Preparing for a COVID school year - cutting out the noise.

Preparing for a COVID school year - Getting through the Noise!

Recently, CNET published an article about how tech employees who are parents with school-age children at home fear their employers will not give them consideration of their work/home balance issues as we head into the new school year.  Attorneys with children have this same concern. In any dynamic, schooling children this year will be a challenge (whether by a single parent or by a two-parent household).  Flexibility and understanding will be key this academic year as we move the legal process forward.  I’d like to suggest some tech tips this week (over several postings) that may be of use to these households and may well serve any home.

Consider getting some Headphones not only for yourself but for your children.  When each member of your house is using headphones to communicate with the person(s) on the other end of your phone or screen, that is at least one less source of noise traveling in your house.  And when the classroom gets a little raucous, that will be something that you won’t have to listen to.  Likewise, your children won’t have to overhear your clients, boss, fellow staff, etc., talk about that boring legal stuff.  You may even want to get a couple of different types of headphones.

Personally, I am a fan of wireless headphones, and I have three different types.

I have what I call my basic pair:  I love my AirPods!  (Remember, Air Pods can be used for both Windows and Macs! – see my article here.). The best thing about them is you can use one at a time.  This allows you to charge the one you are not using, and when the battery goes down on the one you are using, you can just switch them out.

I have a pair of on the ear headphones to assist with noise-canceling for important meetings.  Note these are not “noise canceling” headphones that actively cancel out noise.  I’ve been enjoying the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones for many years.  These sit on the ear.  When I bought them, I compared the “noise canceling” model with the sans model and noticed a negligible difference (and not worth the $50? upgrade).  The over the ear model was a little too warm for my preference.  ADDED BONUS:  If the power is drained for Bluetooth, you can use the enclosed wire to hook up your headphones to your computer’s mic and possibly to your phone or tablet if it has the right mic input or you have the right conversion dongle.

Lastly, I have my “sports” pair that I use for working out.  They are a pair of in-ear Bose SoundSport Free.  The grip is a little better than my regular Air Pods and the sound, being Bose, is so much better than my Air Pods.  They also serve as a good backup should the need arise.

Happy Lawyering!!!

The PA Bar's Advisory Opinion Provides Some Good Tips to Working From Home!

The Pennsylvania State Bar came out with an advisory opinion directed at attorneys working at home given the COVID-19 pandemic.  It’s a good read for all of us as it reminds lawyers what we need to be doing to secure our client’s privacy and to ensure we don’t run afoul of our respective State and Territorial Bars.

I’ll list some good points from the Bar to follow further below.  But, my read of the big takeaways are:

1. You need to be Competent enough to keep Client Communications and information Confidential.

2. You need to take “reasonable” precautions.  It does not mean you have to have Pentagon-Grade IT Security.  But, it does not mean you can’t take any steps to secure your client’s info.  Simple steps like password protecting your computer and home Wi-Fi, using secure passwords, and running a VPN when you are using a public Wi-Fi should be your bare minimum basics.

3. You don’t need to be an expert.  If you need help, finds those (like me 😉) who you may be able to retain to assist you!

I did notice one bullet point below of unique interest:  “Prohibiting the use of smart devices such as those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google voice assistants in locations where client-related conversations may occur.”  What I found interesting, is the opinion doesn’t mention Apple’s Siri.  I’ll be writing about that in a future blog post.

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Now, onto the PA Bar’s list of suggestions:

• Specifying how and where data created remotely will be stored and, if remotely, how the data will be backed up;

• Requiring the encryption or use of other security to assure that information sent by electronic mail are protected from unauthorized disclosure

• Using firewalls, anti-virus and anti-malware software, and other similar products to prevent the loss or corruption of data

• Limiting the information that may be handled remotely, as well as specifying which persons may use the information

• Verifying the identity of individuals who access a firm's data from remote locations

• Implementing a written work-from-home protocol to specify how to safeguard confidential business and personal information

• Requiring the use of a Virtual Private Network or similar connection to access a firm's data

• Requiring the use of two-factor authentication or similar safeguards

• Supplying or requiring employees to use secure and encrypted laptops

• Saving data permanently only on the office network, not personal devices, and if saved on personal devices, taking reasonable precautions to protect such information

• Obtaining a written agreement from every employee that they will comply with the firm's data privacy, security, and confidentiality policies

• Encrypting electronic records containing confidential data, including backups

• Prohibiting the use of smart devices such as those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google voice assistants in locations where client-related conversations may occur.

• Requiring employees to have client-related conversations in locations where they cannot be overheard by other persons who are not authorized to hear this information; and,

• Taking other reasonable measures to assure that all confidential data are protected.

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Notable references in the PA Bar Association Formal Opinion

• American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Formal Opinion 477R (May 22, 2017)

• PA Bar Formal Opinion 2010-200

• PA Bar Formal Opinion 2011-200

• ABA Formal Opinion 477R

Happy Lawyering!!!

Time to Update Your Zoom!

Copyright Zoom

Over the past several months, Zoom was pretty well beaten up due to some security flaws that were discovered in its platform.  This unveiling occurred and became prominent in the public forum, most likely due to the increased use of the service given the COVID-19 pandemic.  Believe it or not, this was a good thing!

The exposure of these flaws gave Zoom an opportunity - it could either sink or swim.  It appears that it decided to swim.  They have added increased encryption, more straightforward means of reporting abusers, the ability to chose data centers (for those concerned about China listening in), increase password security, cloud recording security, and other tweaks.

In the end, it's your call whether you will use this or other platforms.  Your boss, court, or opposing counsel may have a say in this.  But, the deadline to update was May 30, 2020.  If you haven't updated your Zoom to 5.0, you won't be able to participate in Zoom conferences.

Click here to update!

New to Video Conferencing? Let there be light! (COVID-19/Coronavirus Edition)

Video conferencing or virtual meetings are accelerating in demand given COVID-19/Coronavirus.  The Shelter at Home Orders requires more and more professionals to work from home.  Attorneys are within this bandwidth.

While many attorneys are used to taking their laptops home for some light work, many are not prepared to be 100% teleworking.  One of the tools being utilized by both lawyers and the government is video conferencing.  Here is a straightforward device to help make you appear a little bit better to the viewer - Lume Cube.

I came across this device last week.  Lume Cube (specs) is roughly under a two-by-two inch device that suction cups behind your computer monitor, laptop, tablet or smart-phone device.  It helps highlight the video-caster's face.  It comes with two light diffusers - warming and softening.  It has an internal, non-replaceable Lit-Ion Polymer battery that lasts "Run Time: 2.5+ Hours @ 50% Brightness (30-45min @ 100%)".  It is not bad for a $49.95 device (as of this posting down from $79.95) - see the before and after pics below. 

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The difference is subtle but significant. To control the light settings, there is a downloadable app that allows you to control the light remotely through Bluetooth. You can control the brightness, reduce red-eye, and utilize four different modes (Flash, Constant, Strobe 1, and Strobe 2).  Its simple, straightforward, and perfect for the newbie!

Sure, there are other lighting options out there.  My only complaint with the Lume Cube is the enclosed Micro USB-A wire is a little short:  As I am mostly using this on my iMac and it is short on USB-C inputs, I can't easily use an extra USB-C Hub to power the Lume Cube other than my iMac (unless I have an extra Micro USB-A wire with enough length).  But for a starting point at $50, this overall package is not a bad place to begin with for your teleconference lighting needs.

Two Thumbs Up! 👍👍

Happy Shelter-In-Place Lawyering!