LegalersWelcome…

Google + launched a few weeks ago and I’ve been lucky enough to get in on the beta and start to test it out.  So, what is this Google +? It’s a rival of Facebook, meaning you can add people to your network and share collaboratively with them via links, video’s, status updates, and “likes” although Google calls them “+1′s”.  Yes, it’s ANOTHER way to SHARE. Click here to see some screencaps of the features of Google +.

So, how do you get on Google + social network? You can request an invite from someone you know – please feel free to request an invite from me here if you’re interested.  Big thanks to Nancy Myrland for adding me! Remember,  it’s still in beta .

But what’s even more interesting is that the legal community is already creating a Google + community started by Adrian Lurssen. You can check out who’s already on Google + in the legal community in the links above.  And a few of my friendly colleagues have already written a few posts about their take on Google +.  Samantha Collier writes a post Google + In a Nutshell and Nancy Myrland writes Google Plus: It’s Early But Interesting. Be sure to check them out!

Now, all that being said, here is my take on Google + and the skinny you need to know:

Google + has a few things working for them with the launch of this social network:

• For starters, they already have a following (millions of users AND a reputation) which is great for creating a strong social community.
• Google already has many products that integrate to create a social network community for sharing: Gmail, YouTube, Picasa, Documents, Blogs, Patent Search, Trends, and of course Analytics just to name a few.
• There is a Google + Mobile App that allows for sharing anywhere anytime.
• +1 was launched first leading up to the big Google + debut.

Here’s what they need to work on IMHO (in my humble opinion):

• Google + doesn’t integrate with all the mobile apps and websites for ease of login like Facebook and Twitter. You can’t just enter your Google name and be linked to authorize an app.
• There isn’t a strong way for businesses or law firms to benefit. It’s more for individuals at this point in time.
• The Google +1 icon is starting to show up on many sites so folks can in a sense “like” a post or page, but it’s not easy to see what others have +1′d (like Favorites in Twitter).
• There is no way to aggregate data like there is in Twitter around a specific conversation.  Not good for sharing at events or conferences to keep the buzz going.

While my first insight to Google + is fun, I’m just not sure at this point it’s advantageous of your time unless you just like to be on the cutting edge and have some spare time to try it out.  If you are a user of social media channels, at this point, it’s more important to send the right message and produce good content (adding Google + to sharing it might be nice once the following picks up).  However, the more legal folks that jump on board, the more advantageous it will become for your time. Click here to see some screencaps of the features of Google +.

Are you on Google +?  How do you foresee it being used in the legal community?

LinkedIn is not just about having a professional profile on a professional networking site.  There is much more to LinkedIn than your average ‘profile’.  For starters, LinkedIn is a place to have ‘presence’.  And that ‘presence’ is indexed by Google, thus allowing you the ability to be found.  After all, there’s over 100 million members and counting.  So, you created an account and filled out some profile information, now what? Have a goal for your purpose on LinkedIn. This will help define how you choose to utilize the features and functionality of LinkedIn.

First, it is important to know how to connect with people.  By filling out your profile experience and including past jobs, LinkedIn is then able to ‘recommend people you may know’ connections for you.  You can start to connect to many people on LinkedIn via importing your contacts from Outlook, joining groups and answering questions just to name a few.  BUT for lawyers, be cautious with whom you connect.  This becomes increasingly important as juries are selected and judges make decisions.  It is important to keep in mind to whom you connect and the reason for connecting.

Second, as you connect to people, you’ll want to join Groups. Groups are a way to keep abreast what’s important to those in your circle and your interests.  There are groups for just about any topic.  Just pick one and search for it.  However, as a lawyer, it is always a good practice to include the disclaimer that your answers do not constitute advice or create an attorney client privilege if you choose to answer or post any questions or comments within Groups.  If you’d like, you may wish to create a group just for your area of practice.

Third, add the JDSupra application.  LinkedIn utilizes applications which can be found under the More dropdown navigation at the top.  JDSupra can showcase your expertise by allowing you to add samples of your writing and work without breaching ethical obligations.  It’s a fabulous way to stay on top of what others are talking about in the legal community and showcase your firm and practice.

Lastly, use LinkedIn Today. LinkedIn Today is like a personalized online newspaper with the information relevant to you in your practice, position and industry. You can find it by going to More dropdown and selecting News (it’s currently in Beta).  It combines LinkedIn updates and information shared from those on Twitter.  You can follow Bloomberg, CNN Money, WSJ and much much more. See the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=vK0wXNi52J8

Stay tuned for Part 2 where we discuss LinkedIn’s more advanced features! How do you use LinkedIn? What are your favorite features and applications?

This post originally appeared on the LegalITProfessionals.com, where Natalie Huha, regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in the legal industry.

