Hoosier Lawyer

BEST FREE PROGRAM EVER ! ! !

X-1

No, its not some new secret spy plane.  It is simply the coolest and most useful free program you can download to your computer.  Did I mention -- it's FREE!

X-1 allows you to find anything on your computer -- files, email, contacts, calendar dates -- just by typing in a word or name.  And it does so almost instantly.  In fact, it works so fast that instead of opening my contacts folder for information, I just type in the name in X-1, and the entire contact card pops up.  SmallBizPipeline says the program isn't just a great desktop searching tool -- it will change the way you work with your computer.  For their review, CLICK HERE.  For a review of X1 by PC magazine, click HERE

Until I attended the ABA National Solo & Small Firm Conference in Milwaukee, I had been using Google's desktop search.  But X-1 has three big advantages -- two of which are apparent, and the other is not.

The first is that you can choose what you want to search.  If you are looking for an email that  you know you have, but just can't find, you can search just email.  You can do the same with documents, files, folder, pictures, etc.

The second advantage is the preview pane.  On the left side of the screen, you have a listing of all the documents that match your search.  But on the right side is a preview of that document so you can see exactly what the document is. 

The third advantage, and one that is not obvious, is confidentiality.  A little known disclaimer on the Google desktop search (at least it wasn't known to me until I heard about it in Milwaukee) is that Google may store the index of your computer contents on its own computers.  It's something they include in the "fine print."  For those concerned with confidentiality -- and all lawyers should be -- the idea of an index of what is on your computer being in someone else's hands is disconcerting.

So checkout X1.  You will be amazed.  For the download site, just click HERE.

PLANNING FOR 2007 INDIANA SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE IN FULL SWING

Planning for the 6th Annual Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference is at full speed.  The Conference is set for May 31, June 1-2 at the Sharaton Hotel at Keystone-at-the-Crossing in Indianapolis.

While attending the conference is a 2 or 3 day commitment, planning takes nearly the entire year.  And while there is much yet to be done, it looks like the 2007 Conference is going to be another outstanding event.

This past week, three members of the Planning Committee's Executive Committee traveled to Milwaukee for the ABA's First National Solo & Small Firm Conference.  We spent two days evaluating topics and presentations, networking with outstanding national presenteters and potential sponsors, and schmoozing with them about coming to Indiana.  We're not ready to announce our speakers yet.  But let's just say we think it was a VERY successful trip.

Additionally, I picked up some great tips while at the conference.  I'll use this blog to pass some of those along in the next couple of weeks.

So mark your calendars now for the 2007 Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference in Indianapolis.

Judge Wesley Ratliff -- There Were None Better

Last week I read of the recent passing of Judge Wesley Ratliff.  He died at his residence in Bloomington at age 80 after a full and rich career.  He leaves behind a rich legacy of wisdom and decency.  He was an outstanding judge both on the Henry Circuit Court bench and the Court of Appeals.  But he was even a better person.

I first became acquainted with Judge Ratliff during the horrible ordeal of losing a good friend to a fiendish rape/murder.  Judge Ratliff tried the case.  Years later, after I got to know him while clerking at the Court of Appeals, Judge Ratliff told me that it was the most difficult, gut-wrenching case he ever tried.  But through that trial, he maintained the best of our judicial system -- giving the defendants a fair trial while displaying humanity and decency to the victim's family as they sat in court, day after day.

Judge Ratliff always displayed the best of what a judge should be.  The profession -- and the citizens of Indiana -- are so much richer for his public service.