CALSPro - California Association of Legal Support Professionals

The New CALSPro Mobile App Is Here!

Posted March 13, 2018 in Technology

The web based “mobile friendly” version is now available to all members of CALSPro.  Go to https://app.calspro.org to log in and use the app.  If you don’t have your login and password you can request one on the login page.

Continue reading below for more information about the features and benefits of this new resource. The Android and IOS versions of the App are scheduled to be released soon!

The new CALSPro App is a valuable digital tool you can add to your process serving arsenal!

Need help locating an address while in the field? Try using the Address Validation Tool!

This feature utilizes the USPS Address Validation API. It queries the USPS system directly to validate an address entered.

Can’t quite remember what that important Process Serving code says? Use the Code Search Tool!

This feature allows you to search codes with keywords and/or filter by category.

Having trouble calculating the ever-changing subpoena witness fees? Use the easy and user-friendly Witness Fee Calculator!

This feature calculates a witness fee based on State or Federal Fee and One-way Mileage. No more calling the client! Make yourself look good.

The CALSPro App is now released with the three awesome features mentioned above but still with more exciting tools and improvements yet to come!

We will keep you posted with enhancements as they are rolled out this year and in the future!

Feel free to send us your feedback, comments and suggestions!

We Are Excited To Announce The Upcoming Release Of The CALSPro App

Posted January 25, 2018 in Technology

By Jay Roll

The web based “Mobile Friendly” version of the App is slated for release in February. The Full App is slated for release in May or June of 2018. We are excited to offer this new technology to CALSPro members.

The App will be a valuable tool you can add to your process serving arsenal.

Need help locating an address? Try using the Address Validation Tool

This feature utilizes the USPS Address Validation API. It queries the USPS system directly to validate an address entered.

Can’t quite remember what the code says? Use the Code Search Tool

This feature allows you to search codes with keywords and/or filter by category.

Having trouble calculating the ever-changing witness fees? Use the Witness Fee Calculator

This feature calculates a witness fee based on State or Federal Fee and One-way Mileage.

The App will be released with the three features mentioned with more improvements to come! We will keep you posted with enhancements as they are rolled out.

We would like to thank the team at California Advocates Management Services for their hard work and dedication to this project. Their expertise and insight has been invaluable, and without them, the App simply would not exist!

Thank you CAMS!

The CALSPro App Is Underway

Posted October 3, 2017 in Technology

CALSPro is working hard to create an app that will be invaluable to legal professionals in the field. Of course, with any app development, there are many phases. According to our tech team, we are at least a few months away after all of the necessary testing but we are excited to offer this new technology to CALSPro members.

If you would be interested in being involved with the BETA testing, watch for notifications on that.

Features Currently Included In Web Version:

Address Verification: This feature utilizes the USPS Address Verification API. It queries the USPS system directly to verify an address entered.

Code Search: This feature allows you to search codes with keywords and/or filter by category.

Witness Fee Calculator: This feature calculates a witness fee based on State or Federal Fee and One-way Mileage.

Planned & Possible Features for both Web & Native Apps:

Enhance Witness Fee Calculator:
Auto Calculate Mileage based on:
a. Zip Code to Zip Code estimation
b. Address to Address
c. Address from current location – using onboard GPS

Enhance Code Search with Process Server Guidelines and possibly more codes/keywords

Enhance Address Verification with:
a. Ability to save verified addresses with a custom title
b. Add ability to use a verified address with Witness Fee Calculator

Address Database: The ability to save addresses and use them in the features that require addresses

Mileage Tracker: Possibly GPS driven where they could start and stop mileage tracking on the go and an address to address mileage lookup.

Membership Badge: To show or print

Link Library: A default set of links that Process Servers might use often and the ability to manage their own additions.

Job Postings: Requests for quotes much like we do now on the website with “Find Legal Support Professionals” but Member to Member.

Notes: The ability to take notes and save them within the app as well as utilizing the onboard camera to take and save geo-tagged images associated with the note.

