This week in the e-groups discussions included .law registrations, best practices in information governance and security, predictive pricing and more. Explore curated sources on these topics including some from ILTA’s treasure chest.
.law Registrations
In January of 2015 Minds + Machines Group Limited entered into an agreement with ICANN to operate the .law top-level domain. According to PR Newswire, trademark owners could register their names with .law during the Sunrise Application period beginning on July 30, 2015. This allowed access to Sunrise registration prior to October 12, 2015. On October 12, 2015 attorneys and their organizations can purchase web addresses using the .law domain suffix through the Early Access Program (EAP). The EAP charges a fee for registration a week early and the standard registration fee. The domain suffix, .law, distinguishes itself because only registered attorneys and organizations with attorneys can purchase a web address with a .law suffix. Time will tell if .law comes into regular use or is bought merely to protect against squatters as discussed in “Want a .Law Domain? Who Controls Domain Suffixes Anyway?” and “Will Law Firms Flock to .Law Domain?” this summer.
Security and Information Governance-Developing Good Habits
ILTA members know the importance of security and information governance. ILTA members in security and information governance both struggle continuously to instill that understanding in our attorneys and other colleagues in the legal profession. First members need buy-in to roll out a plan based on best practices and one’s unique environment. Connie Crosby suggests helpful tactics for this step in “Successfully Introduce New Practices and Technology” as does the ILTACON 2015 session, “Successfully Selling and Information Governance Program.” Second you must teach the importance of your initiative and train everyone to use the tools and follow the best practices. ILTA has so many resources on this but I especially like “Change Behaviors Through Security Awareness: the Comprehensive Guide” and “RBC Connect Collaboration Technology.” Third you must test (and re-test) your systems. Did your project implementation and training have an impact or does it need revision? Consider reviewing “Creating the Firm of the Future: Utilizing IG Assessments to Drive Improvements” and “Get Smart: Self-Assessment Security Tools.”
Predicting Costs for Effective Pricing
The business practice of predictive pricing has risen with the push for more alternative fee arrangements in the last 5-10 years. Successful pricing requires data analysis, knowledge management and communication to name a few. The Pricing Roundtable at ILTACON 2015 has terrific advice on implementing, maintaining and growing a solid pricing practice. ILTA members recognize good pricing practice can be best achieved through legal process management as shown in the webinars, “Set the Foundation for Legal Process Management-A Road Map Part 1,” and “A Road Map Part 2” and the white paper, “Developing a Pricing and Legal Project Management Program.”
Something Extra –Budget Season, Already?
Whether new to budgeting or all too familiar, budgeting creates a little to a lot of stress with the hurry up and wait factor often outside your control. With planning and good communication you can eliminate much of the stress. Erik Schmidt recommends using a spend management system in “Preventing Budget Season Migraines.” The ILTACON session, “10 Years of the ILTA/InsideLegal Technology Purchasing Survey” and the survey results will also assist with your budget planning.
As ILTA’s content curator, I’m always monitoring the discussion forums to discover what topics are top-of-mind among the members. Each week, I focus on a few areas that spark your interest, and I provide some curated resources to assist your own information-gathering on the topics. If there are specific topics you would like assistance exploring, please contact me at joanne@iltanet.org.