I am still amazed by the number of attorneys who still do not have their own website. In the interest of fixing this problem, I have been kicking around a seminar idea. I think I can walk a complete novice through creating a law firm website from scratch using WordPress.com in about an hour.

The idea would be that webcast viewers could follow along and, in about an hour, have their own law firm website. They would still have to add content, of course, and, if desired, a domain name, but I think I can do it.

What do you think? Would you attend?

The video recording I made did not turn out all that well, so instead I am posting the audio. Since my slides are demonstrative rather than substantive, you should be able to follow along just fine without the visuals. It is about 30 minutes long, so grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!

(SoloSmallTech will merge with Lawyerist within the next few weeks. Stay tuned as we expand to address lawyering in general, not just gadgets and software.)

I am up in Duluth this weekend for MCLE’s Strategic Solutions for Solo & Small Firms. I am doing two “Iron Tech” sessions tomorrow where I will be showing off Ubuntu Linux and putting it up head-to-head against Windows and OSX.

On Tuesday, I will be talking about the paperless office and leading a tech lab on free and open source software. That one should be good fun, since all attendees will be able to follow along on their own computers, and will take home an Ubuntu LiveCD along with a CD stuffed full of free software.

Hope to see you there!

Minnesota Continuing Legal Education interviewed Sam for its “Spotlight” feature (PDF link) this month. Flip to the last page to read more about Sam.

It really is this easy:

(View larger.)

I sat on a panel with productivity guru Merlin Mann today. We talked about a range of issues, from information overload to paperlessness to Getting Things Done and the Franklin-Covey method, all with reference to the life of lawyers.

If you are not familiar with Merlin Mann, check out the video below, “Inbox Zero,” which changed my e-mail life.

I am teaching six continuing legal education seminars in the next three months, with a couple more under discussion. My presentations tend to be engaging (I don’t have the patience for boring presentations even when I am giving them), informative, and well-attended. Register early!

• June 6th at noon. The Paperless Office, 1 hour webcast, $75. Register with MCLE.
• June 10th at 9 a.m. Offensive Defense: An Introduction to Protecting Consumers from Unscrupulous Debt Collectors, 1 hour webcast. Register with MCLE.
• June 12th at noon. Motions to Vacate Default Judgments: When and How You Should Do It, 1 hour live seminar. Register with VLN.
• July 18th at 1 p.m. How to Get Things Done (with Merlin Mann), 2 hour webcast. (MCLE has not yet posted this seminar.)
• July 22nd at 9 a.m. New Lawyer Experience - Starting a Law Firm, 2 hour webcast. Register with MCLE.
• August 8th at noon. Social Networking for Lawyers, 1 hour webcast. (MCLE has not yet posted this seminer.)

The description from Minnesota CLE:

Tech Tuesday: Free and Open-Source Software for Running the Whole Law Office
Presented by Presented by Samuel Glover; moderated by Todd Scott and Peter Berge

Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CST
1.0 law office management credit
Tuition: $75

Part of the ongoing “Tech Tuesday” webcast series, streaming the third Tuesday of most months.

The standard commercial software for running a law office is by no means cheap. There are, however, alternatives. In this Tech Tuesday webcast, attorney Sam Glover, the author of the SoloSmallTech.com blog, will talk about free and open-source alternatives to standard operating systems and office suite, calendar, tickler, and file management applications. His conclusion, surprising to some, is that free and open-source software has progressed to the point that it competes toe-to-toe with its commercial counterparts and meets all the requirements for electronic filing with the courts.

Presented by Sam Glover, Samuel J. Glover & Assoc., Minneapolis; moderated by Todd C. Scott, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, Minneapolis, and Peter H. Berge, Minnesota CLE, St. Paul.

Register Now for Free and Open-Source Software for Running the Whole Law Office

Here is MCLE’s description:

Part of the ongoing “Tech Tuesday” webcast series, streaming the first and third Tuesday of every month.

In this Tech Tuesday program, Sam Glover will be the guest speaker. Sam is a solo practitioner practicing consumer law in Minneapolis, and is also the author of the SoloSmallTech.com blog. Sam will be discussing how to use software you probably already own—such as your e-mail client, word processor, and desktop search software—to form an effective and safe case management system.

Presented by Samuel J. Glover, Samuel J. Glover & Assoc., Minneapolis; moderated by Todd C. Scott, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, Minneapolis, and Peter H. Berge, Minnesota CLE, St. Paul.

You can register here.

Here is MCLE’s description:

In this Tech Tuesday program, legal technology expert Brendan Chard and attorney Sam Glover will be guest speakers. Mr. Glover is the author of the SoloSmallTech.com blog and Mr. Chard consults with attorneys on a variety of technology issues, including blogging. They will discuss how attorneys are using blogging both to better inform their clients and to market themselves, and will give specific suggestions on how blogging can be an integral part of client communications.

Presented by Brendan Chard, Chard.Net LLC, Minneapolis and Samuel J. Glover, Samuel J. Glover & Assoc., Minneapolis; moderated by Todd C. Scott, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, Minneapolis, and Peter H. Berge, Minnesota CLE, St. Paul.

You can register here.