I once had a high-school teacher who liked to say “There are two types of people in the world: those who think there are two types of people, and those who don’t think there are two types of people.” That saying no longer sounds quite as clever as it did when I was a teenager, but it still holds some truth.
There are two kinds of legal tech consultants in this world: those who have no biases and no interest in promoting any particular software, and those who may benefit if you buy software in which they have special expertise. You might hear expressions of lack of bias from “experts” in any given software application, and those expressions may well be sincerely offered, but comments like “I’ll make sure you get the right package for you, even if it means I don’t get a commission on ABC Law Office Package” may well mean “I’ll make sure you get the right package for you, but I don’t know of anything better than ABC Law Office Package”. Consultants tend not to bite the hands that feed them, and the “feeding hands” (software developers) prefer to have consultants who will promote their own products. How often have you heard realtors say “My listings are good, but you really should look at some private listings before you consider letting me get commission”?
There are plenty of knowledgeable legal tech consultants who do not have any particular allegiance to specific software packages. These days, you can even find consultants who aren’t tied to particular platforms (Dave Bilinsky and Ross Kodner are good examples of “legal tech gurus” who are open to the benefits of Macs and PCs in law offices). If you are looking for someone to help you choose software (or hardware) for your office, find someone who doesn’t have any interest in the outcome (apart from satisfaction that you’ve found a good solution). After that, feel free to get in touch with experts in particular software packages.
Would you like to become a dedicated authorized certified qualified LawStream consultant? If you do, you’re out of luck (at least, for now). In the past, we’ve had consultants and representatives in Hong Kong, Ontario and elsewhere. Each time we’ve done so, we’ve found that the service provided by our representatives has not met our own standards. Even though we can’t sell quite as much software when we don’t have representatives in other areas, we’re pleased and proud that we can continue to provide direct service to all our users.
By the way: that same high-school teacher also used to say “There is an exception to every rule, except the rule that says there is an exception to every rule.” You might be able to find a tech consultant who is not in the pocket of any particular software vendor, but you’ll have to look very long and hard to find that person.
Bill:
Thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated.
Your comments are well taken – it seems that the “I’m a Mac – I’m a PC” ads only emphasize the differences between two camps rather than drawing out the similarities. It doesn’t matter if you are running Microsoft Word, for example on a Mac or on a PC – it is still MS Word.
What seems lost in the debate is a Mac – or a PC – is just a tool. And as any craftsman will tell you, you choose your tool according to the job that you need done. A craftsman chooses his or her tool according to what they need to achieve. One tool is better suited to one task than another. A skill saw does some things well – a coping saw another – and a chain saw a third. Each has their use.
So – if you are a lawyer – you look at the tasks that you need to accomplish. What software applications are best suited to that task? Then – which platform will best support those applications? How well will that platform integrate into your existing systems? Can you achieve workflow savings and time savings? How well will your chosen set of applications integrate into the foundation system for the office, such as accounting, time keeping and case management?
There will *always* be trade offs – perfection being something that is akin to self-actualization – a nice goal but rarely achieved in this life.
So – in balancing all these considerations – are you *THEN* better off adopting a Mac or a PC? I have – and do – live in both worlds and see the choices that lay before anyone contemplating a change. I would like to think that this dual existence gives Ross, myself and people like us the ability to indicate the pluses and minuses of each option – and perhaps help the user make a better decision. No matter which choice they make, I am sure that they are making the right choice *for them*.
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to this discussion. And also thanks for offering a product that will run under either platform – thereby easing the angst of those who are trying to wrestle with these decisions.
Best personal regards and best of the holiday season!
Dave Bilinsky
daveb@thougthfullaw.com