Legal Humor

Lawyer Amy Jackson of the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake City, Utah, was discussing a family law case with her paralegal one day in 1993. The client had filled out an application with the legal aid society that stated she wanted "soul" custody.

Seeing the error, the paralegal remarked, "I'm not sure we can get jurisdiction."

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Coming Updates

Listed below are the major enhancements now planned for the near term. However, in addition to what we've planned, we'll also send you updates for any local forms or agency forms that change in the interim.

December Update
We'll send you forms affected by six bills from the 2007 legislation that have an effective date of January 1, 2008. The volumes affected will be:

Adoptions and Paternity ¹ - Due to HB3997, we're revising several forms relating to citation of an alleged father who fails to register with the Paternity Registry.

Family Law¹ - Two of the pattern jury charges relating to paternity cases will change to match changes in Adoptions and Paternity raised by HB3997.

Landlord-Tenant - HB1460 affects forms dealing with modifying disclosure statements and modifying grounds for eviction. HB3101 affects one form dealing with effectively forbidding changing the locks on leased property unless the landlord adds a provision to the lease specifically permitting changing the locks.

Real Estate¹ - We're revising one form because HB271 adds a requirement that previous use of a house for manufacture of methamphetamines be disclosed. And, HJR72 requires us to update several forms by modifying the provisions relating to Home Equity Loans under the Texas Constitution.

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eFiling Update: eFiling from ProDoc

When you eFile in the state courts through the TexasOnline eFiling system, you can save time by eFiling through ProDoc. When you eFile through ProDoc, it sends the appropriate client and case data to our eFiling web site—saving you the time of entering that data for eFiling.

However, you do have the option of eFiling directly from our eFiling web site at www.prodocefile.com.

Learn how to eFile from ProDoc >>

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SOS Update: Significant Enhancements Just Released

We heard your concerns about performance issues with SOS. You let us know that SOS was too slow… especially when you generated your monthly billings.

So, we made significant performance improvements to the Billing function in SOS. You will now realize a speed improvement in this function of up to 65% after installing this update. Additionally, you will now be able to use other programs on your computer as it processes the billing and printing-of-reports functions.

This enhancement is only an early step of a long-term plan to completely redesign SOS for more functionality, greater speed, a more intuitive interface and greater usefulness to small law firms.

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PowerPack Update: Installing New Child Support Calculator Files in Your PDA

We updated the PowerPack based on HB448, HB1864, SB228, and SB303.

The Child Support Calculator now calculates the new top monthly income amount of $7,500 for suits filed on, or after, September 1, 2007.

Additionally, the Child Possession Calendar program now includes the new Christmas and weekend visitation provisions, as appropriate for your case.

Finally, we updated the Child Support Calculator files for Palm® and Windows® Mobile™ Pocket PC operating systems.

Instructions on how to add to or update the files on your PDA >>

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ProDoc Customer Support: Adding Custom Headers and Footers to ProDoc-Generated Documents

It is quite easy to create custom headers and footers that are automatically inserted into your ProDoc-generated documents. You can even specify whether this is done in all documents you generate in ProDoc, only in documents you draft from specific ProDoc volumes, or only in specific documents.

View "Adding Custom Headers and Footers to ProDoc-Generated Documents" >>

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Trial Tips: Plaintiff Trial Lawyer Tips

Here's a great resource containing ideas for Jury selection, proving damages, opening statement, direct examination, communications, cross examination, trial exhibits, final argument, and more. It is written by Paul N. Luvera, named by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and The Washington Journal as one of the nation's best trial lawyers. In 2005 Lawdragon Magazine named him as one the leading 500 lawyers in America, describing him as "The dean of the plaintiff's bar for all the Northwest." The American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington Chapter, selected him as the Trial Lawyer of the Year in 1999.

View Paul Luvera's Plaintiff Trial Lawyer Tips blog >>

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Tech Tip: Use Your Treo® for More than Just Phoning and Emailing, Part 4

If you're a mobile lawyer and you use a Treo, here are some great programs you'll want to check out:

• Palm® VNC - Using this product, you can remotely control your desktop computer from anywhere you have Internet access using your Treo.
• Flight Status 2.00 - This product enables you to get up to the minute flight status on most airlines through your Treo. All you need is the airline and flight number. This program is free.
• VolumeCare Pro - This program enables you to increase the maximum volume for the handset, wired handsets, and the speakerphone. It also enables you to boost the volume of the pickup microphone.

Several of the products featured in this section are also available for other PDA operating systems. Look around the product web site for more details.

To be continued next month. If you have some favorite Treo software programs you want to let others know about, your information to Tom Schoolcraft.

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Tech Tip: Let Your Clients Schedule Themselves in Your Calendar

iPolipo® is a subscription-based online service that accelerates the process of scheduling meetings. iPolipo enables you to selectively share your iPolipo calendar with your contacts and eliminate the time-consuming back-and-forth process required to set up meetings with your colleagues and clients. The iPolopo calendar integrates with your Outlook calendar so there is no data entry needed on your part when appointments are entered by your clients.

Learn more about iPolipo >>

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Tech Tip: Scan, Copy and Fax Using Your Cell Phone

When you're in a bind and need to fax, scan, or copy a document—and the usual equipment is not available—ScanR™ enables your cell phone camera or digital camera to come to your rescue. You simply shoot a picture of the document, send the image to ScanR, and wait for digital copies of the images to be emailed back to you. This service is free.

Learn more about ScanR >>

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Come By and Meet Us

Come by and visit us if you'll be attending — we'd love to see you!

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Vent—Tell Us What's on Your Mind

This is your opportunity to what's on your mind. Email us your suggestions and other feedback.

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