On April 1, 2007, I left a large firm with its substantial technology infrastructure to start my own firm. My certified paralegal, Amanda Miller, and I had to develop the technology infrastructure for our new firm. We knew we had to choose technology solutions that also facilitated compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. We found there are many technology options and resources to help the small office practitioner practice efficiently, effectively, and ethically. There is an old adage: Cheap, Fast, Good – pick two. That adage applies to technology choices. It can be tricky trying to balance these three goals.
We found technology solutions that were the right balance for us. We successfully navigated technology issues for over twelve years. We share the process and information that will help you find the right balance of cheap, fast, and good. Specific topics include Internet, VOIP, email, data management, financial systems, marketing, and security.
On January 1, 2020, Amanda and I joined another small firm. It will be interesting to compare their technology solutions to ours. I am sure the goals of choosing cost-effective solutions that facilitate compliance with ethics rules will be the same.
This course qualifies for one hour of professional responsibility/ethics credit and, at the same time, fulfills the annual technology requirement. The State Bar Sponsor Number: 8351, Course Number: 1
Your Instructor
The on-demand CLE program Small Firm Technology: Practical and Ethical Considerations is a production of First Class Media, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company. Those participating in the production of this seminar are:
Presenter - Charles E. Nichols, Jr
Chuck Nichols operated a small firm, Nichols Law PA, from April 1, 2007 until December 31, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a practice focused on commercial real estate. He practiced from 1982-2007 with the firm of Manning Fulton, PA in the areas of commercial real estate and civil litigation. On January 1,2020, he and his paralegal, Amanda Miller, joined another small firm – Weatherspoon Voltz LLP – also focusing on commercial real estate. He has given continuing legal education programs on mixed-use developments, damages for breach of contract to convey real estate, and theories of recovery in post-closing disputes. Mr. Nichols obtained a JD with honors and MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982 and graduated magna cum laude in history and economics from Duke in 1978.
Assisting in the Video Content, Manuscript, and Production:
Amanda Miller is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal. She has worked with Chuck since 2001 at Manning Fulton and then in 2007, moved to Nichols Law with Chuck. Effective January 1, 2020, she became a paralegal with Weatherspoon Voltz LLP. At Nichols Law, Amanda assisted Chuck in all aspects of commercial real estate and closings. She also handled office management, bookkeeping, and IT-related duties at Nichols Law. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business from East Carolina University Summa Cum Laude and then graduated from Meredith College’s Post Baccalaureate Certificate Paralegal Program. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s paralegal division.
Susan Kelly Nichols has retired from legal practice. For the last seventeen years of her practice, she was a Special Deputy Attorney General and head of the Elections Section in the North Carolina Department of Justice. In that capacity, she represented the State Board of Elections, including with respect to technology issues. She frequently spoke at educational programs for elections officials and occasionally gave continuing legal education programs on elections and campaign finance matters. She obtained her JD with honors in 1981 and her AB in Education in 1976 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Patrick Nichols filmed and edited this video. He is a filmmaker and editor based in New York City and currently attends Columbia University in the MFA program in Creative Production. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012 with highest honors in Communications and History. Samples of his work may be viewed at PatrickKellyNichols.com.
Course Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
*If a refund is granted, course completion results will not be reported to the State Bar.