Some Useful Tech Tips: Document Assembly and Tasks

I like what works. I need tools. Here are a few. 

USING SIRI FOR E–MAIL AND REMINDERS

1. On a whim, I asked Siri to send an e-mail to my paralegal,  “Remind me to call Client Smith”.
2. The email server popped up (I use Outlook.) with my message to my paralegal.
3. But since Siri couldn’t spell my paralegal’s name, I had to type in a couple of letters.
4. So, keep your contact list current, and have your own profile complete with a current photo.
5.  I typed in two letters, autofil took over, and the e-mail to my paralegal was sent, while I was reclining in my chair. It’s that easy.
6. And, of course, you can ask Siri to alert you with “reminders”. I am trying to figure out how to sync Reminders with “To Do”. Not quite there yet. But I use them both.
7. 
   
8. DOCUMENT ASSEMBLY WITH PATHAGORAS
9. My “go-to” document assembly engine is a plug-in to Microsoft Word. But it uses only Word commands, and does not require programming training.
10. It is called “Pathagoras”, http://www.pathagoras.com.
11. Its founder/creator, and my friend, Roy Lazris, responded to my plea for help, with a GoToMeeting training session. Yep, he really does those.
12. He showed me how to create a “dropdown list” of my favorite templates, how to “process” the form before “populating” it with the client’s information, and how to add that information and produce a near-perfect standard document, such as a petition, motion, agreement, or order. It is almost magic. It is reasonable in cost and well-supported. I used these forms during client interviews. I have a screen for the client to follow along.
13. 
14. “MICROSOFT TO DO” TASK APP
15. Microsoft is “getting there” with its “task app”,  “Microsoft To Do”, Formerly “Wunderlist”, Microsoft Purchased Wunderlist in 2015, seemed to have lost interest, but announced a transformed “To Do” in its place in 2017.
16. Unfortunately Microsoft’s Outlook 365 “Tasks” is just too clunky for efficient task management.
17. “To Do” has evolved into a robust application that now allows you to “flag” an e-mqil and send it directly to the “To Do” task list. That makes ALL the difference! 
18. From there you can edit the task,  establish subtasks, set alarms, and change priorities.
19. A few minutes every day can give important structure to your work habits.
20. I try to follow “The Eisenhower Method”, which I cover in a prior blog post: LOW TECH – PRIORITIZATION – Attorney J. Burton Hunter III : Attorney J. Burton Hunter III (hunterlawfirm.net)
21. “To Do” can sync to all your devices. I use a Dell Laptop with Windows 10, an iPhone Xs Max, and an iPad air.
22. EVERNOTE NOTE MANAGER AND TASK MANAGER
23. I still like, not love, Evernote. I have an Evernote e-mail address, so I forward or or “copy to” my personal e-mails to Evernote. It goes into my default e-mail folder as a note. The key is that everything in Evernote is fully searchable.
24. Just type, “Cousin Fred”, “Password Reset”, or “Kanawha Forest”, into Evernote’s robust search engine, and you will have it pop up immediately.
25. I just got an e-mail that “Evernote Tasks” has Improved; can’t confirm that yet, but check it out if you are an ‘Evernoter”.
26. Here is a short video of its features: https://youtu.be/sbtE9AVySwg
27. 
28. THE “TODOIST” TASK APP
29. Many people prefer the task app “Todoist.” It has announced a new version. The Key will be if you can e-mail tasks to it. It should not be a problem since Evernote actually creates a default e-mail address for you to send e-mails that turn into notes. 
30. 
32. 
33. But, remember, the leviathan Microsoft is the owner of To Do.
34. GETTING THE MOST OUT OF ZOOM OR MICROSOFT TEAMS
35. Finally, these are items I bought by an expert in operating Zoom meetings and hearings. I ordered them all, below: 
36. 
37. SOME “LOW TECH FUNDAMENTALS” BONUS TIPS
38. I hope you find something of use to you in this post; but just in case, here are “Low Tech Fundamentals” that every productive professional should consider: Low Tech Fundamentals of Running a Law Office – Attorney J. Burton Hunter III : Attorney J. Burton Hunter III (hunterlawfirm.net)
39. Good luck!

This post was written by Burton Hunter