In part 2 of the video interview with Lindsay, we discuss the benefits to jumping on board with social media for smaller firms vs. larger firms. We have found that regardless of firm size however, that many of the issues firms face with generations and communications are the same. It really boils down to having an overall strategy. Here are some of my thoughts on creating a social media strategy for firms as a whole and as an individual attorney:

This post originally appeared on the LegalITProfessionals.com, where Natalie Huha, regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in the legal industry.

We all use Google to search, let’s face it. The phrase “Google it” has become part of our everyday lingo. But recently, Google took search to a whole new level by introducing its +1 functionality. Currently this is a Google experiment and you must sign up with Google to participate. You can join the experiment here, read more about here and learn about your privacy with the experiment here.

So How Does It Work?

Google has introduced a ranking system about what you think is cool, thus +1 (similar to some internal collaboration and search platforms where you can rank documents.) Your peers or the world can now see what’s important to you. What’s even more interesting is the thought that others are essentially doing research for you on a particular topic and weeding out the noise. That can be a great timesaver. It also can be a great branding tool for sharing your expertise on a particular subject.

To try it, sign up for the experiment, do a Google search and you’ll see the +1 icon next to each result. When marking a search item with +1, your Google profile name will then become public (which by the way you must have in order to participate). You should also customize your Google profile with all of the information you would like shared with the world, so keep that in mind about what you are sharing.

The search results you think are cool then appear under the +1 Profile tab, which you can keep private or make public.

So go ahead and try it and let me know what you are sharing! And since this is a new video column, learn more about Google +1 from the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OAyUNI3_V2c

This post originally appeared on the JustEngage.net, where Natalie Huha is the Principal and CoFounder, and regularly educates about leveraging social media and technology in the legal industry.

Gina Schrek is one of my connections on Twitter – she goes by @GinaSchrek and talks about general technology and social media (and is so much fun!)  In my conversation with Gina, I talk about some of the thoughts, questions and issues on the legal industry’s mind regarding social media. Check it out if you have a moment.

WARNING: Entire video is about 55 minutes – legal specific discussion happens for the first 20 minutes!

 SchreckTeck 9: Gina gets Legal with Natalie Huha! from RELATECORP on Vimeo.

Natalie talks about the legal aspects of social media. Gina shares her experience in Mexico, a gadget bag from BuildNY and more!

This post originally appeared on the LegalITProfessionals.com, where Natalie Huha, regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in the legal industry.

Social media is not new; it is however, new to the legal world. Attorneys and law firms are starting to gain interest on the topic of social media. However, from recent discussions, they are at a loss with what to do, how to get started or even if they should get started. Social media, in my opinion is not about the technology, but about building, strengthening and developing new relationships.

For the legal community, social media is not just about having a ‘presence’ and developing relationships externally, but is also about internal social communications and developing community: when working on a matter, collaborating on a document, or communicating the latest case law or court ruling to those in your circle.

So, I decided to do an interview with Lindsay Griffiths (aka @lindsaygriffith) who is the Director of Network Development at the International Lawyers Network. Lindsay is an avid blogger and tweeter and shares commentary, thoughts and insight for all things legal. The below video is part one of a five-part series where we discuss the question: “What do you commonly hear from attorneys regarding their social media philosophies.”

Please feel free to join our discussion and comment on “What do you hear from attorneys regarding their social media philosophies? Do they have one?”

This chat will focus on legal social media.  We will be taking and answering questions regarding legal social media!  here are a few to get us started but feel free to chime and add yours! We will be tweeting from @justengage.

1. Where should I start with social media?
2. What is the best way to “listen” to social media chatter?
3. How do you break down the initial fears with attorneys who aren’t open to social media?
4. Social media is about creating community, are firms utilizing community?
5. What should I know when creating a LinkedIn account for legal?

Please login to Tweetchat.com or another program of your choice for joining the Tweetchat.  Enter hashtag #legalSoMechat and listen, watch or contribute!

NOTE: You must have a Twitter account to participate.

‘See’ you online today @ 12:30 pm ET!

Cheers!

[caption id="attachment_808" align="alignright" width="176" caption="Just me"][/caption]

I’m starting a new chapter in my career.  Yes, after 10 years of being on the inside, I’ve decided take the leap and go to the “dark-side” (as those of us who are on the inside of legal say when you go to the vendor side .)

So what does that mean exactly? Well, I will still be keeping this blog and my new company blog, www.justengage.net (which is set to launch in 2 weeks so stay tuned.)  I’ve started JustEngage, Inc. along with my fabulous business partner, Kerry Boll.