Is Technology Changing Your Business Model? A Tip From Amazon’s Playbook

Posted September 28, 2017 in Technology

By Andrew Gowing

“The revolution was going to happen, I didn’t know when, and I didn’t know how effective it would be. In the end result, the fundamental business model of Kodak was undermined by the new technology.”                                              —  Steve Sasson – Inventor of the Digital Camera

In 1974, Steve Sasson engineered the first ever digital camera. That digital camera was .01 megapixels by today’s standards. He accomplished this while working for Kodak, one of the largest players in the film industry at that time. He knew that his invention was very raw and would take years of development. At the time, what he may not have known is that this new technology would require a change in Kodak’s business model in order to remain relevant.

This was a change that Kodak would resist making.

Kodak spent billions in further development of the digital camera. In the end, it was to difficult for Kodak as an organization to shift their business model. What they knew was a profit model for film and paper. This failure to adapt and shift the way they did business is ultimately what destroyed Kodak. To add insult to injury, it was their own technology that ended up leading to their ultimate demise.

Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

You could argue that ultimately the digital camera was overtaken by smart phones so their industry was doomed anyway, and you would probably, most likely, be definitely right. But without the digital camera, do we have the same camera technology and picture quality in smart phones that we have today? The point here is to be adaptive, embrace technology and change, think outside the box, and do what you can to control your own destiny.

A more successful example of technology changing a company’s business model would be with Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, and their development of the Kindle. Prior to the Kindle’s release in 2007, Bezos set out to eliminate the need to sell hard copies of books. This came as a shock to people within Amazon because books were the very thing their business model was built on. Amazon’s development of new technology made this change possible.

Bezos thought it better to self-cannibalize rather than be destroyed by somebody else.  He was adapting, embracing technology, thinking outside the box, and doing what he could to control his own destiny.

In 2010, eBook sales for the Kindle overtook Amazon’s sales of physical books. Technology forever changed the way Amazon sold books, and the way books are now sold by everybody. Yes, you can still find a vintage bookstore, typically with the name “Last Bookstore on Earth”, but I would argue they exist more as a novelty. The fact remains that books, for the most part, are now purchased and consumed differently because of technology.

Could This Pertain To eFiling?

To go back to Steve Sasson’s quote at the beginning, it almost sounds as though he is describing eFiling. To change his words a bit and make them relevant to our industry…eFiling is going to happen, we don’t  know when (it is happening now), and we don’t know how effective it will be (still waiting to see in Los Angeles County). In the end, our fundamental business models will be undermined by technology (eFiling).

We may need to examine our current business models. Do we do it the way we do it because we have always done it that way? Is technology forcing a change on us that we are not comfortable with? Are we positioning our business to be relevant for decades to come?

I hope this has challenged you and encouraged you to be adaptive, embrace technology and change, think outside the box, and do what you can to control your own destiny. CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO.

What Is Your e-Commerce Solution? Let LegalConnect Help You

Posted September 14, 2017 in Technology

Attorney Service firms across California are adopting LegalConnect in order to accelerate growth in a highly competitive and rapidly changing marketplace.

With LegalConnect, a powerful legal support services solution, firms are transforming into eCommerce businesses for legal support services and realizing significant value.

LegalConnect offers the following:

• A full suite of legal support services – eFiling, SOP, Court Services, and more.
• Greater visibility into the business to see what’s working and what’s not.
• Accelerated cash flow with integrated secure payment methods (credit card, ACH).
• New customer acquisition beyond a firm’s geographic presence.
• Superior customer experience, greater efficiencies, and productivity.

Since its launch in March 2016, LegalConnect is already electronically processing more than 30,000 jobs and more than $1.3M in payments each month. The digital online world for legal support services is here and growing more each day.

Please visit us at legalconnect.com to learn how you can embrace LegalConnect as your branded eCommerce solution and transform your business to stay relevant and grow. You can also download a LegalConnect case study at legalconnect.com/case-studies and learn how other attorney service firms benefit from LegalConnect.

Are You One Of The 143 Million Affected By The Equifax Hack?

Posted September 8, 2017 in Technology

By Andrew Gowing

Equifax was hacked. The credit-reporting company announced Thursday that a massive data breach occurred and they are suggesting you get identity theft protection.

With potentially 143 million people’s names, social security numbers, birth dates, and address information at risk, make sure that you were not one of the 143 million.

