Download The Many Faces of Project Management Tools…

Effective Use of Technology and
Communication Tools in the
Legal Services World
David Bonebrake, J.D.
October 02, 2008
Who We Are
LSNTAP provides technology support to
the poverty law community through
trainings, direct support, and development
coordination
 Circuit riding support to statewide legal
aid websites

For Today
Online Project Management Systems
 Wikis
 Law Blogs
 RSS
 Social Networking Sites

Online Project Management Tools
Online Project Management
Allows you to organize all aspects of your
project using an online system, including
deadlines, drafts, communications and
more
 Supplements other applications you
already use. Many project management
tools integrate with other programs,
including email

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Why use a PM Tool?
Many poverty law staffers are involved with
more than casework:
◦ Courts on self-help initiatives
◦ Working with social service agencies on outreach
projects
◦ Working with other offices on hotline development
◦ Sitting on various state task forces
◦ Working on staff or website committees
◦ Attending statewide or regional conferences
◦ Implementing some new procedure or
technology...and more.
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Project Management Tools

LSNTAP Case Study
◦ Basecamp

Other Project Management Solutions
◦ Microsoft SharePoint
◦ Central Desktop
◦ Google Sites
LSNTAP’s Experience
Fully virtual organization with employees
spread across the US
 Work on several large projects that
require collaboration
 Manage grants with substantial reporting
requirements
 Work closely with partners – vendors,
consultants, and legal aid offices

Basecamp
Project Pages
Project Milestones
Add To-Do List
File Sharing
Collaborate Outside Your
Organization
Microsoft SharePoint Server
Document sharing
 Can create wikis and other intranet sites
 Integrates with Microsoft Project and rest
of Office Suite; MS Project handles time
tracking and project supervision functions
 Software and licenses available on
TechSoup

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Central Desktop
Tool similar to Basecamp
 Allows users to “check out” a document
 http://www.centraldesktop.com/
 Pricing similar to Basecamp

Google Sites
Wiki-intranet
 Project management
 Traditional web content
 Demos:

http://www.google.com/sites/overview.html
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WIKIS
Introduction: What is a Wiki?
A website
 Is easily edited by multiple users
 Provides a logical and highly navigable
platform for storing and retrieving
information
 A cost-effective, paper-free tool

Wikis as Tool for Sharing Community
Knowledge
Massachusetts Post Foreclosure Wiki
 Georgia Legal Services Program Food
Stamp Fraud Advocacy Wiki
 Michigan Reentry Law Wiki

http://reentry.mplp.org/reentry/index.php/Main_Page

FEMA Answers Wiki
http://femaanswers.org/index.php/Main_Page

Elder Law https://mwiki.mplp.org/erc/index.php/Main_Page
Options for Wikis
Visit http://www.wikimatrix.org/
 You can pay for hosting or host it on your own
server depending on the software
 Which way should you go? Depends on:

◦ Technical expertise and available technical support
◦ Privacy controls your program needs
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Popular Wiki Options
Proprietary
◦ Wikispaces
 $5/mo for unlimited users/pages and 2 GB file
storage
◦ PB Wiki
 Price negotiable;, depends on number of users
typically 20% nonprofit discount
Free For Nonprofits
◦ Google Sites
Free and Open Source
◦ MediaWiki
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LAW BLOGS
(“BLAWGS”) AND RSS
ABA Journal Blawg Directory
WHAT IS RSS?
What is RSS?
RSS stands for Really
Simple Syndication
 RSS allows websites
to syndicate content
to other websites and
other applications
such RSS feed readers,
and web browsers

Traditional Web Browsing
Web Browsing Now
Different Uses of RSS
Stay updated on your field
 Immerse yourself in a new area
 Monitor what others are saying about
your organization

RSS Readers

Web Based Readers
◦
◦
◦
◦

Google Reader
Bloglines
iGoogle
MyYahoo
Software Based RSS Readers
◦ Feed Demon
◦ Net News Wire
◦ FeedReader

RSS-supporting Web Browsers
◦ Internet Explorer 7
◦ Firefox
Subscribing to RSS Feeds
Look for the RSS logo:
 Both Google Reader & MyYahoo have
built-in feed searches

SOCIAL NETWORKING
SITES
Social Networking
Websites and Legal Aid

With the growth of social networking
websites more organizations are considering
whether to have a presence in those
networks.
◦ More than half (55%) of all online American
youths ages 12-17 use* online social networking
sites, according to a new national survey of
teenagers conducted by the Pew Internet &
American Life Project.
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/198/report_dis
play.asp
◦ 20% of online adults have profiles.
Should Your Organization Use
Social Networking Sites?
◦ Nonprofits have had mixed results using social
networking sites for fundraising and outreach.
◦ Tech Soup:
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/
page7935.cfm
◦ A presence on online social networks may be
useful depending on what your organization is
trying to accomplish.
◦ When a social networking presence might not
work:
 Your target audiences aren't using social networking
tools
 You don't have time to experiment with something that
might not work.
Linkedin
Questions or Comments?
Thanks for attending!
 Contact information: David Bonebrake
[email protected]
