Peer to Peer Magazine

28 PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF ILTA | WINTER 2016 Embrace Change The skill all legal technology professionals should develop and fine-tune is adaptability. Almost anybody can pick up a manual or installation guide and learn how to do something. But what helps you stand out is the ability to adapt to the changes that are occurring. Understand the change instead of fight it. Take advantage of new features and introduce them into the workflow. Don't get stuck using version 1.0 when the issue has been solved in version 2.0. Mike Paul Innovative Computing Systems, Inc. www.innovativecomp.com What skills should technology professionals develop to ensure a successful future in legal? ASK THE VENDOR What skills should technology professionals develop to ensure a successful future in legal? Connect with Clients The role of technology, as well as that of the IT professional, has changed in the last 10 years. It's no longer about simply keeping the lights on but understanding the firm's challenges in addressing client needs. The IT professional should be comfortable siing at the boardroom table, both at the firm and with the firm's client. The ability to partner at all levels, including successful collaboration with the vendor community, are key in elevating the role of IT. As such, effective communication and business acumen, including the ability to sell and promote the role of technology, is what IT professionals should strive for. A common question for the IT professional should be "how many clients have I visited lately?" Peter Zver Tikit North America www.tikit.com WANT TO APPEAR IN THE NEX T PEER TO PEER? ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What part of IT operations should leadership focus on to improve service delivery? Send your answer (under 150 words) to kristy@iltanet.org Be Well-Rounded In a law firm environment, the role of IT is continuously evolving. Developing a well-rounded set of skills can ensure that a technology professional is positioned for success. Here's the ideal recipe: » Refine and further develop your training skills. As technology becomes more cloud-based, legal IT will see a shi from working in the server room to helping users understand and utilize soware. » Understand the fundamentals of how different technical architectures work, including networking, virtualization, Windows and databases. » Increase your expertise of legal workflows, including the business processes in each department. » Cultivate a beer understanding of legal business, such as what activities pay the bills and aract and retain customers. » Grow your experience with trial preparation and courtroom support experience. Joe Kelly Legal Workspace hps://legal-workspace.com

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