In my previous column, I highlighted a number of iPad apps that I thought would be of value to the legal profession. Here is the second round.

A few months ago, I bought myself an iPad2. At first, I thought I would be using it primarily as my e-reader. However, as I started to become more familiar with the device, I realized it also had serious potential of being an effective and powerful tool in my law practice.

Lawyers, particularly those new to the practice, often wonder whether they should be charging an initial consultation fee. The dilemma is obvious: lawyers want to get new clients in the door but, at the same time, also want to be paid for their services.

While most of us now use computers to generate our documents, not everyone uses document management software or has a system in place for organizing the files on their computers. For those who do not, much time (lawyer and staff) is often wasted searching for data and files that are sitting on the very computer or network we are using. The primary purpose of a file management system is to ensure you can quickly find what you are looking for when you need it, whether it be a case on point, a letter, a pleading, or a document painstakingly prepared on another file but required now on a new matter.

As lawyers, we must often study and understand more than just the law. Fortunately, there are a number of online search tools to assist us with much of this non-legal research. My favourite non-legal research tool is Google. It’s simple, it’s free, and when used correctly it is highly effective. I am going to identify some of the basic Google rules, as well as a few tips and tricks that can help one to make the most of their online searches. Understanding these can dramatically improve the accuracy, quality, and success of your searches.

Much has been written about the importance of work-life balance. For those of us in the legal profession, it’s no wonder because as lawyers, we are notorious for working long hours, often at the sacrifice of our family.

I bought my first PDA in the early 1990s. It was the Palm Pilot. While its features were somewhat limited, I found it to be invaluable to my practice. It offered me an on-the-spot means of finding a contact, checking my calendar, taking a note, or performing a quick conflict check. Over the past 20 years the PDA evolved into what we now refer to as the smartphone, which provides an all-in-one communication tool that also fits in the palm of your hand.

One of the biggest challenges I have had to face as the proprietor of a small firm is how best to minimize the firm’s account receivables. I am not alone in this challenge. For many, the firm’s receivables add up to thousands of dollars. Often, if appropriate steps haven’t been taken to secure payment, they end up going unpaid. While avoiding receivables altogether may not be possible, there are steps that can be taken to limit them.

Succession planning is a topic rarely discussed by many of us in small practices. In fact, many lawyers don’t even think about an exit strategy until they have made the decision to leave the practice. By that time, while the lawyer may be keen to leave the practice, the many ethical and practical responsibilities associated with closing or transferring it make the departure particularly burdensome and can significantly delay the member’s desire to move on.

I am often asked by lawyers venturing out on their own questions like “What hardware or software should I purchase?”; “Should I lease or buy?”; and “How do I set up a trust account?” Surprisingly, the one question I am not often asked is “What steps can I be taking to network my practice?”