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Podcasting: Coming to a Law Firm Near You
You know those people you pass on the street, wearing the distinctive white earphones of the iPod? They might be doing more than just listening to their own customized music playlist — they could be tuning into a commentary on recent case decisions, a CLE on running a law practice, or hearing how the latest technological advances are changing the legal profession.
It’s called podcasting, the distribution of digital audio files like MP3s, via the Internet, right to your computer, where you can download them to a MP3 player — such as Apple’s trendy iPod, from which it derives its name — and listen to them at your convenience.
Podcasting is catching on like wildfire. The technology upon which it’s based is the same concept as RSS (Really Simple Syndication) that allows readers of blogs to get their latest updates in real-time. Already, everything from complete “pirate radio” podcasts to sermons to random musings to legal news is available via podcast.
Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, for example, already offers its Osler Audio Reports, dealing with legal issues via podcast (http://www.osler.com/resources_landing.aspx?id=10366). And podcasted CLEs aren’t far behind. Overnight, your computer can automatically check the Websites of companies offering CLE programs by podcast, download the audio, and transfer it to your MP3 player, ready to go when you are the next morning.
CBA PracticeLink Podcasts
CBA PracticeLink takes podcasting technology one step further by accompanying the online audio with a synchronized online visual presentation.Users can also download the audio portion and listen to the mp3 file on a portable audio device.
View CBA PracticeLink Podcasts
Podcast news and CLEs can also help lawyers maintain that always-elusive work-life balance. When you’re inevitably in a holding position — driving to work, taking the train to another town, waiting in an airport for a business flight — you can get updated on issues affecting your practice, whenever it’s convenient for you.
How soon can you expect to get podcast CLEs? Sooner than you might think. Check out the Institute for Information Law & Policy at New York Law School, which recently launched the Nanotechnology Podcast Blog, the first podcast discussing the revolution in atomic scale science and the law.
Can you capture the power of podcasts for your own practice? Sure — maybe instead of slaving away on newsletters or even e-news bulletins for your clients, you can record a podcast of the latest developments in their area or industry, post it on your Website, and allow your clients to download the file at their convenience.
To learn more about podcasts, read “MP3s, Podcasts and Internet Audio Resources for Lawyers” by Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell (www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/slc07051.html).
–– Jared AdamsAdapted from National magazine, October/November 2005.
Great article! The practice management tips sound very useful.
By: Christina Gural
Posted: 11-05-05
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