Instant Collaboration, From Conference Calls to Instant Messaging

• Author: Dennis Kennedy - Tom Mighell
• Pages: 111-121

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Instant Collaboration—

From Conference Calls to

Instant Messaging

Choosing the right collaboration tool often depends on the

type of collaboration required, the context for the collabora-

tion, and its timing. The timing of collaboration can be sepa-

rated rather neatly into two categories: synchronous (occur-

ring at the same time or in real time) and asynchronous (not

occurring at the same time).

These are big words to describe concepts that have been

part of the practice of law since its beginning. Face-to-face

conversations and working meetings are forms of synchronous

collaboration. They are immediate and require the actual pres-

ence of the participants. There is a contemporaneous exchange

and back-and-forth to the conversation. With asynchronous

collaboration, work is done by message and contemporaneous

presence is not a requirement. For example, a lawyer sends

a letter, delivers a document by courier, or even leaves a file

folder with a sticky note on a colleague’s chair where it can be

seen first thing in the morning.

Today’s practice of law is increasingly asynchronous in

nature. As we discuss throughout this book, email is the pri-

mary default collaboration platform lawyers use today. Email

is also an excellent example of an asynchronous collaboration

tool. As practices become more global in nature, law firms have

increasing numbers of offices. Many lawyers work from home

or outside the traditional office, and it becomes more difficult

to coordinate meetings and conference calls. Asynchronous

collaboration techniques will naturally receive more attention

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