File & Serve Blog

Computing in the Virtual Cloud

2012-08-21T15:38:00Z

Just a few years ago, Cloud Computing was not a well known concept outside of technical circles. Today, the buzz around Cloud Computing is quickly popularizing the model and its benefits. We can find instances of cloud computing everywhere from our handheld devices to virtual database and remote application access on the web.

Even in this era of technological savvy, it is not always easy to be sure that we have the correct understanding of the concept. And, although we have arrived in the epoch of "Computing in the Cloud", many of us are still unsure of exactly what Cloud Computing is and why we should be so eager to adopt the practice.

I recently realized that I had a somewhat hazy comprehension of what Cloud Computing is, so I decided to take a closer look at it to improve how I understand the definition of Cloud Computing, its benefits, and the concerns around it.

What is Cloud Computing?

Not everyone agrees on a clear-cut definition of Cloud Computing. Some people generalize the term and associate it with any information that is remotely accessed via the internet while others see it as a progressive business model.

In their article, What Cloud Computing Really Means, Knorr and Gruman describe Cloud Computing as "...a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities."

Citing the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a webinar that I recently attended noted that "Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand, network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction."

While these could be regarded by some as convoluted definitions of what Cloud Computing is, a simplified explanation was provided by a panel member in the same webinar. He stated that, in layman's terms, when you are computing in the cloud, "...stuff is not on your computer."

No matter how the term is defined, it is important to note that Cloud Computing is customizable to meet service needs and is available through the following service delivery and deployment models:

Service Delivery Models

Software as a Service (SaaS)- software is provided to customers via a network, typically the internet
Platform as a Service (PaaS)- equipment, storage space, and maintenance for developing and supporting custom applications is provided
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)- self-service infrastructure provided to the costumer

Deployment Models:

Private Cloud- exclusive use for a specific organization
Community Cloud- exclusive use for a distinct community
Public Cloud- on-demand use by the general public
Hybrid Cloud- any mix of the private, community, and public cloud models

Potential Benefits

Although the benefits of Cloud Computing depend on individual and organizational needs, some of the potential benefits of Cloud Computing include:

Access from anywhere where customers can link to the network
Fewer hardware costs because of the need for less processing power and less storage space
Companywide access to applications
Less storage space needed for physical equipment
Less IT support needed

Potential Pitfalls

The biggest concerns around computing in the cloud center on issues of privacy, security and preservation. Customers who are worried about the privacy of their information should look at the reputation of the service provider and how access to information is gained. Access to information can be protected by protocols including private user names and login credentials. In terms of preservation, many service providers will have redundancies built in to their processes to ensure that data can be recovered if technical issues arise. In all cases, it is important for consumers to be familiar with service provider policies and procedures before subscribing to service.

Cloud Computing encompasses all of the characteristics mentioned above and the definition can also be simplified to describe the delivery of technological resources (e.g. software and/or technological infrastructure) from a remote location as a service. As the trend grows and more consumers elect to use hosted IT services, we will also see trends in IT service and maintenance change. Cloud computing offers both consumers and service providers a model with which to improve and change the way they do business, which is why many proponents of Cloud Computing believe that it is the technological trend of the future.

Sources:

Huber, A. (Moderator). (2012, July 23). Data hosting & cloud computing: benefits and considerations for your firm, your practice and your clients [Webinar]. Retrieved from http://www.eventsvc.com/LexisNexis_HB/attend/870629a8aaa64f8a906c24d4aa620ca0

Knorr, E., and Gruman, G. What cloud computing really means. InfoWorld. Retrieved from http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031?page=0,0

Pallavighosh. (2012). Cloud computing. I, the tech writer. Retrieved from http://pallavighosh.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/cloud-computing/

Strickland, J. (2008, April 8). The dark side of cloud computing [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-computing.htm

Strickland, J. (2008). How cloud computing works. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-computing.htm

What is cloud computing? Retrieved from http://www.cdw.com/content/solutions/cloud-computing.aspx

