Software on TextExpander next week). TextExpander worked wonderfully for this lawyer on filenames, but then he asked about an easy way to automatically create a set of folders for each matter so he (or his assistant) wouldn’t have to manually create them every time. I knew there were ways to do this using AppleScript, but I don’t typically recommend that angle for lawyers.

So I was elated to come across Client Folder Maker from GeekSuit, LLC (what a GREAT name!). This simple (AND FREE!!!) little app lets you automatically populate a structure of folders and sub-folders whenever you need to. Watch the “Demo Video” on www.clientfoldermaker.com which gives you all you need to know about building your set of folders. The interface is simple to understand, and you can assign a keyboard shortcut to populate your set of folders in your current Finder folder. I plan to do a more extensive video review of Client Folder Maker soon but I had to let everyone know about this amazing (and FREE!!!) little utility that should be on any Mac-using lawyer’s computer.

Client Folder Maker in the App Store

by Brett Burney

Major Discount on TextExpander for Mac, Windows, iOS – Get It Now!

The folks at MacBundler are offering a 1-year subscription to TextExpander again for only $19.98 which is half the regular price of $39.96 or $49.99 (depending on where you purchase). Even better, I confirmed with the MacBundlers that this is for BOTH old AND new subscribers!

The folks at MacBundler are offering a 1-year subscription to TextExpander again for only $19.98 which is half the regular price of $39.96 or $49.99 (depending on where you purchase). Even better, I confirmed with the MacBundlers that this is for BOTH old AND new subscribers – so if you already have a subscription to TextExpander then this will give you a coupon code that you use to extend your subscription in the Billing page of your TextExpander account (although this is for a single-user-license so make sure that’s what you have).

This is my affiliate link to the site or you can visit www.macbundler.com on your own and search for TextExpander. This is the best price I’ve seen for TextExpander, equivalent to the upgrade pricing if you owned an older version of TextExpander.

The subscription is good for Mac, Windows, and iOS since TextExpander now works across ALL of those platforms. Plus the subscription syncs all of your snippets across devices.

If you don’t have TextExpander yet, I strongly recommend picking up a 1-year subscription from MacBundler. And then start with something simple like your e-mail address. My “official” e-mail address is burney@burneyconsultants.com but I never, NEVER type it all out – it’s not very long but it takes a few extra seconds each time to type that repeatedly throughout the day. I simply type “bc@” (without the quotes) and it IMMEDIATELY expands out my full e-mail address. Start as simple as that, then add your office phone number, your office address, etc.

And for a Pro Tip look into the “inline search” function which is wonderful when you start getting too many snippets to remember all the time.

Let me know if you have any questions – always happy to talk about TextExpander!

by Brett Burney

Get Away and Get To Work … on Streamlining and Improving Your Practice!

Lawyers always ask me “why can’t someone just SHOW ME how to easily and effectively implement technology in my practice?” And that’s exactly what you’ll get when you attend the Small Firm Bootcamp in New Orleans on May 18-19, 2017.

Lawyers always ask me “why can’t someone just SHOW ME how to easily and effectively implement technology in my practice?” That’s a hard thing to do in an hour-long CLE or webinar.

That’s why I’m excited about the 2-day, live, Small Firm Bootcamp I’m involved in on May 18 & 19 down in New Orleans.

Instead of a typical CLE seminar where folks are reading newspapers or trying to secretly knock out some work, the Small Firm Bootcamp offers sessions and WORKSHOPS designed to get you actively participating in learning how to vastly improve the way you run your practice.

“I recommend this seminar to anyone who wants to work smarter…while watching everyone else run around in circles.”—Catherine Fairchild

I’m excited about ALL the speakers coming to the Small Firm Bootcamp, but here are a couple of highlights:

  • Building Your Brand by Mike Kim. Marketing isn’t just about passively “letting people know who you are when they need a lawyer.” You need to know how to build your “brand” so you’re getting the specific message to the specific clients that YOU want to work with. That’s what Mike Kim will be covering.
  • Implementing Systems in your Law Practice with John Fisher. If you’ve read any of the E-Myth books by Michael Gerber, you’ll recall that he talks about creating systems that can be repeated so that you can AUTOMATE those systems and free up your time. Of course the practice of law can’t be simplified into a system, and yes you are a unique lawyer and can’t be replaced with a system … but the TASKS that you have to manage and oversee everyday CAN be systematized so that you can spend time on the things that you WANT to focus on. John Fisher wrote the book “The Power of a System” and will be sharing his experience at the Small Firm Bootcamp (just look at those Amazon reviews!).

