I’m a business coach, and this seems like a very cool tool for solo/small-firm attorneys. Looking for anyone who’s trying it out—- backpack as well. Thanks, B

Because it’s a good move to place highly confidential info on the web?

Like all we do is sit around having very secret strategy sessions where clients disclose where the bodies are buried, or when and how, at just the climactic moment in the trial we will produce the smoking gun thereby impeaching the other side’s start witness in a dramatic cross examination? Yawn. I wish.

I’m a business and real estate litigator and transactional lawyer. 90% to 95% of what passes though, and is stored in, my files is not confidential at all. That which is confidential, I don’t post. In fact, all filed pleadings are public record, and all discovery documents either come from or are produced to, the opposition. Those two categories comprise probably 75% of the paper of most of my files.

I use it to post completed and filed pleadings, correspondence, upcoming trial and hearing dates, deposition dates, discovery deadlines, deposition transcripts, deposition exhibits, document repositories, drafts of contracts that are in progress and/or negotiation, etc. Basically, if it’s not confidential and there is a chance that my client might want to look at it, we post it. We don’t post drafts, legal research memoranda, internal notes, billing data, client correspondence or anything else to which the attorney-client or attorney work product privileges apply. Most clients don’t pay close attention to about 95% of what happens in a case. They certainly don’t want to have to maintain their own paper files, nor are they very interested in clogging up their email boxes with 100’s of mb’s of documents that they’ll likely never read. So I use BC to create a place where clients can go look at things if they want, when they want, without having to get someone’s attention and have things copied and mailed, etc. I also use it to post .zip files of documents that need to go to opposing counsel. It’s faster, cheaper and eliminates bickering about who’s going to get what and when.

I just wish the “Milestones” section was more robust as a calendar.

I love the smell of hyperbole in the morning.

Michael:

Nearly every major law firm allows VPN access into their document management systems. I fail to see how a web-based password-protected-over-SSL service is any less secure than VPN access, unless you are suggesting that Basecamp’s development team and infrastructure providers are not as trustworthy/competent as in-house IT staff.

Care to elaborate?