Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Microsoft SharePoint for the Legal Industry?

By Adam Jaffe, Esq.
April 01, 2003

I am sure that everyone knows the name Microsoft. I am guessing that many of you, however, are not familiar with Microsoft's portal product “SharePoint.” SharePoint presents an interesting opportunity for two reasons. First, it is a Microsoft product and chances are that your IT infrastructure and policies embrace Microsoft technology. Second, SharePoint is a relatively inexpensive portal solution. Okay, I know what you are thinking, another article about legal portals and how they will reduce your costs to nothing and increase your revenue by 2000%. I hope to provide something different here. The purpose of this article is to share my experiences working with SharePoint and provide some insight in how it can be used strategically in your law firm or law department.

Portals

First off, we must define what we mean by “portal.” For the purposes of this article, a portal will mean a Web-based tool with these characteristics:

  • ability for user customization;
  • ability for application integration through Web programs (often called “portlets,” “gadgets” or “Web parts”); and
  • built-in basic collaboration capabilities such as document management, contact management, discussion groups, etc.

I am sure you can find different definitions of portals, but I believe that these represent the majority of “true” portals. Please note that portals will not replace traditional matter management or document management systems. They build upon these systems.

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.