IN Supreme Court Approves Request to Make State of Indiana v IBM Subject to Electronic Filing and Service

2012-02-17T19:06:00Z

The Supreme Court of Indiana has approved Marion County's application requesting that State of Indiana v International Business Machines case, No. 49D101005PL021451 be subject to electronic filing and service. On February 13, 2012, Judge David Dreyer signed an order (attached below) mandating use of File & Serve for electronic filing and service in this case. All documents filed February 14th, 2012 and after are available on File & Serve. It is anticipated that historical documents filed in this case will be uploaded to File & Serve over the course of the next two months. Parties interested in obtaining access to documents in this case should call File & Serve customer support at 888-529-7587.

Delaware Court of Chancery Arbitration Cases Designated for E-filing Effective February 1, 2012

2012-02-02T16:44:00Z

Please note that effective February 1, 2012, all Delaware Court of Chancery Arbitration cases are required to be electronically filed and served through LexisNexis File & Serve. All case information for current active arbitration matters will be transferred to LexisNexis File & Serve by the register in Chancery. All subsequent filings for those cases must be electronically submitted. LexisNexis File & Serve has established controls to preserve confidentiality and limit access to these cases.

In order to be able to "see" a Delaware Chancery Arbitration case on File & Serve, firms will need to call the court to get themselves added to the service list of the particular case. Once that occurs, you will have the ability to retrieve the case through the File & Serve tab or the Search function. If you have any questions about File & Serve, please contact our customer service at 888-529-7587.

Delaware Civil Miscellanous Cases Designated for E-filing, Effective November 15, 2011

2011-11-14T17:30:00Z

Pursuant to Delaware Administrative Directive 2011-6, the Delaware Courts have designated all Civil Miscellaneous Cases (Excluding Expungements) for e-filing through File & Serve effective Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Attached below is a list of the Civil Miscellaneous case types.

If your firm is interested in File & Serve training, we offer complimentary web based training classes. Simply log into File & Serve > click on the Resource Center > click on the Education & Training link > select Delaware from the drop down menu > click on the title fo the class to register.

If you have any questions about File & Serve, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service at 888-529-7587.

Using File & Serve for e-Service Helps Case Parties Work Smarter, Not Harder

2011-11-07T19:24:00Z

A LexisNexis® Webinar Report

By Samantha Drake

Advancements in technology are forcing law firms and courts to reinvent the way they do business. Working with hard copies of documents has given way to emailing digital files, and now even email has become passé in favor of e-filing

A survey by the American Bar Association confirms that the majority of attorneys in the United States use e-filing technology. CM/ECF e-filing is available in:

All 94 federal district courts and all 93 bankruptcy courts;
The Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims;
All Circuit Courts of Appeal except the 11th Circuit; and
Bankruptcy appellate panels.

The increasing availability of e-filing in U.S. courts is prompting attorneys to find more efficient ways to manage their e-filings, share documents with parties, including opposing counsel, and store and track documents online in a secure case file repository in both large and small litigation.

Lower Costs, Higher Efficiency

E-Service platforms, such as LexisNexis File & Serve, can dramatically reduce costs to law firms compared to paper-based or even email document exchange, enabling attorneys to pass those savings on to clients, said Kendall Smith, Senior Director, Business Development for LexisNexis File & Serve.

Smith participated on a panel along with Barry Vaughan of Kasdan, Simonds, Weber & Vaughan, Seth A. Katz of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carl J. West, Robert Klieger of Kendall Brill & Klieger, and Jason E. Turner of Law Offices of Christopher P. Ruiz.

The webinar, titled "Why and How to Use E-Service in Everyday Practice," was produced by HB Litigation Conferences on Sept. 27, 2011.

"E-filing is here and that's a really good thing," Smith said. "The increased e-filing availability has prompted the legal market to seek out additional benefits from the electronic exchange beyond the mere delivery to the court. You can all get the benefits of e-filing by using a tool like e-Service."

