Don’t equate the tech changes that are happening in the courts, like E-Filing and the incorporation of video calls, with your firm having to adopt all new legal tech to keep up with the times. While John D. Risvold likes the tech changes he sees in the legal system, he credits IP—his own pursuit of medical knowledge and expert support from family, friends, and his colleagues—for his practice’s success. With a focus on strong IP, a server (or cloud drive) and Microsoft 365 is all your firm needs to be profitable. Even the office is optional.
Key moments:
The Collins Law Firm minimal tech setup (01:21)
Examples of powerful IP at play in a law firm (06:31)
Marketing techniques and tools (25:10)
What John Risvold wants to see changed in the legal profession (41:20)
MEMORABLE QUOTES
“I haven't been in the office in three weeks, but 2020 was one of the most successful years the firm has had in the last decade. It's just a testament to everybody's pulling together and hard work and making the technology work too.”
“We're still getting cases resolved because of the expertise of folks at the firm, and the history of the firm and it's experience.”
“The way things are going, if you have a good laptop, a good internet connection and you know how use Word, Excel, and Outlook, you can run an entire practice. You don't need an office space. You don't need any of the fancy case management systems…. You really can run the whole thing from a laptop and Excel and Outlook.”
“The pandemic [has] dragged our industry kicking and screaming from the mid-18th century to the present…. Carbon paper is such a hot commodity in Cook County that the judges have written their courtroom numbers on them and ‘Do not steal’….Hopefully, now that they've decided to do smart things like digital orders and PDF orders and email…we shouldn't be handwriting orders [any longer.]”
CONNECT WITH JOHN RISVOLD
John, a personal injury trial lawyer at The Collins Law Firm P.C., has dedicated his career to fighting those responsible for injuring his clients. He focuses his practice on traumatic brain injury, car and truck crashes, medical negligence, nursing home neglect, and catastrophic personal injury. He spends the majority of his practice helping victims of catastrophic injury obtain justice.
Instagram: @johnrisvoldesq
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrisvold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RisvoldTrial/
The Collins Law Firm: https://www.collinslaw.com/
KEEP READING:
“Microsoft Excel 2016 Training for Lawyers: Using the Law Firm Project Tracker, Tutorial Lesson” TeachUComp, 12 Jan 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emj30cFVBuc
“Office 365 For Legal Case Management: How to Use Office 365 for Your Firm” Arrow Consultants, 3 July 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR1qivK5HwA
“LogMeIn Rescue Live Guide And Lastpass Named Winners In 2020 Best In Biz Awards” LogMeIn, 17 December 2020
https://blog.logmeininc.com/logmein-rescue-live-guide-and-lastpass-named-winners-in-2020-best-in-biz-awards/
Advitam IP focuses on hiring in strong IP when running their law firm
https://ablog.amatacorp.com/blog/posts/while-lavish-law-office-space-is-nice-talent-tops-list-of-client-priorities/
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