Fingers, Not Computers, Increase Productivity!

The question asked over and over again--as well as in this issue--is whether computers really increase productivity. The answer among attorneys and consultants tends to be a resounding 'yes' with the disclaimer that attorneys and employees must 'learn' how to use the software in order to increase overall productivity. Unfortunately, many attorneys and consultants alike forget a major factor relating to productivity and technology, despite the fact that the factor is at the tips of their fingers.

A major law firm just underwent a major change. Computers were installed on every attorneys' desk, and every computer in the office was networked together. While the staff had been using the computers and the network for some time, this was all new to a majority of the attorneys. To bring everyone up to speed, the firm held classes to teach the attorneys how to use word processing, legal research, and e-mail software. It seemed like a great plan, except that the consultant and attorneys involved forgot one minor detail: most of the attorneys didn't know how to type with anything other than the 'hunt-and-peck' method.

The end result (at least so far) of this firm's movement towards the hi-tech office is that the great new technology is not being utilized. While the attorneys will respond to a simple e-mail message, typing anything longer is far too time consuming. Instead of utilizing the system, or learning to type, these attorneys continue to dictate everything and hand the tapes to their secretaries. Bottom line: the best hardware and software won't make someone more productive if they can't use it.

Search Engines Are Only As Good As The Person Using Them...

I've received quite a number of messages in the last few weeks discussing what law-related materials are available on the Internet. The complaint I hear over and over again, however, is that there's no good way to find the information. There are so many different search engines, each with their own peculiarities, that it is still too inefficient to search the web for legal information. While I won't suggest that there's no room for improvement in the search engines, I do think there is a related problem to which we must be sensitive. I term this problem the Westlaw Syndrome.

What, you ask, is the Westlaw Syndrome? Simply put, it is the expectation that every search engine will work exactly the way Westlaw does. I still remember the first time I tried using a non-West caselaw CDROM. I attempted to run a search identical to one I had recently run on Westlaw to see if the results were the same. The results weren't even close. I was disappointed when I discovered that the logic behind the two search engines was nothing alike, and that I had to learn how to utilize the new search engine before I was able to efficiently research a problem.

This same problem now extends to the Internet. Sure there are many different search engines capable of searching web pages, newsgroups, and more. Is the major problem with the existing Internet search engines the fact that we now must learn how to use them efficiently?

Got A Story? Share It!

If you hear information about firms moving towards technology, or a new way to become more productive through the use of technology (old or new), or any other war stories, please let me know. Send your story to <Edge@CompLaw.com>. Who knows, the story might be reproduced here.

Samuel Lewis is an attorney practicing Computer/Internet Law and Intellectual Property Law with the firm of Romanik, Lavin, Huss & Paoli in Hollywood, Florida, a member of the Florida Bar's Computer Law Committee, and the creator of COMPLAW^SM . He can be reached at 954-922-4656 or via e-mail: <slewis@CompLaw.com>. The URL for the COMPLAW^SM web site is http://www.CompLaw.com.

Copyright © 1996, Samuel Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

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