Beyond E-Filing

But when implemented alone, e-filing is often an incomplete solution for case parties. "In many instances, it just solves the court document delivery to the clerk's office, but the benefits stop at the virtual clerk's window," Smith pointed out. Documents may come into court electronically, but then must be printed out and forwarded traditionally in hard copy. And, what about the myriad document exchanges, both filed and unfiled, that occur in a case?

All sides in a litigation share common challenges in managing litigation case documents and information. LexisNexis File & Serve and other e-Service platforms provide parties with multi-directional exchanges in real-time, with a shared repository of case-related documents and correspondence.

While federal courts have led the way by implementing a single e-filing tool - PACER - the states are lagging behind. This "fragmentation of the e-filing landscape" is the result of the more than 16,000 state and local courts nationwide having different budgets, technology, priorities, rules, and vendors, Smith explained. At this point, only a few states have statewide e-filing capability.

View from the Bench

Judge Carl West of the Los Angeles Superior Court embraced the e-Service platform from the beginning, back in 2001.

"It showed me that I could have access to a lot of information that otherwise had to come through my staff and through files, and I found that to be very, very useful," he said. "I've gone from two cases on e-Service to all of my cases on e-Service."

In fact, mandating that parties use e-Service is now his first order of business when a case is assigned to him, West added.

"I see e-Service as an alternative to court-sponsored systems that we can't afford and that probably won't be implemented as a result of lack of funds and infrastructure to implement them in our lifetimes," West notes.

The cost savings are obvious. "We have no postage costs out of my court. All of our orders are served on the platform," said West. Additionally, "I see increasing efficiency in my staff using the e-Service platform to access documents as opposed to going to the hard files."

Hard copies of documents are still necessary, but they are immediately filed away. "If people want to review the files, they are up to date because papers aren't being shuffled around between my chambers and individuals who have access or need for them," West explained.

For the courts, the benefits of e‐Service include:

Better, faster communication;
Better use of staff time;
Instant access to case files;
Minimized discovery issues; and
Verifiable proof of delivery.

Something for Everyone

Law firms derive similar benefits from using an e-Service platform.

Barry Vaughan, a plaintiff attorney whose cases include construction defect litigation with large numbers of parties, said e-Service saves printing, copying, and mailing costs as well as considerable manpower hours.

"Once a case gets rolling, we move for a preliminary order to use LexisNexis File and Serve," he said. "As soon as we do that, my staff relaxes."

Defense attorney Jason Turner said e-Service "is exceptionally useful because it provides an absolute guarantee that something has been filed with the court. There is no longer a need to worry about whether documents are filed; there's an easy way to verify when documents are filed." This eliminates disputes with opposing counsel about when documents are filed, he added.

"We're talking about something that creates a unique system where you can have everything backed up where all of the parties in the case can look and see what's done at all times and creates a balanced platform for both plaintiffs and defendants," according to Turner.

In addition, "there's no worry about when an order has been signed by a court. You always know because the court always sends it back to you immediately through the same system," said Turner.

Email is Risky Business

Let's face it, for most attorneys, email is yesterday's news. The panelists agreed that using email to communicate with case parties and the court is highly problematic. Email is risky form of communication for a variety of reasons including:

No verifiable proof of delivery exists;
It is not secure from a client privacy standpoint;
Technical glitches can occur at any time;
Once an email is deleted, it's gone;
There is no way to organize large amounts of documents and messages;
No shared access is possible;
Mailbox size limits and spam filters can cause emails to bounce back and prohibit the sending of large files; and
Human error can result in the wrong files being attached, the wrong email addresses being typed in, and/or parties' email addresses not being updated in a timely fashion.

West said that for substantial document production, however, e-Service is not an ideal option at this time. Parties may need to set up a separate document repository for large-scale document production and storage.

Size Really Doesn't Matter

E‐Service works for cases of all sizes, not just complex, multi-party litigation and for all documents, both filed and non-filed with the court.