CNN Money put out a great bit of information explaining how to check if your information was exposed, as well as some pointers on how to make sure you are protected.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Electronic Service of Process Proposal by OASIS

Posted November 9, 2015 in Court Updates, Education, Legislation, Technology

CALSPro Legislative Committee recently was notified of the attached proposal from the LegalXML Electronic Filing Technical Committee that would, if the proposal is adopted as written and implemented by courts it could have far reaching ramification on the industry. Some of the proposed standards outlines the court acting as a conduit to deliver service documents to process servers and sheriffs after the initial complaint is filed. The premise is the court would set up a registry that facilitates SOP on Registered Agents and perhaps others who would opt for or consent to waiving physical service and then the court would actually handle the electronic service.

The group (OASIS ECF EF TC) responsible for this proposal is the same group that is responsible for the current nationally recognized electronic filing technical standards and specifications. The current version is already being used by court in the USA that serve over 1/3 of the population. CALSPro was afforded the opportunity to respond to their proposal regarding electronic standards, ECF 5.0 and outline the importance of protecting the due process rights of litigants and the role of a traditional process server.

CALSPro Legislative Committee provided a comprehensive response on October 30, 2015 to address our concerns, while providing insight on the pitfalls of electronic service and how service must be performed by a disinterested trusted third party.

For more information on the OASIS proposal and CALSPro response, please click on the links below:

CALSPro Proposed edits and comments to OASIS ECF EF TC Proposal

CALSPro Cover Letter in Response to OASIS Proposal

Managing Your Service of Process Case Load

Posted October 6, 2015 in Education, Marketing, Process Service, Technology

Managing Software Just Got Easier!

We live in electronic age.  It’s swirling all around us.  No wonder it is inevitable we jump on the technology train to help manage our business as well.  The attorney services industry is no different.  It’s moving from paper to the cloud at lightning speed.  With that transition comes change and subsequently, the search begins.  What are the best case management tools for process servers and investigators to use that will improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction?

Why Case Management Software?

Data & Security Software helps to protect your data and keep it safe. It manages permissions and access to your data, as well as data archives.  By using software to manage your data, you eliminate manila folders laying everywhere with stacks of paper getting lost.  As a business owner, you want a solution that will ensure the safety of your client’s data as well as your own. When you have physical files, you have to purge them at some point to make space for new files.  With your data stored on a server, there is really no reason to purge data.  Instead you can have it archived in a safe and secure place for years.  With software you no longer need to fear losing jobs in stacks of tangible files.  Take action and clear clutter to make for a more organized environment all the while knowing data is digital, safe and secure.

Document Generation and Invoicing with Automation Many software programs currently available can generate customized documents that include affidavits, subpoenas, statements and invoices, and even investigative reports. They are customized and professional with the individual company logo as needed.  Having a software program available and able to generate your documents as the job is followed from start to finish is an unbelievable opportunity cost, adds professionalism to your business and makes your job light years easier.  This means you fill in fields of information and the software program generates the specialized forms based on the courts your select, by state. Look for a program that offers a dynamic movement through the work order entry process. Same with Invoicing.  You set up an integrated billing structure of items, rates and/or commissions and the program is able to auto bill based on billing parameters set.  This fully integrated software solution allows a streamlined approach to your business workflow every step of the way, from start to finish. Documents can be dynamically created for your business.

Client Communication and Increased Satisfaction Interesting data shows you can increase client satisfaction while reducing the amount of time spent on customer service. Find a full solution to your business needs that includes a field smartphone app for your servers, a client web portal and essentially, a virtual office.  Offering the ability to have your servers send communications directly to your software in real time provides not only instant gratification to your clients, but also a professional appearance.  Think about your business future and how to not only attract, but also retain your clients.

Consider a client web portal for allowing clients to empower themselves to check status online as well as enter orders online>  There are smartphone apps for work in the field, dispatch work-in-progress task management solutions with quick overviews, and automated emails that following the job from start to finish with real time status.  These are the kids of features that make life easier.  Have you heard of Smarty Streets Verification or “Suggest a Server” functionality based on zip codes or a rating system?  How cool! Having the ability to aggregate information into a centralized workflow is the key to ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.

Going Paperless A digital dispatch board vs paper folders everywhere equals a higher level of organization. Across the board, companies encourage an electronic workflow.  Paper is becoming a thing of the past.  Ease of use and the security knowing it is stored electronically provides peace of mind.  Even though you still serve tangible papers, managing that workflow electronically is the future.

