Course Description
The nature of work and organizations is changing rapidly, driven by information and communications technology innovations. The client’s expectations for technology-savvy services are driving the need for changes in how legal business is conducted.
The theories, concepts, approaches, and techniques used in the past to manage work, particularly in the legal practice, are also changing in the face of the new realities of remote work, process automation, Internet-connected devices, and other digital technologies.
This course explores the basic concepts for attorneys who want to leverage technology to improve productivity, efficiency, and overall service to deliver to clients.
Course delivery will be online, both synchronously and asynchronously.
This course is conducted as a collaboration with the Eugene Dupuch Law School and The Caribbean Internet Development Foundation.
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to imbue current and future attorneys and legal practitioners with a fundamental understanding of the value and importance of technology in the workplace. It also presents practical guidance.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define key technology terms and concepts relevant to lawyers and legal practice.
- Recognize key trends in office automation to improve investment and decision-making.
- Discover key best practices for law practice management using information and communications technology.
- Apply key best practices to improve personal and office productivity.
Requirements
Participants will require:
- A laptop / tablet, webcam & microphone
- A reliable Internet connection
Assessment
You are required to complete all quizzes by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, 6 January 2023. However, we recommend that you complete each quiz as suggested in the Course Overview.
Participants must meet the minimum requirement to complete all course components and quizzes by the time the course is closed to receive a Certificate of Participation.
Attendance:
Attendance at synchronous sessions is not mandatory. However, it is strongly suggested that you attend these 1-hour long sessions as they will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions related to the material, and to clarify course concepts and requirements.
Scheduled dates for the synchronous session are:
- Thursday, 8 December 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
- Thursday, 15 December 2022 @ 7:00 pm ES
Course Duration and Pace
Suggested pace: 2-4 hrs per week (asynchronous and synchronous activities, including quizzes)
2 weeks (elapsed time)
The course runs for 2 weeks from 5-21 December 2022. However, all course content and materials will remain available until 11:59 pm EST on Friday, 6 January 2023.
Course Overview
Week 1
A. Course Introduction & Overview
- Introduction of Facilitators
- Course Structure and Objectives
- Getting the Most from the Course
- Required Materials and Resources
- Class Introductions
B. The Evolution of Legal Practice: Impact of Tech
- Technology’s impact on the legal profession
C. Common Terms and Concepts
- Computing Devices
- Laptop, Monitors, Printers, Scanners, Smart Devices (phones, tablets)
- Computing Applications
- The Internet, Video Conferencing, Social Media, Cloud Computing
Week 2
D. Technology At Work – An Overview
- Technology As Your Servant, Not Your Master
- Avoiding Technology Paralysis / Overcoming Technology Fears
- Office Productivity: Apps For That – Productivity Suites, Search Engines for Research, Office Management
- Office Automation: e-filing, case management, workflow management, performance management, client management, online hearings
- Health and Wellness
- Tips and Tools for managing well-being (Managing screen time, posture and ergonomics, break and exercise checks)