"I've found e-Service has some incredible benefits that apply to small cases as well as large cases," said Robert Klieger. In particular, "It's an amazing document management system. It's really difficult in a smaller firm to actually have a single electronic repository where you can go for document information."

Klieger recalled how, in a recent case that was not on e-Service, he had to pore through his emails to find out when certain disclosures had been served. "It was, needless to say, a cumbersome process," he said. And, unfortunately, he added, if he had to find those disclosures again, he would have to go through the exact same process.

"With e-Service, you essentially have a built-in repository that takes up no space on your system and you know exactly where to go when you need to find something," said Klieger.

'Bells and Whistles'

West points out that e-Service providers offer a variety of "bells and whistles" that can help attorneys and staff work smarter, not harder. Such features include:

Summary of filings. Attorneys and judges may receive hundreds of emails a day - and who has time to go through all that? E-Service providers can provide a summary of all filings per case, per day. West said he can scan through everything that has been filed in his cases each day in about 15 minutes.

Message board. West said he uses the message board extensively to communicate with parties in his cases. "The beauty of the message board from the court's point of view is, when I send out a message, I know everyone got it," he noted. Communicating via message board can also help reduce the number of "routine, pro forma" appearances parties need to make.

Calendaring. A calendar function helps keep all parties on the same page when it comes to events such as depositions.

According to the panelists, an e-Service provider must offer the following essential features:

A robust, searchable repository;
Real-time service lists;
Customizable folders;
Verifiable proof of delivery;
Multi-user access and tracking;
Alerting mechanisms;
Message boards;
Multi-file format support; and
Customer support/training.

Optional, but nice-to-have features include repository-wide search capabilities, offline delivery methods, availability of original and PDF formats, payment/invoice options, and the ability to integrate with other products.

The latest and possibly the most sought-after option is mobile apps so attorneys can use the e-Service platform anywhere on their laptops, tablets and smart phones.

E-Service "is not a panacea," said West. But the significant benefits to the bar and the bench reach far beyond document delivery and attorneys who want to use e-Service need to promote the platform to judges and other parties to get them on board.

"Nobody is going to say no," West predicted. "And then together, you can make things work a little better."

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Submitting Confidential Documents in Ohio & Raleigh Counties, W.V.

2011-10-18T01:12:00Z

Filing & Serving Confidential Documents for Participants in:

Float Sink Litigation (MC-11-C-5000000), Raleigh County &
Mingo County Coal Slurry (MC 10-C-5000), Ohio County

The court has recently contacted File & Serve about transactions they have received that are not being filed correctly regarding confidential documents. It appears that several firms are selecting "Sealed - Submitted Conventionally" from the drop down menu on the Documents Tab. This is not the proper way to submit documents containing confidential information. Please follow the court recommended guidelines below when submitting confidential information.

Guidelines for Submitting Confidential Information

Transaction 1: E-file ONLY a redacted version of the motion, memorandum and/or exhibit(s). (Do Not select any participants on the Service tab - just skip over the Service tab). If the entire motion, memorandum, and/or exhibit(s) are confidential, e-file ONLY a cover sheet saying that the entire motion, memorandum, and/or exhibit(s) in question are confidential and subject to protective order.

Transaction 2: E-Serve ONLY-Private all counsel, the Judges who will be ruling on the motion and Mass Litigation Manager Kim Fields with the un-redacted version of the motion, memorandum and/or exhibit(s). The Judges and Kim Fields should be served using the Additional Recipients tab. By selecting Serve Only-Private, only those who are actually served with the document will have the ability to see the transaction and view the document.

Final Step: File a hard copy of the confidential motion, memorandum and/or exhibit(s) in a sealed envelope with the Court. The sealed envelope must state:
a. the appropriate Case Caption (See Section 5 and Appendix B of the E-filing CMO);
b. that the contents are Confidential and Subject to Protective Order;
c. that a redacted version of the contents were e-filed;
d. a general description of the contents (i.e., exhibits); and
e. the e-filing date and Transaction ID number of the e-filing.

