21st Century Law Profession: How Video Conferencing Is Blowing The Dust From The Practice Of Law By TAURUS BAILEY
THEN: When I started law school in 1995, Westlaw was a new thing. Stacks of floppy disks were loaded into a computer, which also plugged into a fax modem to access this new thing called the internet. NOW: In our pockets and tablets, we have computers with more processing power than the computers did that took astronauts to the moon. That same device can not only connect us with phone calls, but with live video, and abilities to share documents, photos, video, etc. In the practice of law, we especially enjoy the advantage of sensory reading. It's certain that communication is more effective when you can see the person you're talking to, and gauge that person’s facial and micro-expressions. For example, it makes it easier to determine a joke from a serious declaration. But as the courts and profession of law have learned since the start of the pandemic, in-person court hearings, witness examination or client meetings are not essential for case progress or compliance with the rules or procedure for evidence. Instead, all over the world, video conferencing and collaboration services have become the tool of choice for courts, law firms, schools and even the bar exam. And it works, so long as participants know how to unmute themselves. The Memphis Bar Association’s Technology Section has assembled this comprehensive look into the leading conferencing software platforms, all capable of providing high-quality video and fullfeatured collaboration tools. While many of these video conferencing platforms also offer live streaming and webinar capabilities, the focus here is primarily on virtual meetings for court and for clients.
Zoom Zoom is easily the best-known video conferencing brand and most frequently used among lawyers for now. Zoom solidified its status as one of the leaders in the video conferencing industry because of clarity, reliability, and ease of use. Yes, there have been privacy concerns, but the risk vs. benefit have been reliable. Zoom has conferencing flexibility allowing simple 1:1 meetings or large group calls. It’s my understanding that up to 1,000 participants (with many using high definition without interrupting the bandwidth feed) can simultaneously enjoy it. Its document sharing feature is simple and great to use. Also, I personally enjoy being able to choose my own background, especially if I am at home working or in a place like Starbucks. I do find that the connection with Bluetooth headphones (I use AirPods Pro) has trouble connecting if you don’t connect prior to starting the video. FEATURES: Also setting the meeting invitations integrates smoothly with popular calendaring systems. Its free (we love that word...free) tier allows unlimited 1:1 meetings but limits group sessions to 40 minutes and 100 participants. Paid plans start at $15 per month per host and scale up to full-featured Business and Enterprise plans. The courts, judges, lay witnesses, clerks, homebased workers, and anyone can easily enjoy this system.
Microsoft Teams If you’re already using Microsoft Office, then why not? Microsoft Teams is essentially a successor to Skype for Business. Personally, I loved Skype for Business. Skype for Business was the original favorite in Western District of Tennessee federal court, however they are uniformly switched now to Teams. Teams has great features; however I don’t personally find the interface and layout intuitive or user friendly for everyone – especially 15
