Online Training Resources Are Often Overlooked By Law Firm Technology Consultants

By: Jonathan Nessler

Header Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash

Resources to train attorneys and law firm staff are abundantly available online, and are an excellent example of how lawyers might incorporate technology into a law practice in order to increase efficiency and create better work product.   

While cutting edge technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence often dominate the legal tech discussion, these ground breaking technologies are not the only technologies an attorney can put to use in a law firm.

One area where technology and the practice of law intersect is the area of online training resources.   Unfortunately, these resources are often overlooked by legal consulting firms and technology consulting firms.

While online training resources come in many forms, downloadable or streamable audio and video files, like podcasts, are an ideal solution for law firms.  Podcasts are readily available and highly convenient resources to use when training attorneys and staff members. 

Online training resources, like podcasts, can be used to both hone fundamental work skills and train attorneys and staff on how to better use common office software tools.

iTunes University, for example, offers a huge number of free podcasts that can be used to better develop fundamental work skills.

One excellent example of a podcast available on iTunes University, that will help improve the fundamental work skill of writing, is Roy’s Writing Tools.

Writing is, without question, a fundamental work skill all attorneys should work towards developing.  If an attorney writes well, he has a distinct advantage over his peers.  

Roy’s Writing Tools is a free podcast by Poynter Institute comprised of 50 basic rules of writing that, if followed, will improve any attorney’s ability to write.  Roy’s Writing Tools is available as a free download from iTunes University.  

In addition to Roy’s Writing Tools, iTunes University offers many other valuable and free education tools that cover a wide range of topics.  These free resources can be used to increase efficiency and create better work product. 

The online training and learning resources offered by iTunes University should not be disregarded simply because they are free.  The courses on iTunes University are provided by top universities throughout the world, including schools like Harvard and Yale.

Attorneys can use technology, like podcasts, to improve fundamental work skills for themselves, other attorneys, and a law firm staff.  

In addition to improving fundamental work skills, attorneys can use technology to train law firm employees on how to more efficiently use office software.

Lynda.com is an example of an online resource that offers courses designed, in part, to teach people how to better use software tools employees already make use of everyday. 

Lynda.com offers training for many software applications, but is perhaps most useful when training attorneys and staff on how to better use common office software. 

Microsoft Word is an example of a basic software application that is worth training a staff member to use more efficiently and with a higher degree of understanding.  

Generally, a paralegal or legal secretary will spend an enormous amount of time using Microsoft Word.  Efficient and highly trained use of this important software application makes a lot of sense. 

Conveniently, the lessons on lynda.com are broken down into small segments (usually 2-5 minutes).  This allows people with demanding schedules to easily find time to listen to a segment here and there.

Small lessons in how to use basic software, over time, will help create an experienced and highly trained staff that will produce higher quality work product more efficiently.   A better understanding of the nuances of everyday software programs will also reduce the stress and time-waste caused by common problems encountered when using the software.

Lynda.com offers training for software programs like Microsoft Word for beginners, intermediate and advanced users.  Purchasing a membership to lynda.com for a staff member is an investment that will pay great returns in both efficiency and quality of work product over time.    

Many technology options are available online that will help increase firm efficiency.  Online training solutions like iTunes University and lynda.com are only two examples from a broad range of available resources. 

Attorneys can use online training resources, which are often free, to enhance a law firm staff’s efficiency and skill set.  Online training resources present another example of how technology is changing law firm management.  

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