My very first Slaw Tip back in January 2011 was titled Read that URL. Today’s tip is a reminder of that along with a twisty question.

1. Libraries provide links to web sources (The sources are things on the web which means they move around)
2. Libraries update their links when websites move (Quickly, because we use the links that we provide for our own research work)  
3. Why are you keeping extensive bookmarks that you have to update yourself?

Read the URL you are navigating to AND don’t waste your time looking for things that are on your firm’s intranet or …

How many of you take the time to “eject” your USB devices before you remove them? I know some of you didn’t raise your hand. Does it really matter? Yes it does. Why? Because you can end up with corrupt data if you yank a device out while data is still being written to it.
Some devices will have a flashing LED that tells you when data is being written to the device, but many devices do not. And even on devices that have a flashing LED, you can’t always tell when the data writing is complete. If the computer …

On Friday Oct 4, 2013 a unique event will occur in Canada’s legal community. For the first time there will be a Canadian Legal Technology conference that will be accessible right across the country, courtesy of the ability to webcast all tracks and sessions concurrently (except for the noon keynote that will be recorded and put up for viewing later due to technical restraints).

The Pacific Legal Technology Conference is accessible from 8:45 Pacific to 5:30 Pacific – in person or on the web.  This conference has grown and grown due to one important factor: its foundation is the result …

I read novels more than once, which is a family trait in my household. We also watch television programs and movies more than once. There have been instances of multiple format consumption as well – I like the text version of To Kill a Mockingbird a whole lot more than the audiobook and movie.

We recently acquired a new LED HDTV with blah blah blah (options that make it provide   remarkably clear, disturbingly life-like, images). The features are not important, but the takeaway illustrates something useful: a new method of viewing or using something may make it worth the time …

Cyber criminals and identity thieves want to steal your personal information to commit fraud. They may try to get a credit card in your name or to access funds in your bank account. On top of directly losing money, your credit status can be damaged and it can take a great deal of time and expense to restore your good name.
And this goes beyond being an issue of personal concern. LAWPRO has seen situations where law firm bank accounts were hacked and where law firm bank account information was used on counterfeit cheques.
There are many different ways to …

“I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.
An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.
That’s my code, my motto…”

Horton Hears a Who!  by Dr. Seuss.

All of us have forgotten something at one time or another.  It seems the *ahem* older we get the more ah, shall we say, frequent, these episodes become.  It is important then to have a tool that helps us remember things.

Fortunately there is Evernote.  This handy (and completely free) app for  mobile devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, hpWeb OS) and desktops (Mac OS X, Windows …

I get by with a little help from my friends – so say the Beatles, and I agree.

I was happy to see that help from my friends on New CanLII has been facilitated with CanLII Forums. Check out Feedback on the new CanLII  and Évaluations du nouveau CanLII.

The folks at CanLII know:

I want somebody to love…

Lance Ulanoff did an op-ed post titled “iPad Obliterate: A Tech Tale of Disaster” on Mashable last week. In the post he relates his personal story of how he lost all the data on his iPad.
His post should be required reading for anyone with a mobile device as there are some very important lessons in it. First and foremost – you must backup the data on all your devices. Second, the point that on an iPad or other iOS device, a “Restore” is really a “factory reset” which deletes all data (as it does on most electronic …

Toronto Call to the Bar Ceremony, September 18, 2013
Photo Credit: Lorne Sossin via @DeanSossin

So, you’re a lawyer now.

After a memorable day of Call to the Bar ceremonies and celebrations, you’ve finally crossed the finish line.  Goal achieved, marathon endured. Mission accomplished

The future is as bright as it is now undefined.  Perhaps you have a position secured. Perhaps you are still looking, or are considering hanging your own shingle.  Or maybe you will opt for a travel break, a bit of R and R, or a non-traditional career, outside the mainstream of legal practice.  These are all …

Like the best programmed websites, the newly launched CanLII works well on mobile devices and in a wide variety of browsers, Chrome, FireFox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.

One thing to note for Internet Explorer (version 9) users is the IE Compatibilitiy View.  If you are having difficulties with a research website, try turning off Compatibility View (in IE under Tools on the menu).

Some sites require Compatibility View to be “on”. It is worthwhile knowing that this function is available and to select or de-select it as needed.…