Additional Time and Cost Savings What is your time worth?  Case Management software can reduce data entry errors and double entry. Status results can be real time, eliminating wait time for getting status on a job.  Reporting becomes an automated breeze with built in report functionality and imaging

What to Consider When Shopping for a Software Program?

Here are a few sample suggestions.  By no means is this an all-inclusive list.  Your business is unique to you. Make sure you do your research and evaluate your business needs as step one so that you know what you are, in fact, looking for. Security, as we mentioned, is a big one.

• Ask the software companies you are investigating for a detailed breakdown of their security protocol.
• Request uptime statistics. What levels of customization are available?
• Ask for references so that you can get firsthand knowledge of the client onboarding experience, the implementation process and the service and support that is offered for the duration of your technological business partnership.
• Consider your need for GPS stamping on your submitted serve attempts and final statuses. What about an integrated A/R Module? A client web portal? A smartphone app?
• Is there training involved? Get details on how technical support works so that you are prepared from day one to ensure your expectations are met.

Take this new found knowledge and empower yourself with education!

Written by Irina Nordstrom, Tristar Software LLC

Information compiled from Optimizing Case Management with Technology Panel Discussion at AALPI & APSA 2015 with Honorable Mentions – Trent Carlyle, Irina Nordstrom, Jeremy Church, Ian Ricketson &  Kyle Propes.

Which Storage is Best? SSD or HDD

Posted June 20, 2015 in Education, Marketing, Technology

SSD or HDD: Which is best?

When searching for a new desktop or laptop computer, most people have certain criteria they look for besides just a good deal. Does it have ample storage, RAM (random access memory), touchscreen, USB 3.0 ports, HDMI ports and so on. What most people aren’t aware of is the importance of picking the right type file storage. For years now, the standard has been the HDD or Hard Disk Drive. Overtime, the capacity of the traditional HDD has grown significantly, from gigabyte drives to the now common terabyte drives. Newegg (www.newegg.com) sells a 12 TB HDD for a mere $1,700.00! Obviously, the more capacity you purchase, the greater amount of storage you have to save files, pictures and movies. The cost of the HDD has also significantly dropped and is still the most common drive, but with the benefits of an SSD or Solid State Drive, the HDD will eventually become obsolete.

There are considerable performance advantages of SSD over the traditional HDD that most consumers should consider. For starters, SSD’s are substantially faster…up to 100x faster than HDD’s.

With an SSD installed, computer boot up time can drop to a mere 7 seconds, users can achieve near instantaneous access to data and quicker file transfers. SSD’s provide an overall snappier and more responsive computing experience. SSD’s consume less power, which extends battery life and allows for a cooler computing environment.

HDD’s have various moving parts, that require more power but more importantly can fail or become damaged. With a non-mechanical design, SSD’s offer silent operation and superior durability. Although higher priced at the frontend, SSD’s offer long term cost savings for consumers by allowing for greater productivity and less energy consumption. One SSD can deliver the performance of 100 HDD’s.

Of course there are still a few perks to the HDD that some consumers will appreciate. Since the HDD has been the traditional and most common type of storage device, availability is far more abundant. The HDD currently has the largest capacity at 12 TB and counting. Since the HDD’s are more plentiful, they are also cheaper to purchase. So if you are looking for a large capacity, readily available and economical storage device…the HDD wins. If you are looking for speed, longevity, quiet and efficient computing, assuming price isn’t an issue…the SSD is for you.

Then of course there is the cloud…we’ll touch upon this next time!

Esteban Pujol, Vice President of Commercial Process Serving, Inc.

Top 10 Gadgets Recommended for Field Surveillance

Posted April 15, 2015 in Education, Technology

BE PREPARED For ANYTHING

As you are aware, it has become essential to stay abreast of the latest surveillance technology to successfully do your job in the service of process and private investigations industry. That means keeping on top of the latest gadgets and testing their use in the field. Being prepared for anything is the name of the game when conducting surveillance.  Regardless of the type of surveillance, there are many basic items that every server and investigator should have in their vehicle and on the job.

