The Firm has started the process of providing clients with access to certain significant sections of the portal. As a result, clients will be able to read and search free research segments and community pages, including government documents, legislative reports, and legal or industry alerts and headlines. With this access, clients can take advantage of many of the same focused tools and research resources our attorneys use. Schnader also can load certain documents, web sites, and other relevant information on the community pages to build a greater understanding and appreciation of our clients' businesses.

To enhance the efficiency of our attorney's work, the Firm has implemented a remote access solution, which focuses on providing information to attorneys regardless of their location. Components of the remote access program include a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for dial-up and high-speed access to the Schnader network through the Internet, and wireless access to information through personal information management devices.

In complex litigation, Schnader lawyers take advantage of a top-of-the-line imaging system that can house thousands of documents and images and that also may be made available via the Internet. Schnader lawyers use a number of other software tools for various aspects of case management. For example, the Firm has installed document assembly systems that reduce the time required to complete standard aspects of a transaction (such as template-driven document creation) and allow the lawyer the opportunity to address the client and matter specific aspects of a transaction earlier and more efficiently. Similarly, The Bowne JFS Litigator's Notebook (JFS) is a trial preparation tool used by Schnader litigators to organize various facets of a case. The software runs in Lotus Notes and allows client, counsel and co-counsel to share information instantly via desktop, laptop and the Internet. JFS enables our legal teams to develop and store a set of client-specific databases that can be searched based on various litigation needs. These databases permit storage and retrieval of information on all present and prior litigation matters for a specific client. Relevant documents can then quickly be reproduced according to the client's present need. Our lawyers have used JFS for a wide variety of cases with document volume ranging from 1,000 to 1.1 million pages of case-related images. This rapid access to pertinent information improves team collaboration by bringing all aspects of case preparation into one area. In addition, JFS allows the attorneys to travel to trial or deposition with all known relevant information, communicating with the client and the office from the road and sharing new information immediately.

The role of technology is not only growing, but it is also changing the way in which law firms compete to maintain existing clients and develop new business. Electronic research tools and their accompanying advantages can enable attorneys to better serve clients independent of location, day or time. Schnader has been the "first" in areas of technology several times. Schnader made news in the fall of 1996 by submitting an electronic brief (CD) to the United States Supreme Court (Reno v. ACLU). Ours was the first electronic brief accepted by the Supreme Court. In late 1997, firm management decided to migrate from print to Internet for several loose-leaf and treatise subscriptions. We were the first law firm in Philadelphia, and one of the first in the country, to migrate our Matthew Bender, CCH, and BNA subscriptions and services to the Internet. And, our early decision to implement the Lexis/Nexis Research Portal has given us an advantage in conducting key legal research in an effective and efficient manner.