“I learned how to develop systems that will make my practice more efficient and profitable” —Christine Senne, Florida attorney

You should absolutely read through web page describing the Small Firm Bootcamp to learn more about the entire course, what we’ll be covering, watch testimonials from other attendees, and get answers to all your questions.

If you attend the live Small Firm Bootcamp, you ALSO get access to the Law Firm Autopilot online course! This course goes into more detail on all the modules, and you get complete access to it. Plus I know Ernie is refreshing all the content in the course and you’ll get access to ALL of it!

If that’s not enough, your entire investment in the Small Firm Bootcamp is COMPLETELY RISK FREE! Unlike others, Ernie is gracious to offer a 100% risk free guarantee – if you have to cancel for any reason, you’ll get a full refund. That’s amazing.

One more thing: you get access to the private Facebook Group where there are amazing discussions happening daily from folks asking and answering questions on how they’re automating their law practices. I’ve been in the Group for the last few days and having a blast interacting with all the members.

Now you’re asking, “yeah, but what does it cost?” And I would say turn that question around and ask “what will it cost me if I DON’T attend?” If you choose to miss this, then you’ll just keep trudging along in your day-to-day stress, getting overwhelmed with everything you NEED to do but never have TIME to do, never getting the clients you want, and wasting your time on the management and technical problems that you don’t like to deal with.

The price of the Small Firm Bootcamp right now is $1,150 but I know Ernie is raising that price soon as we get close to the date. But I am offering you a substantial discount that brings the price UNDER a thousand dollars. All you have to do is send me an e-mail and ask. I can’t give this out to everyone, but if you send me a quick message I’ll be happy to send you a coupon link to save an amazing amount on this amazing opportunity.

I hope to see you there!

Brett

by Brett Burney

FREE Webinar! Brett Burney to Present “Top 10 Apps for Lawyers” sponsored by MyCase – Wednesday, April 19

Don’t miss the FREE webinar “Top 10 Apps for Lawyers” on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET.

Here’s one of the top questions I hear every day from lawyers and legal professionals:

“What apps do I need to download for my tablet or mobile phone?”

Everyone wants to know about the best apps for getting your work done on a mobile device and this FREE webinar will tell you: “Top 10 Apps for Lawyers” on Wednesday, April 19 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET (registration link).

I’m delighted that MyCase is sponsoring this webinar since they host some excellent webinars for lawyers and legal professionals on a monthly basis.

In the “Top 10 Apps for Lawyers” webinar we’ll cover:

  • How to view and edit Microsoft Word documents
  • Typing and handwriting notes
  • Managing and annotating PDF files
  • Giving a presentation in the courtroom or the boardroom

We’re all using mobile devices today and it’s important to know what apps help us get our work done. Don’t miss this FREE webinar “Top 10 Apps for Lawyers” on Wednesday, April 19 at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET (registration link).

by Brett Burney

SALE: Litigation iPad Apps & PDF Expert for Mac

Two smokin’ deals today: Save $60 on the “Ultimate Litigation Bundle” that includes TrialPad, TranscriptPad, and DocReviewPad and save 50% on PDF Expert for Mac from Readdle!

Two really nice deals today:

First, Lit Software has put their “Ultimate Litigation Bundle” on sale which includes all three of their fantastic apps: TrialPad, TranscriptPad, and DocReviewPad. All three apps on their own cost $309.97, but limited-time sale price is $249.00 which saves you $60.97. It’s a rare sale and completely worth the investment if you have an iPad.

Second, while we all know Readdle for their iOS apps like PDF Expert, Documents 5 (my review), Scanner Pro (my review), PDF Converter, and more, they have also been developing PDF Expert for the Mac which was recently updated. I’ve been watching and using PDF Expert for several months. And while I think there are still some tweaks that need to be made for lawyers, it is quickly becoming a strong competitor to PDFpen Pro and Adobe Acrobat. It’s definitely worth having on your Mac if nothing else for the “Reduce File Size” feature that’s prominent in the File menu with an adjustable slider (see screenshot below). I LOVE that!

Readdle sells PDF Expert for Mac for $59.99. That’s an amazing price and extremely competitive with Adobe Acrobat.

But for the next few days, MacBundler has it for 50% OFF! You can purchase PDF Expert for Mac through my affiliate link at MacBundler, or just visit www.macbundler.com on your own.

I recommend picking up PDF Expert for Mac just so you have it in your toolbox for when you need a little more PDF power.