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Editor's Column

By:  Leif Olson

I’m old enough to remember when the Internet was in its infancy as the world’s premier storage device for humorous text-overlaid cat photos. Perhaps even more fogey-fying for the many of you young lawyers who aren’t as old as I am, I’m old enough to remember the excitement that swept across countless BBSes when Prodigy, CompuServe, and America Online announced that their users would be able to take advantage of astonishing technological advances to communicate with users from completely different Internet services through the use of electronic mail. And if you remember Gopher and Mosaic—from a group that had supercomputing right there in its name!—you are welcome to join me over here so we can wash down our Geritol with these nice, tall glasses of Metamucil.

The advantages of this technological advance in our profession are legion: Cloud-based file storage is available to replace or supplement physical-media storage. Electronic filing has replaced last-minute rushes to the courthouse. Shared research folders on WestlawNext have replaced multiple, individually highlighted photocopied casebook pages. Email and PDF have made it completely unnecessary for you to fax me, opposing and co-counsel. As more of us have moved more of our practices online, TYLA has followed suit.

Not only has our newsletter moved from print to pixels, most of our member-services projects are now available at TYLA.org. This includes our printed materials, such as the Social Media 101 guide that we featured last issue and the Grievance and Malpractice 101 guide we feature in this one. It includes video and interactive materials like Hangin’ Out Your Shingle and Office in a Flash, which give resources and advice on setting up your own law practice, and a job-search site for those looking for experience by working with others. It includes access to video presentations you can use to assist your clients, like Justice 101: The Client’s Guide to Litigation for clients who are unfamiliar with lawsuits and Kids in the Crossfire for clients involved in suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

One of TYLA’s proudest achievements is our award-winning Ten Minute Mentor series. This series of short videos from leading practitioners and jurists discusses different situations, types of cases, and legal questions that young lawyers face. TYLA’s Online Member Services Committee has been reviewing the dozens of videos available through Ten Minute Mentor and will be recording updated and new videos throughout the year. If there is a particular topic that you think should be updated, or an uncovered topic that you would like to be covered, please email your suggestions to the TYLA office so that we at the Online Member Services Committee can hear from you.

Enjoy this issue of TYLA eNews. As always, if you have suggestions for stories or would like to contribute an article, don’t hesitate to email us. Your Texas Young Lawyers Association is here to serve you.