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  • May 23, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month: Help for Your Tired Eyes

    Continuing our D4S Office Wellness Week, today we're looking at a very 21st century work problem — Computer Vision Syndrome — and ways to prevent or alleviate related symptoms.

    What is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)? According to the American Optometric Association, CVS (also referred to as Digital Eye Strain) describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and smartphone use. Research shows that between 50 and 90 percent of people who work at a computer screen experience some symptoms.

    The most common symptoms include eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, double vision, dry red eyes, and neck/shoulder/back pain.

    What causes CVS? CVS is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in that both are repetitive motion injuries you can get at work. When you spend the majority of your day on the computer, your eyes follow the same path over and over, constantly focusing and refocusing every time they move across the screen or you look away from your screen and back.

  • May 22, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month: Physio for Stress Relief

    Welcome to D4S Week 4 - Office Wellness! Lawyers tend to work long hours and experience significant amounts of stress. This week we're looking at ways to help you cope with that stress and make your office environment healthier too. Let's get started...

    Chances are you spend much of your day sitting in front of a computer. (You're likely there now.) If you are seated (or the next your are,) check your posture. Are you hunched over? Is your breathing inhibited? Does your lower back or neck hurt? When was the last time you stretched?

    We've asked Health and Relaxation Coach Liv Ryan — daughter of (proud) mom Jeanne Heaton, ISBA Director of CLE — for an encore of her 'DIY Physio for Stress Reduction' techniques, recently given at an ISBA Solo & Small Firm Institute.

    In the video, Liv shares a few stretches you can do seated at your desk, or standing nearby, that will reinvigorate you, work out some of your tension, and get the blood flowing again for better alertness and posture throughout the rest of your day. Watch it before you go get your morning coffee or whenever you find yourself needing a short break.

  • May 19, 2017 | Member Services
    Free E-Book: A Day in the Life of a Tech-Oriented Firm

    Please enjoy this gift from our malpractice insurance partner, ISBA Mutual!

    At ISBA Mutual, your success is ours, and we're recognizing that fact throughout ISBA Member Appreciation Month. To help you build upon your present success and flourish in an uncertain future, we are providing another e-book to help you make your practice the best law practice it can be.

    Tomorrow is Today: A Day in the Life of a Technology Oriented Law Firm is the companion piece from our 2015 Risk Management Conference, an event that is only available to lawyers we insure.

    Here is what you can expect to discover in this e-book:

  • May 19, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month: Managing Your Passwords

    Our final challenge this week is to uncover some best practices for creating better passwords and learn how to properly store them.

    'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' –Aristotle

    Faster hardware and new tech used by password crackers have made passwords less secure than in years past. Your best bet for creating a password that is more difficult for online predators to crack is to employ multiple methods. Our favorites are outlined below. Alone, each is better than doing nothing, but together our 1-2-3-punch makes for a stronger deterrent.

    Randomizing. By definition, to randomize is to make unpredictable. Humans are notorious for creating predictable passwords. If you Google 'random password,' a number of online random password generators will turn up in your results. Great, right? Wrong. According to our IT guru Tim, 'If it's online, it's not recommended. Sacrifice convenience for security.' Your results and IP address can potentially be discovered by the wrong people. With that in mind, go old school. Find a favorite book or pick up a dictionary, close your eyes, point to a word...you know the drill. In fact, you'll want to do that a few times because our next tip is to use...

    Phrases/Multiple Words. Another best practice is to use a string of words instead of a single word. Here, more is better; use as many words/characters as you are comfortable using, and again, try to randomize and make sure they have no relationship to one another.

  • May 18, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month: Lock it Down - Mobile

    We're back today with Tim and Brandt to get more information about how to protect your hardware and data, this time looking at your mobile devices.

    5 Best Practices for Keeping Your Mobile Devices Secure

    1. Install protection software such as AVG (Android) or Avast (Android | iPhone+iPad).

    2. Not to sound like a broken record, but back up your device. Make regular backups of your iPhone and iPad using iTunes/iCloud. Make regular backups of your Android device using the built in 'Backup and Reset' feature for contacts and passwords, and Dropbox, Google+, and Microsoft OneDrive for photos. You can also backup your entire Android device with Helium, MyBackup Pro, or manually by connecting to your computer. Mac users will need the Android File Transfer Tool.

