With OBA’s annual TECHxpo – and all the answers and innovations it brings – just around the corner, we wanted to know the latest technologies and tactics lawyers in different practice areas are finding most useful in their day-to-day work.

We asked members to tell us one recently adopted tech tool or newly discovered way of using their existing technology that they now consider indispensable – and rounded up their responses below.

 

“I use SimplyFile, an Outlook add-on that uses an advanced artificial intelligence algorithm to file emails. It clears out massive backlogs in seconds, and files emails as you send them. I couldn’t function without it.” - Brent Arnold M.A., JD, Gowling WLG, OBA Privacy and Access to Information Law Section Executive chair

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“I can respond that I am a dinosaur – an old-fashioned PCLaw user of almost three decades. I have only recently started to attend some seminars, and to engage with respect to technology upgrades, and the use of AI. I am looking at using LEAP. Plus, I recently submitted my first AI research with Alexsei.” - Terry L. Brandon, Brandon Law Professional Corporation, OBA Southwest regional director

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“One new tool we have started to make increased use of over the past few years is Adobe Acrobat Pro.  I have a solicitor’s practice and often need to complete forms for clients or send forms to others to complete. We use Adobe Acrobat Pro to edit forms and input text rather than handwriting it. We also use it for electronic signatures and for applying signature certificates to documents. Another tool we have started encouraging clients to use is scanning applications on smart phones. Receiving JPG or image files with photographs of signed documents are data suckers and are harder to manage than PDFs which clients would send instead of scanning a document.  Scanning applications seem to be easy for clients to use and make our work easier.” - Kathleen Robichaud, Law Office of Kathleen Robichaud, OBA East regional director

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“As the pandemic arrived, like many others, I had to pivot and embrace the virtual workplace. I found it challenging at first. Now I cannot imagine my work life without the convenience of Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms that allow video communication. In-person meetings have their value and video technology certainly has its glitches, but overall, I find meeting virtually to be convenient, efficient, and definitely more engaging than the old-style teleconference. My desk phone, a once indispensable tool, is quickly becoming obsolete.” - Laura Pettigrew, Office of the Ontario Ombudsman, OBA Child and Youth Law Section Executive newsletter editor

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“My firm has recently transitioned from a local directory to uploading everything to Microsoft OneDrive. It has been an absolute gamechanger. No need to mirror/connect to the computer now, everything is accessible on my phone, home desktop, and laptop while traveling.” - Dan Fridmar, Fridmar Professional Corporation, OBA Construction Law Section Executive newsletter editor

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“While everyone is rightfully testing ChatGPT 4 and trying to use it productively, for now my favourite technology is not so new or dramatic. Zoom allows me to work from home or abroad without wasted travelling time while also making meetings more productive and focused. And good, old-fashioned PDFs ensure I no longer have to cart around boxes of documents or risk tipping them over crossing the Queen Street streetcar tracks. That's good enough for this commercial litigator.  But do let me know when ChatGPT 4 can write my factums without making stuff up.” - Colin Stevenson, Stevenson Whelton LLP, OBA Past-President