I recently spoke with a few process servers and private investigators to share their thoughts and suggestions on the technological gadgets they feel are most crucial for success in the surveillance industry.  Here is what I found:

Top 10 Gadgets Recommended for Field Surveillance

#1   Digital camera with Bluetooth capabilities and a large zoom lens are essential.  You will also need a laptop with you in the field to be able to run a license plate and/or to immediately download your evidence, then upload it into a secure online dropbox for your client to view.

#2   Digital recorder with a USB connection and flash drive. There are instances when your captured audio file requires immediate download so that you can email the file for transcription.  For example, you have a witness in the field and you’ve obtained their permission to record your conversation (if your state laws required consent prior to audio recording) .  This type of recording removes any guesswork after the fact. This is a small device that fits in your pocket and can be purchased for as low as $70!

Suggestion: Olympus digital recording devices

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/audio/digital-recorders.html

#3  Dashboard Camera with a suction cup application for car surveillance

Suggestion: Z-Drive HDI Dash Cam

http://www.zetronix.com/720p-HD-Ultra-Wide-Angle-Nightvision-Car/Truck-DVR-Dash-Camera%28203%29/product_info.html

#4  Motion Activated Hidden Camera   Can take incredible footage via motion detection.

Suggestion: Bushnell HDI trail Camera  with Night Vision

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trophy-Trail-Camera-Vision/dp/B007SUKQEK

#5  Night Vision Goggles For obvious reasons…

Suggestion: Night Owl Optics http://www.nightowloptics.com/

#6   Covert Video Camera  Inconspicuous gadgets like a car remote key chain/pen/baseball cap.  There is even an iPhone case with a built in camera that detects motion and body heat to record both audio and video.

Suggestion: Great video on car remote covert camera https://youtu.be/ew0e14yIQ5I

#7 GPS Tracking Device   *Perhaps a bit questionable. A tracking system sticker with an RFID chip can then be monitored via smartphone app.

Suggestion: The Trackr https://www.thetrackr.com/sticker

#8   Radar Gun to capture the speed of cars. Let’s say you have a client with a governmental claim to change the speed limit.

Suggestion: Bushnell Velocity radar Gun http://www.bushnell.com/spectator/outdoor-technology/velocity-speed-gun

#9 Traffic Counter   Perhaps your client/attorney wants to know the # of pedestrians and # of cars that drive by for a certain street corner where there is no crosswalk to present as evidence.

Suggestion: Diamond Traffic Portable Counter  http://diamondtraffic.com/productlist/Portable-Counters

#10 Binoculars There are so many on the market.  Find the one most suitable for your field needs.

Other Food for Thought Suggestions that are essential to field surveillance…

1. DC to AC Power Inverter                 5. Battery Jump Starter/Compressor
2. MonoPod/TriPod                             6. Extra Memory Cards
3. Toilet Paper                                    7. $40/cash
4. Bottles of water                               8. Flashlight

Now let’s talk software technology and the importance of becoming tech savvy . Lots of surveillance work is done with surveillance equipment,  however, process servers and private investigators perform plenty of their tasks using computers, as well. It’s a profession that is getting increasingly technological. Therefore on the flip side of the field:  at the office, servers and  PI’s spend much of their time accessing databases and obtaining information. You may need to unveil information while scouring the internet to extract crucial data regarding a case.  So, I’ve gathered a short list of suggested databases to explore:

DATABASE SUGGESTIONS:

IRB: http://www.irbsearch.com/

TLO: http://www.tlo.com/

Tracers Info: http://www.tracersinfo.com/index.php?id=privateinvest

Skip Smasher: http://www.skipsmasher.com/

Pacer Court (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): https://www.pacer.gov/

Perhaps most importantly, are the high level suggestions I gathered regarding networking.

RECOMMENDATION   Become a member of as many associations as possible. Networking is crucial. Knowing your resources is essential.

RECOMMENDATION   Keep up to date with laws and regulations.  Servers and PI’s need access to private information and there are instances when governmental regulations may seem to hinder this line of work.

Finally, and maybe not as obvious as you think, is the need for an informative website with search engine optimization (SEO) as well as a robust, specialized software system specific to process servers to manage case tracking, dispatch solutions, task management, and auto reminders.

So that’s that.

What did we learn? —BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING —

Submitted by: Irina Nordstrom – Tristar Software