Even though you are submitting two transactions, the File & Serve cost will be the same as submitting one e-file/e-serve transaction.
If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact File & Serve Customer Support at 888-529-7587 or Rosemary Willcox at 866-356-4323.

Tehcnology for the Lawyer: iPads

2011-10-11T17:36:00Z

We're not all about efiling and eserve here at LexisNexis File&Serve: we are all about empowering the attorney with technology. Here is a great little piece on how your iPad can help with your meetings with clients.

Using the iPad in Meetings by Tom Mighell

Delaware Superior Court Expands E-filing to all Civil Appeals from Boards, Agencies, Commissions & Courts

2011-06-16T14:12:00Z

The Delaware Superior Court has announced that effective July 1, 2011, all Civil Appeals from Boards, Agencies, Commissions and Courts, including Certioraris, filed with the Prothonotary in any county shall be filed electronically using the LexisNexis File & Serve eFiling system; provided, that a paper copy of the certified record and evidence of the proceedings below must be filed. An electronic copy of those documents is not required. See attached Administrative Directive 2011-4.

West Virginia May 2011 File & Serve Newsletter (Kanawha, Raleigh & Ohio County)

2011-05-23T16:33:00Z

Ohio County

I. Firms are Required to "Link" Their Documents to Previously FIled Documents

The Ohio County Court has noticed that many firms are failing to "link" their documents that relate to previously filed documents using the "Link To" column on the File & Serve Documents tab. Pursuant to the In Re: Mingo County Coal Slurry Litigation Case Management Order (June 24, 2010), firms are required to use the "Linking" feature. This feature is most commonly used for response pleadings, opposition pleadings and objections.

"West Virginia Trial Court Rule 15.10(c) requires any e-filed document directly related to a previously e-filed document, such as a response to a previously e-filed motion, to be linked to the previously e-filed document using the "linked document feature" in the e-filing and service system. This allows the Court to more easily find documents that are related to one another. Use the "link to" column every time a responsive pleading is filed. Because attorneys and the Court need to be able to go to one location to see all related documents, it is better to take a liberal approach in using the "link to" column. Failure to appropriately link a responsive pleading may result in the Court refusing to consider the response."

Raleigh County

II. Float-Sink Litigation is "Live" on File & Serve, May 17, 2011, MC 11-C-5000000

Effective today (May 17, 2011), the Raleigh County Circuit Court went live with electronic filing and service for the In Re: Float-Sink Litigation, Master Case Number MC 11-C-5000000. Please be sure to download the Case Management Order that was entered in the Master Case via transaction no. 37634148. It contains specific instructions on how to properly file and serve your documents into the cases using File & Serve. I have attached the Case Management Order here for your convenience as well.

Important: Please note that Appendix A of the Float-Sink Triggering Order Implementing E-filing (May 10, 2011) was amended and is now available as Appendix A - Amended in the attached Case Management Order. When you are cross referencing your cases, please make sure you are using the Amended Appendix A dated May 16, 2011. This Appendix cross references the originating county case numbers with the newly assigned Raleigh County case numbers. When searching for your case on File & Seve, please use the Raleigh County case number to retrieve your case(s).

Kanawha County

III. New Document Types Available in Kanawha County Asbestos Litigation

At the request of the court, File & Serve has added 3 additional document types to the drop down menu on the Documents tab. They are:
• Jury Instructions
• Verdict Form
• Petition for Approval of Wrongful Death Settlement
These documents are available for selection when using File & Serve in Kanawha County. Please be sure to select those document types when you are filing those particular pleadings.

IV. Asbestos Trial Group Information

Asbestos Trial Group Information
a. The Trial Group Deadlines for the May 2011 and October 2011 Trial Groups were recently filed in the following two transactions:
• TID# 31021065 - October 2011 Trial Group Deadlines;
• TID# 31020918 - May 2011 Trial Group Deadlines.

b. The following change has been made to the June 2011 Trial Group:
• Eyler 06-C-1656 KAN has been removed from June 2011 Trial Group. (See TID 37464210).

