Seven Ways to Reinvent Your Use of LinkedIn

July 25th, 2012 → 7:25 am @ Ari Kaplan

Most professionals could gain more value from LinkedIn and here are seven simple techniques for reinventing the way you use the social network:

1. Provide updates.
2. Study status updates and share resources.
3. Get to know those you know.
4. Study the people looking for you.
5. Explain why you are connecting.
6. Send a follow-up note after connecting.
7. View profiles to get profile views.

I discuss these points in greater detail in my recent column here, and ultimately conclude that technology has made it much easier to add context to what was otherwise a cold call or e-mail just a few years ago. Take advantage of that new level of familiarity. LinkedIn makes networking universally accessible, since it is both practical and strategic without requiring you to be bold or outgoing.

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Reinventing Traditional Court Appearances

July 13th, 2012 → 8:25 am @ Ari Kaplan

At a recent conference, I learned about CourtCall.com, which is a web-based service that facilitates telephonic court appearances for attorneys involved in matters in a wide variety of courts throughout the U.S. and Canada (click here to download a PDF of the entire list).  Fees range from $40 to $78 and the site notes that:

A Judge’s listing does not assure that Telephonic Appearances are allowed on all matters and deadlines for scheduling vary. Additional fees and restrictions may apply when scheduling less than three full ‘Court’ days in advance. Next-day appearances cannot currently be scheduled online.

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Redefining Online Education

July 6th, 2012 → 8:31 am @ Ari Kaplan

“Learning inspires change,” says David Schnurman, the president and CEO of Lawline.com, a leading provider of online continuing legal education that is transforming the way professionals educate themselves on the web.  In a discussion about the company’s new Lawline 2.0 initiative, which is making the site’s entire archive of over a thousand hours of programming free, Schnurman notes that “Lawline’s mission has always been to change the way people learn and since we are transitioning from a service-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, we are helping our audience make that change more seamlessly.”

In addition to providing CLE accreditation services in 43 states (including for this course), Lawline.com also offers CFP programs for those in financial services, and CPE courses for those in accounting, among other fields. A self-described “lifelong learner,” Schnurman wanted to give others the opportunity to actively engage with technology to enhance the learning experience.  Lawline 2.0 allows viewers to take “smart” notes that automatically form reference-like outlines, record five-minute course summaries for future use, and dynamically share their newly acquired expertise.

Listen to our interview below:

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