The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/43128
THE INTRANET IS DEAD? LONG LIVE THE INTRANET! FEATURES AND BENEFITS The new intranet includes some incredible and innovative features including: • A firm directory that lists employee contact information, which is easily sorted according to specific fields and is automatically updated as employees come and go • A photo gallery of all our conference room spaces and their features, so users see how a room can be set up, as well as a reservation link • A photo gallery of recent firm events • A centralized firm calendar • Access to medical, retirement, disability and other HR- related forms • Direct access to the firm's Twitter account • Training manuals and tutorials • Blogs for marketing and technology • Technology projects for the upcoming year • Training course offerings, including a listing of the classes a user previously attended alongside the ability to enroll in new ones In our estimation, the best feature of the new intranet is that we are able to link the documents on the intranet to the firm's document management system. This allows administrative users to make changes just once, in the main document, and those changes are reflected throughout the intranet. Prior to launching our new intranet, the administrative team was inundated with requests from staff and attorneys to find and send certain forms or documents. Additionally, they didn't like how difficult it was to find this information in a timely manner. Since the launch, we have noticed a decrease in the number of these types of requests. Now, users are finding the information they need faster and more efficiently because everything is centrally located, better organized and easier to find. In addition to the user's perspective, additional administrative benefits include: • Placing certain documents on the intranet has reduced the amount of email attachments being sent, which helps minimize the bloating of a user's mailbox size. • The administrative team can easily populate the site. • There's a decrease in back-and-forth email communication; instead, the administrative team responds with a link to the requested information on the intranet. • Content sharing between users has increased. A RESOURCE THAT LIVES ON Our team has come a long way since we first conceived of a new intranet. Although we are still educating users about our intranet's many uses and benefits, it has become a tool that demonstrates value every day as it evolves over time to adapt to the needs of our firm. ILTA Nancy Gimbol is the Director of Marketing at Flaster/Greenberg PC, where she is responsible for the firm's marketing and business development initiatives. She is a seasoned legal marketer and a former President of the Legal Marketing Association Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter. Nancy can be reached at nancy.gimbol@ flastergreenberg.com. Jeffrey McShane directs, leads and oversees the implementation of Flaster/Greenberg PC's various technology systems. In addition to enterprise-wide strategic information technology planning and execution, he manages the information technology department, which provides the firm with technical assistance in the areas of network operations, end-user support, telecommunications, training and practice support. He can be reached at jeffrey. mcshane@flastergreenberg.com. Peer to Peer the quarterly magazine of ILTA 41