Peer to Peer Magazine

Fall 2015

The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association

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WWW.ILTANET.ORG 35 that legal administrative assistants were excluded from these programs, and mobile device use for work outside of office hours was carefully monitored. SUPPORT ALL DEVICES, BUT ONLY SOME APPS BYOD programs introduce the freedom to choose the device that matches your personal style, your way of working and even your comfort level with mobile technology. Several firms reported that providing new employees with the freedom to adopt and use the latest mobile technology was an aid in the recruitment and retention of their technically adept talent. "We're deploying a broad BYOD initiative that includes iPhone, Windows and BlackBerry devices. We're seeing fewer Android devices, but if the employee purchases the device and wants to use it for work, we have to figure out a way to support it," said one respondent. This exponential growth in the range of device options creates a host of challenges for IT, helpdesk and security managers now tasked not only with deploying and supporting mobile devices but also managing wireless services, controlling data access and enforcing information security. Most IT departments maintain a short list of acceptable hardware standards to realize efficiencies in end-user support and associated costs. For firms considering deployment of custom software for mobile devices, the task becomes more complex with each different device or operating system. Demands for anytime, anywhere access means IT and helpdesk teams must rethink how they keep networks, devices and users protected while managing increased requests for mobile support after business hours. With new mobile apps being created, released and enhanced every day, these teams must also make choices about which apps to support and how to troubleshoot issues. According to one respondent, "We're trying to get over the fear of having to support everything and allowing mobile users to use some mobile apps at their own risk. We're focused on supporting apps being introduced as a mobile alternative to our existing desktop applications." In addition, many firms reported the integration of internal apps, such as a firm directory to supplement standard device features like Contacts. MAKE MOBILE LEARNING RESPONSIVE Developers have no control over which device will be used to view mobile content. Will someone who watches a video from a smartphone have the same experience from a tablet or laptop? How do you develop learning assets that leverage responsive design and provide optimal user experience when viewed from a multitude of resolutions and device types? "We've tried different authoring tools and compression technologies," said one trainer. "We're finding it difficult to find one solution that works well in both traditional desktop and mobile environments." The design and development of highly effective mobile learning involves more than repurposing or republishing traditional e-learning to play on a smartphone or tablet. It must: • Have a User-Centric Mobile Design: A user interface with navigation features that adjust dynamically to the screen size • Meet Expectations for Mobile Content Behavior: Rotating or pinching and expanding the screen for optimal viewing Interviews revealed common trends in mobile device use by lawyers: • Use of mobile apps like Lync and videoconferencing to stay in continuous communication with staff and clients • Use of tablets and smartphones for reviewing, annotating, finalizing and approving documents and a Surface or laptop for document drafting and production • Increased use of free productivity apps like Trello and Evernote for task management • Introduction of iPads in the courtroom to facilitate document review during trials One respondent offered the opinion that while lawyers are on their devices continually for email and calendaring, they are not using them for "hard core work," such as full document production. "They are more often using devices to catch up on things they are unable to get to during the day, such as reading and reviewing documents or completing CLE credits. We're seeing more use cases for slight editing and annotating as opposed to full document production." As firms deploy BYOD or COPE programs, they must consider data plans and use cases for reimbursing employees who incur overage or roaming charges while working. They must also consider employment laws regarding overtime for afterhours use of mobile devices by non- exempt employees. Most firms reported that BYOD programs were restricted to partners and associates and to a lesser degree paralegals. All firms indicated About the Author Cindy Mitchell is the Manager of Product Development at Traveling Coaches, Inc. She is leveraging her vast experience in adult learning to introduce the legal industry to cutting-edge solutions used by Fortune 500 companies. Before joining Traveling Coaches, Cindy spent 20 years with IBM designing advanced learning programs for global executives and strategic clients. Contact her at cmitchell@travelingcoaches.com.

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