V. Adding Amended Parties to the Cases

File & Serve has recently received quite a few phone calls and emails from firms who indicated their "defendant party" was not displaying on the service list of the case. This was because the complaint was amended adding new defendants to the case. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff firms to ensure these defendant parties get added to the service list of the case immediately after the amended complaint has been accepted by the court. You can update the case service list by using the Case & Party Management link off the home page of File & Serve. When the application asks you for a transaction number, you simply need to enter the TID# of the Amended Complaint or upload a request on letterhead to add a particular defendant(s) in light of the amended complaint.

Training on Case & Party Management Feature: If you would be interested in training on how to use the Case & Party Management feature of File & Serve so you can make the appropriate changes to the service list, please email Angela Melton (angela.melton@lexisnexis.com) and she can schedule a web class for your firm.

Benefits of Electronic Filing and Electronic Service

2011-05-16T18:37:00Z

File & Serve eliminates suspense from the process of getting documents filed and served. With File & Serve, you know immediately that the court has received your filing, and that all parties you wish to serve have been served. The wait for a filing receipt and proof of service is reduced to minutes—instead of hours or days. File & Serve also enables you to avoid surprises from opposing counsel. Receive service from other users instantly—you gain more time to prepare your responses. With File & Serve, you also know immediately if there has been judicial action on a motion or proposed order. Gain immediate assurance that you are on course, or valuable time to adjust your case strategy and align your resources. Click on the attached brochure to see all benefits to law firms.

Raleigh County, W.V. Implements E-filing for "Float Sink" Litigation

2011-05-11T19:20:00Z

West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel Implementation of Electronic Filing
In Re: Float Sink Litigation
Civil Action No. MC 11-C-5000000
Raleigh County Circuit Court, Effective May 17, 2011

We are pleased to announce that the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel is implementing electronic filing and service using LexisNexis File & Serve for the Float-Sink Litigation pending in Raleigh County Circuit Court. Effective May 17th, 2011, the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel orders that all cases in the Float-Sink Litigation will be subject to e-filing and e-service as outlined in the May 10, 2011 Order Designating Float-Sink Litigation for Electronic Filing and Service.

Attached below is the Raleigh County Court Order mandating Electronic Filing in this litigation.

Pursuant to the Triggering Order Designating the Float-Sink Litigation for Electronic Filing and Service (May 10, 2011), File & Serve training is mandatory, even if you have attended training for the Asbestos, Digitek, Coal Slurry, Flood or Tobacco litigations. The following on-site and web-based training classes are provided free of charge for attorneys and staff members.

******Onsite Training*******
The location, dates and times for the On-site Classes are as follows:

Introductory Class: Thursday, May 19th from 10:00-11:30AM ET
Existing User Class: Thursday, May 19th from 1:00-1:30 PM ET

Location: Law Firm of Robinson & McElwee PLLC
700 Virginia St E Ste 400
Charleston, WV 25301

******Web-Based Training*******

The dates and times for the Introductory Web-Based Class are as follows:

Friday, May 13th 11:30 AM– 1:00 PM ET
Monday, May 16th 10:00 – 11:30 AM ET

The dates and times for the Existing User Web-Based Class are as follows:

Friday, May 13th 10:00 – 10:30 AM ET
Monday, May 16th 1:00 – 1:30 PM ET

To register for one of these training classes, please go to www.lexisnexis.com/fstraining and select West Virginia from the drop down menu. Select the title of the class to register and you will be sent a confirmation email.

