SUMMARY
I am a nationally recognized technical trainer with over two decades of experience in the legal industry, teaching technical best practices at some of the most successful law firms in the country. I am an enthusiastic and dedicated believer in the need for technical training in the legal field. I frequently contribute to bar publications and articles on legal technology. In my writing and speaking engagements, I promote the very best ways to merge the use of technology with the practice of law.
In April of 2005, I established DALTT, a community of technical trainers with the goal of fostering innovative ideas on training to create a connection between legal software applications and the business processes of a law practice.
As I gained experience in training legal professionals, I identified a gap between an attorney’s use of technology and their understanding of these tools to practice law. I have seen many great legal minds not competent or capable of using the technology tools given them. Frequently, attorneys try to work around the functionality. This distorts the natural flow of the software itself. Additionally, technology training in law firms is not mandatory because it is not billable. The preference is learning just in time, usually during a time crunch.
This insight gave rise to the idea that ALL legal professionals, especially attorneys, need instruction on the use of technology in their profession. Today, case facts and correspondence are recorded electronically. Without a fundamental understanding of technology and its proper use attorneys are at a disadvantage. Of more serious concern is that many attorneys do not understand the subtle interdependency of technology and evidence. I believe that justice cannot be properly served if attorneys disconnect from the idea of technology and its influence on the processing of litigation.
EXPERIENCE
- 2008-Present Technical Trainer with Baker & McKenzie (Dallas, TX). Training new hire on software applications as well as conduct classes and create documentation to assist attorneys and staff on using software applications.
- 2008 Teacher with Lawyers Assistant School of Dallas (Dallas, TX) Part-time teaching position instructing students in law firm procedures, litigation support software and Office 2003.
- 2008 Independent Contractor, Regency Training and Helpdesk Analyst Munsch Hardt (Dallas, TX) FileSite 8.2 with Matter Centricity, Innova, DocXtools and Deltaview.2008 E-Learning Course Developer with TutorPro, LLC (Dallas, TX) Train the Trainer on Authoring tool, developing outlines and courses for Office 2007, QC E-learning modules for Office 2007
- 2008-2005 Software Trainer with Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. (Dallas, TX) Created an in-house training program for employees, including administering an in-house LMS, develop courseware and documentation.
- 2005-1999 Software Trainer with Jackson Walker, L.L.P. (Dallas, TX) Created an in-house training program for employees for ongoing and new hire technical training. Wrote courseware and assisted software developers in QC.
- 1998 Technical Trainer with Traveling Coaches, Inc, (Dallas, TX) Locke, Liddell & Sapp – Training and floor support for WordPerfect to Word conversion.
- 1997-1998 Helpdesk Analyst Jenkins & Gilchrist, L.L.P., assisting on helpdesk calls and department upgrades and software deployments.
- 1997 Paralegal Consultant with Legal Services of North Texas (Dallas, TX) Created a document merge project for the forms generated in the Pro Bono Divorce clinic and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX), special projects litigation
- 1996-1997 Administrator, SMU Dedman School of Law (Dallas, TX) Administer and maintain the online job bank for the Public Service Program.
- 1997-1993 Contract paralegal working in litigation, family law, and wills and estates areas of law with various solo practitioners in the Dallas area.
- 1993-1986 Word processor, Strasburger & Price, LLP
EDUCATION
- University of Texas at Dallas, BA General Studies (Concentration in Law, Computers and Composition), 1990, cum laude
- Southeastern Paralegal Institute, Paralegal Certificate 1993, Class Representative 1993
- Texas A&M Commerce, MA – Educational Leadership in Technology (begun 2007)
SOFTWARE EXPERTISE
