Sections Online: Everything to keep you informed on Section activity

By Patricia Jordan

Since the CBABC Web site went online in October 2000, CBABC has published thousands of Section-related documents at www.cba.org/bc. Section members can access meeting notices, minutes, case comments, speaker’s notes, memos, announcements, letters, and annual reports. If you missed a Section meeting, you can even view the PowerPoint presentation online (if applicable).

Do you need information on an upcoming Section meeting? Your Section web page has your Section “meeting” link – click on the link to access relevant information. A list of all upcoming Section meetings is available for all members in the Lawyer Lounge under “What’s New.”

Every Section also has an online message board (listserv). Your Section’s listserv offers members the opportunity to pose questions, offer advice and share information on a variety of topics.

New in Member Products & Services

• Terminal City Club, look in “Business” under Clubs
• The Electronic Courthouse, look in “Alternative Dispute Resolution” under Law Office Resources [Editor’s note: See page 29 for a related article]
• FreeStay Getaways, look in “Accommodation” under Travel

Technology and Your Practice
Check out CBA PracticeLink at www.cba.org for information on these topics:

• Legal Practice and the Internet: Marketing Strategies
• Client Services in the Legal Information Age
• Building a Better Web site
• Technologies for Solo, Home, and Mobile Lawyers
• Viruses, Hackers, and Spyware - Bandits on the Internet!

Ask the Webmaster
Instant Messaging (IM) – what risk, if any, does it pose to me and my computer?

As use of IM increases, the need for security becomes more vital. Associated risks of IM include security breaches, “spim” (instant messaging spam), an excessive drain of network resources and a reduction of users’ productivity. Content filtering tools from companies such as McAfee (www.mcafee.com), Symantec (www.symantec.com), SurfControl (www.surfcontrol.com), Akonix (www.akonix.com) and IMlogic (www.imlogic.com) block messages with keywords or suspicious content.

Patricia Jordan is the CBABC Manager, Interactive Media. She welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions. If you have a question about site content, or would like something added to the site, contact her at pjordan@bccba.org or call 604.646.7861.

This article was published in the June 2004 issue of BarTalk. © 2004 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.