Bar Bytes
| Publication year | 2020 |
| Pages | 12 |
Microsoft 365 Tips for Lawyers
By Catherine Sanders Reach and Courtney Troutman
Most lawyers are familiar with the Microsoft Office suite that includes Word, Outlook, Excel, and Power-Point. In the past, you purchased the software, and if a new version was released you would have to buy it or risk using an unsupported and obsolete product. The current Microsoft (MS) Office is subscription based, but Microsoft just announced a new perpetual release for both Windows and Mac in the second half of 2021. Until then, MS 365 Business Standard (from $12.50 a month) is the choice for most lawyers, and it works on Windows, Macs and in a browser. Unlike the old software, you can download software from MS 365 on up to five devices, including computers, smartphones or tablets.
The monthly fee ensures you always have the latest software, and you also gain access to the same software in the cloud. The cloud version also acts as a backup. For example, the Word document you draft on your computer is simultaneously backed up to the cloud.
It can be confusing, but Microsoft calls software programs such as Word or Teams “apps,” and the widgets or small programs you can install in an app to enhance it are called “add-ins.” To access your MS 365 apps and backups in the cloud, go to office.com and login. