RECENT PODCASTING OBSERVATIONS
Alongside the emergence of the concepts of blogging and podcasting, there are a host of new hardware and software programs geared to help the average consumer stay up-to-date with these revolutionary communication mediums. For instance, www.pocketpc.com is a Microsoft website that showcases various handheld mobile devices, which operate in a similar fashion to the Blackberry and the Treo. These Windows-powered PCs are a great option for online business and personal needs on the go, and they make the consumption of our blog and podcast, possible anywhere, even more efficient. You determine when and where you want to listen and learn.
An interesting and humourous site we discovered while roaming the web for podcasts is www.topofthepods.com. Every weekday, Top Of The Pods discusses a new top ten list via podcast. The hosts, Jon and Rob, bring you views, reviews and top tens. Each podcast is between 15 to 30 minutes long and covers a different topic each day. Listeners are encouraged to send in their top ten lists with an emphasis on obscure, wacky and weird topics ranging from top ten Bond films to top ten dining faux pas.
Reid Trautz is the creator of the blog "Reid My Blog! Furthering Innovation in Management, Governance & Ethics for Lawyers". He is one of the leading consultants in the United States for practice management and he specializes in counseling lawyers. His well-written and informative blog page reflects the depth of his knowledge, as he moves beyond legal advice into the "nitty gritty" of the legal profession, exploring the psychology of both the lawyer and the client and focusing on dissecting the expectations of clients. Trautz expresses that an understanding of what a client wants allows a lawyer to better serve the client's needs and find him, her or it an appropriate solution for what is often a very personal and upsetting situation.
Trautz recommends the practice management book by Gerald Riskin, a global management consultant and advisor to many of the worlds' largest law firms. In his book, "The Successful Lawyer: Powerful Strategies for Transforming Your Practice", Riskin explains why the foundation of a successful practice resides in the management of ideas, the management of the client relationship, active listening, the managing of client expectations, and putting these expectations to work - all topics that are similarly explored in Trautz' blog.
Furthermore, Riskin allots a large section of his book to a discussion of the business side of the law. Trautz also considers the distinction between the practice of law as a profession and the law practice as a business, noting the relevance of podcasts and blogs as an effective forum for lawyers to keep themselves up-to-date with this ever-changing world, and thus to act accordingly.
All the best, Ian and Suzana. --------
