Tech Bytes: Technology Tips for Texas Lawyers

The State Bar of Texas Computer and Technology Section worked with TexasBarCLE to create a series of short videos on tech-related topics. The program, called Tech Bytes, launched just one year ago in the spring of 2017. Already, there are more than 40 videos available, and the collection is growing.

The videos focus on technology's role in the legal profession and its application to the practice of law, with a special emphasis on tech tools and trends that impact legal ethics and current Rules. Topics vary from simple (redaction) to sophisticated (cybersecurity) and from the everyday (legal apps) to the esoteric (EXIF data). There is something for everyone no matter your level of tech knowledge. Even the most cyber-savvy lawyers will learn something useful. In each 4-7 minute video, explore a new topic. Cloud computing, data encryption, metadata, forensics, electronic data preservation, ransomware, and the ethics of social media are just a few.   

Whether you're simply curious about trends in legal tech and want to keep abreast of the benefits and risks of using technology in the practice of law, or you're interested in earning CLE credit through self-study, the State Bar of Texas Computer and Technology Section has a Tech Byte video for you!

Latest & Greatest – Pet Law and Custody: Establishing a Worthy and Equitable Jurisprudence for the Evolving Family

By Barbara J. Gislason

Published by American Bar Association. Section of Family Law

KF 390.5 .A5 G57 2017

Leona Helmsley, the late real estate billionaire and hotelier, made news (again) in 2007, when she left her dog, a Maltese named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund. Bequests and estate arrangements such as hers are no longer newsworthy and have become more and more commonplace. Pets have evolved from being characterized as property to being named as beneficiaries and considered family members and companions. In her new book, Pet Law and Custody, author and animal law pioneer Barbara J. Gislason examines the developing jurisprudence surrounding how we treat our pets and how the law treats our furry, and maybe not so furry, companions.

At the outset, the author notes the difficulties courts have faced when confronted with questions concerning pets and how they should be classified and treated under the law. To alleviate some of the confusion, she sets forth selected criteria for identifying a companion animal and some characteristics that might indicate that the pet is not a companion animal. From this introduction, the author launches into the heart of her book: an analysis of specific areas of law as they relate to pet law and pet custody issues. Subject areas include: family law and replevin actions; alternative dispute resolution; estate planning, wills, and trusts; contract law and the Uniform Commercial Code; property law; and tort law. She also looks into how the law treats cases involving animal cruelty and the certain amendments to the U.S. Constitution impact such laws. In addition, Gislason presents the nuts and bolts of a dangerous dog proceeding and provides some points to consider when owning an at-risk animal. Other chapters address the legal issues surrounding science and technology, such as genetic testing, cloning, and animal patents.

Filled with summaries of applicable case law and practical advice, Pet Law and Custody is a useful book for lawyers and all those interested in animals to aid in the understanding of this developing and emerging area of law.

Latest & Greatest – O’Connor’s Texas Probate Law Handbook

By Craig Hopper and D’Ana H. Mikeska

Published by O’Connor’s

KFT 765 .H67

The newest edition to the library’s collection of O’Connor’s books, O’Connor’s Texas Probate Law Handbook, guides the user through the probate process in Texas. The authors begin their book with an overview of Texas probate law and some initial matters that should be considered following a person’s death, including the steps taken after the death, the information that needs to be gathered, gaining access to safe-deposit boxes and personal documents, protecting personal property, and the handling of nonprobate assets. The authors then move onto the nuts and bolts of settling a decedent’s estate, tackling such procedural topics as filing a probate proceeding, opening an administration, and filing and paying any taxes. They detail the rights, duties, and powers of personal representatives and explain how a personal representative administers an estate in a dependent administration and in an independent administration. A chapter is devoted to the legal requirements that a will must satisfy to be admitted to probate. What if there is no will? No worries. The authors spend an entire chapter discussing the laws governing intestate succession. Will contests and alternatives to probate are also addressed in detail.

As is typical with many of the publications from O’Connor’s, the charts are immensely helpful and clarify many of the more confusing issues. These include: determining the appropriate procedure when there is a will and when there is no will, an overview of the intestacy laws, proving proper execution of the will, the personal representative’s duty to file federal tax returns, the priority of payment regarding creditors’ claims, and many more.

If you are looking for a little guidance in handling your next estate administration, come to the Harris County Law Library and have a look at O’Connor’s Texas Probate Law Handbook. You can find it at the reference desk.

Legal Tech Institute Legal Tech Collection

The Harris County Law Library's Legal Tech Collection is a growing library of print resources, located at the Reference Desk, that address tech topics relevant to to the practice of law. Books in the collection include several titles in the "One Hour" series. iPad in One Hour for Lawyers, Facebook in One Hour for Lawyers, and LinkedIn in One Hour for Lawyers, are just a few of the available titles. Other books in the collection focus on encryption, digital privacy, e-discovery, social media, Adobe Acrobat, and how to use Google more effectively for legal research. 

One of the featured books in the collection is an updated edition of a popular publication from the ABA Law Practice Division -- The Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide: Critical Decisions Made Simple. The Law Library recently acquired the 11th edition (published in 2018), which, surprisingly, is a much slimmer volume than the 2016 edition that it will replace. At just under 200 pages, the 2018 edition is nonetheless chock full of useful content for any solo and small firm practitioners in need of guidance in selecting the best technology options for more efficient and effective legal work.

In the introduction to The 2018 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide, the authors explain that this year's edition is more narrowly focused on the core technologies of the law office. It is therefore more condensed and compact. Readers requested a book that presents just the essentials of law office technology, making it easier to use and to read. This feedback from readers demonstrates an important point -- that even the most tech savvy users of legal tech tools still like to consult print resources for guidance.

Our interactions with Law Library patrons certainly show a high demand for traditional books in print, which in turn motivated our decision to create a legal tech collection of print materials There are of course many excellent online resources including legal tech blogs, how-to videos on YouTube, recommendations via social media from colleagues and fellow users, vendor websites, and so much more, but many times a compact, single-volume handbook is just what a new tech user needs to get acquainted with an unfamiliar resource. In addition to our print resources, we link to several other useful digital legal tech resources via our Legal Tech Institute web pages, and, when consulted in tandem with our print resources, these online digital sources are also excellent tools for gaining a toehold in the sometimes overwhelming world of legal tech. 

Latest & Greatest – Texas Real Estate Forms Manual, Third Edition

A Project of the Real Estate Forms Committee of the State Bar of Texas

Published by TexasBarBooks

KFT 568 .S7 2017

The Texas Real Estate Forms Manual, Third Edition is here! Prepared and written by Texas attorneys specializing in real estate law, Texas Real Estate Forms Manual is a go-to guide for handling real estate transactions. Almost every chapter features handy and useful forms and practice notes that discuss and analyze the issues and topics addressed in that chapter. In this manual, you will find explanatory material and forms relating to the preparation, execution, and recording of documents, real estate sales contracts, deeds, promissory notes, deeds of trust, security agreements, foreclosure documents, construction contracts, lien documents, and much more.

Come to the Law Library and ask for Texas Real Estate Forms Manual, Third Edition at the reference desk.