  • May 17, 2017 | Member Services
    Membership Appreciation Month: Lock it Down

    In light of the WannaCry ransomware attack over the weekend — which affected more than 200K computers in 150 countries — today's challenge is especially timely. (Read this if you were attacked by WannaCry and need help knowing what to do next.)

    Today Tim and Brandt, ISBA's tech gurus, talk about how to protect your computer and data as best as you can from malware, ransomeware, and other cyber attacks.

    13 Best Practices for Keeping Your Windows PC and Mac Secure

    (In Italy, 13 is good luck!)

    1. Backup your data. Back it up again somewhere else. If everything else fails, you'll be really glad you have all your data saved elsewhere. Check out this previous D4S post that was all about redundant backup.

    2. Disable the remote desktop in Windows and only use secure remote software (like TeamViewer). See this document for instructions.

  • May 16, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month: Five More Free Tech Resources

    We're providing you with five more free tech resources today — all part of our Timesaving Tech Tips week. If you've found any other great free (or cheap) tech resources that have helped you at work, we're eager to hear from you. Share your tips with us and others by commenting below. 

  • May 15, 2017 | ISBA News | Member Services
    #GetFoundWithILF - Update Your Profile to Enter Our iPad Pro Giveaway

    Update your profile now to enter! Giveaway ends May 26!

    IllinoisLawyerFinder – the ISBA's new online public member directory – is now live.

    We've just rolled out a new member benefit to help you* enhance your online presence and attract potential clients. Now it's your turn to go online and expand upon your FREE profile listing.

    Update your profile and accept the User Agreement by May 26 for a chance to win our Grand Prize – 12.9" iPad Pro with 128GB or 1 of 3 $100 Amazon Gift Cards.

    Expand your profile by doing any of the following...

  • May 12, 2017 | Member Services
    Complimentary 'Optimizing Your Success' E-Book from ISBA Mutual

    Please enjoy this gift from our malpractice insurance partner, ISBA Mutual!

    Despite our staid reputation, change has long been occurring in the legal profession.

    • Technology continues to expand and evolve across law firms
    • Internet technologies have empowered consumers, and are changing how legal services are delivered
    • Hourly rates are giving way to flat fees in some practice areas
    • Mobile devices and pervasive connectivity are changing clients' expectations of communication with their lawyers
    • Non-lawyers are providing some legal services online, even across state lines that traditionally limit lawyers
    • State bars and courts are exploring the licensing of non-lawyer alternatives to provide legal services

    At ISBA Mutual - your success is ours - and we're recognizing that fact throughout ISBA Member Appreciation Month. To help you build upon your present success and flourish in an uncertain future, we are providing this complimentary download of our e-book normally available exclusively to lawyers and law firms insured by ISBA Mutual.

  • May 12, 2017 | Member Services
    Member Appreciation Month Tip: Lawin' in Style - Wardrobe Edition

    We're ending our D4S Week 2 — Polish Your Professional Presence — in style. Literally. Your challenge is to evaluate the image you're projecting with your wardrobe and if it's working for you.

    You never get a second chance to make a first impression. - Will Rogers

    You are more than your clothes. You are more than your job. But there's also no harm in wanting to make a great impression on clients and colleagues, and having a good sense of style will help you do that. Whether you're into creating a capsule wardrobe or have a closet that Carrie Bradshaw would envy, there's a style for every lawyer that will make you feel both comfortable and commanding.  

    We contacted a few ISBA members who are well-known for their stylish ensembles to get their advice and insight on power dressing for lawyers. 

    Meet Our Style Mavens. All four interviewees are active members in the ISBA — which is how we knew they were so stylish! — and come from a variety of backgrounds and practices. Meet Natali, Rory, Carol and Cory (kind of has a jingle to it, no?)...