File & Serve April 2011 Newsletter: Marion County IN Mass Tort Litigation

2011-04-06T02:15:00Z

The Marion County April 2011 Mass Tort Litigation Newsletter is now available. There is some important information about usage of the Multi Case Filing feature, so be sure to read and pass to your colleagues who use File & Serve. Be sure to download this newsletter for the following:

1. Important Information Regarding Multi Case Filing Feature

2. File & Serve is Coming To Marion County, Indianapolis! Sign up for our Onsite Advanced Training Session.

3. Free CLE webinar, expert panelists of judges and attorneys: April 7, 2011

4. Courtlink iPhone App Now Available

5. Paper Invoices v Electronic Invoices

File & Serve Notice to Participants of Madison County, IL Benzene Litigation

2011-03-11T16:20:00Z

File & Serve Notice To Benzene Litigation Participants

We want to make you aware that all Benzene Cases are currently available on File & Serve for e-filing and e-service. While many Benzene participants are currently using File & Serve for e-filing or e-service, there are several firms who are still not aware that electronic filing and electronic service is available.

There are many benefits to using File & Serve to include instant service of documents, online document repository, online access to case files from anywhere with Internet access, ability to serve "privately" sensitive documents or discovery, monthly billing and no cost to register for the File & Serve application.

To learn more about File & Serve, we invite you to attend our complimentary web classes for attorneys and/or support staff. CLE credit is offered for the attorneys. The upcoming class dates and times are listed below. To register for one of these training classes, simply go to the File & Serve Training Registration Page (www.lexisnexis.com/fstraining) select IL from the drop down and click on the title of the class to register.

File & Serve Training for Madison County Civil Docket (Non-Asbestos):
• March 16: 11:00-am - Noon CST
• March 22: 11:00am - Noon CST
• March 24: 11am - Noon CST

If you have any questions about the application, pricing or registering for File & Serve, please feel free to contact Customer Support at 888-529-7587 or Rosemary Willcox at 866-356-4323.

The Case for e-Service

2011-03-07T22:00:00Z

Why e-serve?

Law firms use LexisNexis File & Serve's case-based e-service to gain more convenience and control over managing key support functions throughout the litigation life cycle, including service of pleadings and the exchange of documents throughout the discovery phase and beyond.

Traditional service typically involves lots of people moving lots of paper-which can mean added cost and risk for law firms. With LexisNexis File & Serve you streamline delivery-law firms serve documents electronically using a secure, password-protected web site. E-service with File & Serve eliminates the need to photocopy and mail the documents in your case. You send multiple documents to multiple parties with a single online transaction, eliminating postal delays. While reducing the amount of paper kept on file, law firms see an immediate savings in costs for photocopying, messengers and postal charges.

With File & Serve, law firms post documents to a shared online case file. Parties in the case receive immediate notification when documents are served and can access them online. Instant notifications can also be sent to staff members, allowing them to go about their normal workflow without relying upon others to provide the documents they need. Your File & Serve case file acts as a structured, searchable, online repository of all the documents served through File & Serve.

LexisNexis File & Serve provides improved access to documents and other important case information. Users access a verifiable proof of delivery online. Law firms share an online case file repository. The documents in a case are available via a password-protected internet connection 24/7. Served and received documents are stored on our system indefinitely, creating a complete online docket and repository. You and your staff can retrieve documents at any time from any internet accessible computer at no cost-even after your paper file has been closed and sent to storage!

File & Serve enhances case monitoring and helps you stay on top of case activity. Automated Alerts monitor new activity in the online case files. You can search the online case files-yours and others-in the File & Serve repository. Message boards allow easy communication between parties, and case-specific calendars that allow attorneys to track depositions and other important events.

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Documents served on the parties in a File & Serve case are maintained in a single, searchable and chronologic docket.

A single case docket organizes case documents in one place. Users can link responsive transactions to earlier or similar transactions to show relationships between documents.
The case docket can be sorted by date, document type, document title, serving firm and serving attorney. Users can search the entire docket for specific words and phrases, or use advanced search functionality to identify certain or specific documents with virtually unlimited criteria. Such real-time/real-need search functionality avoids the constant (and perhaps inconsistent) need to monitor all newly served documents for file cabinet or file folder purposes.
Users can also set "Alerts" to get an additional notification when certain documents are served, such as opposing counsel responses, court orders or other time-sensitive documents.

