Truth or fiction? If you catch my reviews in this column, you know the book is most likely to be fiction. This time science fiction is what I would be reviewing—if this book were written even 10 years ago. Digital law office? Digital telephones? Faxing from a notebook computer? The question, even five years ago, would have been not just what is that all about, but what are some of those things.

In a letter to ABI transmitting his book for review, the author said that writing the book was a labor of love most of the seven years it took to complete. The content, layout and style of the book reflect the labor, but even those who love technology might wonder where love comes into the high-tech practice of law with all of this age's gadgets and gizmos. Taken as an unorganized group of "time-saving" pieces of equipment, the gizmos often seem to be time-stealers.

We spend hours, even days, learning how to use the latest word-processing software that now creates web pages and saves pleading styles complete with short cuts meant to automate every aspect of document production. Then, just when you've gotten the hang of it, the computer crashes, or, worse, a new version of the software you just learned is released.

Some of you may have sophisticated deposition summary, document retrieval and trial management software, complete with computerized presentation modules. Even so, many lawyers have fallen, unprepared, into the technology-driven world in which clients believe the only thing necessary to accomplish the most complicated legal transaction is to push a computer key. After all, they can fax you the information in seconds, right?

The Digital Practice of Law puts the technology with the practice of law in a way that lets more law practicing get done with less effort for more money. The book is well organized and really puts first things first. Chapter 1 is titled "The Necessity for Automating the Practice of Law" and covers the rationale for, philosophy behind and economics of implementing the available technology. You learn how to use new billing approaches that take advantage of automation in the law office. The author explains and uses tables to show how to increase efficiency and income by using today's gadgets. He even discusses what ethical issues come up because of the technology.

For those of you who believe you have already figured out why you should automate your law practice, the book also tells you how. From buying the right computer to using the techno-lingo, the basics and much more are at your fingertips. Arkfeld discusses scanners, digital cameras, monitors, modems and any other hardware that may come to mind.

Software is not neglected either. Operating systems, general applications and legal-specific applications are presented in a way that will not challenge the novice but will not bore the relatively sophisticated computer user. You can find out how networks should work, and why, as well as learn what Internet surfing means to the lawyer. The book lists legal web sites and tells you how to search those sites and others.

If you want to build a web site of your own, look no farther. Domain address, Internet service providers, web servers and other considerations are covered. The book covers issues such as whether you should handle your firm's web site internally or outsource it, how you should market your web site once you have it and what you can do with the web site without running afoul of legal ethics.

What are the personnel requirements to implement all this good stuff successfully? The book tells you. Read Chapter 5 carefully and you can establish a plan of action that will get you from recognition of your particular needs to acquiring the right equipment and software to preparing your office for the equipment to installation and training.

Once you have everything you need up and running, you learn what it takes to manage litigation information and present your case in court. A CD containing demonstration versions of some of the law office and practice management software is included with the book so you can get and idea of what is available.

High-tech. That is the bottom line. Few businesses and no professions can compete without it. Try drawing an illustration on paper to convince a jury when your opponent is using computerized video complete with sound, color and action. In the bankruptcy context, technology is critical. As courts become stingier with fees, lawyers for debtors, creditors' committees and trustees have got to cover more ground more efficiently and certainly more quickly. The plan confirmation process in the big, corporate context is not getting easier. Accounting issues are not becoming less complex.

The Digital Practice of Law is a complete, between-the-covers source for any technological, techno-economic, techno-legal dilemma. Want to buy a notebook computer? Check Chapter 2. I wish I had before I bought the one I used to type up this review.

Making life in the law office easier can be hard if you don't know exactly what you are doing. Come to think of it, becoming technologically advanced is not easy even if you know what you are doing. Get the book. Go digital.

---