What will we be doing? We will be helping firms and businesses create social business development strategies that include re-defining their recruiting efforts, creating social media policies, social media training and provide social media staffing just to name a few.

[caption id="attachment_810" align="alignleft" width="152" caption="My Business Partner - Kerry Boll"][/caption]

In addition, I’m honored to be a new column writer on the LegalITProfessionals.com site.  I will be introducing video to the blog posts as well as writing about social media in legal.  So feel free to contact or DM me with your questions and I will be sure to answer them on the column.

In the meantime, I will be speaking, writing, and continuing to blog and educate those interested in social media and social technologies.  Thank you for your support and I look forward to collaborating with you on many diferent levels!

Cheers,
Natalie

What’s “trending you ask?”  It’s the term associated with the current hot topics on the web, Twitter, Facebook, etc.  So what’s trending in legal are quite a few things, SharePoint, Office 2010, portals, mobility, legal project management, alternative fee arrangements, knowledge management, and of course social media.  OK, enough about Charlie Sheen, really ~ his 15 mins of fame should be over~but because of social “media”~it keeps goooooo-ing.

Right now, there are thousands of conversations happening online through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and all the other social media channels.  However, I want to share LinkedIn’s new “News” section.  LinkedIn has long wanted to be a spot that kept its customers coming back daily, well, they’ve finally done it.

The “News” page located under More menu | News shows the top news from your connections and peers.  How cool? So what does this mean for building stronger relationships? LOTS! Now you can see what your connections care about and are intersted in, thus, keeping connected AND building those relationships – take note attorneys.

Another technology that my new company, JustEngage, Inc. has embraced is Yammer.  Yammer is like a private activity feed and collaboration space for businesses and firms to share information.  Why I like it is because it keeps me OUT OF MY INBOX so it doesn’t get cluttered and everything I want to share is searchable (it doesn’t go into the black hole called Outlook).  I can create groups, communities, share files, links, create polls, and add events!

The challenge is to think Yammer first before my EMAIL.  But Yammer also has a Desktop Client that can be downloaded to, making it more visible and in the forefront of your workflows. Concerned about security? read more about it here.

So to try out the new trends coming to a mobile device and PC near you, I dare you to try them (and let’s leave Charlie to his own imaginations).

How do YOU use Yammer? Please share.

Til next post, share well, share often and share til other legalers finally get it!

[caption id="attachment_785" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="ILTA Headquarters Austin Texas"][/caption]

This past weekend, the User Support Peer Group representatives met at the beautiful ILTA HQ in Austin, Texas.  We arrived on the balmy Saturday morning ready to iron out the rest of the pogramming and conference sessions for 2011 (and started on 2012!).  The decor of the office was very warm and inviting.  A real sense of warmth was exhibited by the eclectic decor.  Artwork, tiled columns down an uneven hallway and perfectly hung lighting filled the views when walking around the office.

I continued walking down the hall for my tour and came across pictures of the ILTA employees hung in perfectly sqaure black and white photo frames from when they were little.  It was a testament to the ILTA family and community that had been started back in 1977. 

[caption id="attachment_783" align="alignright" width="232" caption="History of ILTA"][/caption]

We set up shop in the conference room and saw a drawing of the history of ILTA on the wall.  THAT I’m hoping will appear somewhere this year at conference.  It gave the complete feeling of community, embracing change, and the dedication of the members and ILTA staff who made it so successful over the years.  It was my favorite piece of artwork in the office.

[caption id="attachment_786" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="ILTA User Support Peer Group 2011"][/caption]

Since most of the group were former trainers and educators, we spent the first hour answering the question, “How did I get here?”  It was humbling to hear all the years of experience sitting around that conference table.  The overarching theme was that the stars aligned to get everyone where they were today and we were all thankful to be sitting and planning the conference sessions for 2011.

We reviewed the business plan and let me tell you, User Support rocks.  We planned webinars, shared and brainstormed ideas for webinars series, sessions, and engaging the user support members (and other ILTA peer group teams).  We discussed speakers for our six 2011 sessions and completed all the tasks on our plate.

Although we worked through lunch, a puzzle (of our peer group team) was layed out at the table to work on and give our minds  a mental shift from the all planning.  Thanks to Maritta Terrell for putting that together!

We ended the day with a true Austin dinner of fried chicken steak, brisket, and margaritas!  It was a very rewarding experience, meeting everyone for the first and maybe second time for some, and feeling a real sense of connection and community.

[caption id="attachment_793" align="alignleft" width="258" caption="Awards"][/caption]

For those of you who are lucky enough to attend conference this year in Tennessee, you will not be disappointed.  We  again have planned a completely full conference with information overload.  Be on the lookout for themes on SharePoint, Social Media, Virtual, Outsourcing, KM and more.