Documents can also be saved to a user's own Custom Document List, creating personalized virtual file folders

In addition to accessing the case docket of e-serve activity, users can also create customized lists of the documents. Custom Lists are shared across all users at a firm to maximize access and organization for trial teams.

File & Serve provides an optional on-line calendar service in all of its cases.

Parties use the calendar, not only for discovery deadlines, but to schedule depositions, meetings, and case management conference calls. All of the parties or selected parties in the case receive immediate notification of calendar items and, unlike other calendar services where only one party controls calendar entries, all of the parties in a File & Serve case can immediately collaborate with the event creator and event notification recipients for convenient case management and planning.

File & Serve pairs its on-line calendar service with Message Board.

The File & Serve Message Board is an equally collaborative tool to the Calendar feature which allows unlimited general correspondence and threaded discussions to be posted and shared with all parties to the litigation when a formal document transaction is not required. There are no per message fees and the parties receive notifications of message board postings just like they receive notifications of formal document transactions in their cases.

Other ways that File & Serve's e-Service differs from other solutions:

Not all cases are the same! LexisNexis employs flexibility and customization to meet the specific needs of your litigation. Flexibility means your File & Serve case features can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your litigation.

Each File & Serve case includes Case Notes, a valuable tool for internal case management. Users in your firm can tag documents and transactions with privately shared notes and commentary to manage workflow, resources, assignments and responsive planning.

File & Serve provides superior case integration. Your on-line case documents can be easily integrated with other applications, such as TimeMap® and CaseMap®, to enhance your firm's internal discovery management functionality.

There's no need to convert your documents into a .pdf format - most documents can be uploaded directly to File & Serve from their native desktop format, including image files and spreadsheets, just as easily word processing based documents. Served documents can even contain citations or hyperlinks to other external documents.

There are no limitations on document size or number of documents served. There's no monthly minimum usage charge. There are no overage charges if your litigation exceeds a certain bandwidth, and there's never a charge for unlimited 24/7 customer support and web-based training.

There is no second guessing when selecting LexisNexis. With over 30 years of experience in the legal industry and over 20 years of combined experience in the electronic filing and service business, LexisNexis File & Serve is the nation's leading provider of e-filing and e-service solutions for the legal industry. LexisNexis has established a comprehensive record of success working with courts and law firms around the country to implement e-filing and e-service. We have cases online in 33 states, maintain over 3.2 million cases online, and securely host, track and manage more than 150 million documents. Our solution provides the most flexibility and functionality required to meet the needs of the legal community; and our experience and financial stability enable us to provide the ongoing support and continued product development necessary to maintain and advance a successful project.

The Importance of Using your OWN File & Serve ID & Password

2011-03-07T17:20:00Z

We have many File & Serve users who continue to use their attorney's or a fellow staff member's File & Serve ID/password. We do ask that each indiviual FIle & Serve user obtain and use their own credentials when accessing the system. This is important for both File & Serve and the law firm.

Why Do I Need My Own User ID & Password?

1. The File & Serve User Agreement Requires It - plain and simple. Section 5.3 of the File & Serve User Agreement provides: "Each ID/password issued will be used solely by the individual for whom it was issued and will not be shared under any circumstances. " Support staff users should not be using their attorneys' IDs.

2. Separate IDs are helpful for your firm when analyzing the File & Serve Bills. By using individual IDs, your firm can easily identify the user who incurred the charges so that you can discuss the charges and the firm client that should be billed if applicable.

3. It assists File & Serve in contacting the correct user when questions about a transaction or billing item arise. We frequently get calls from customers regarding particular transactions or billing items. By seeing which user submtted the transaction, we can identify who we need to talk to or offer training to.

If you are a user who needs your own File & Serve ID, you can have the FIrm Administrator at your firm simply add you to the firm's account. If you don't know who your designated File & Serve firm administrator is, or your firm administrator isn't sure how to add a user, you can simply call Customer Support at 888-529-7587 and they can assist you.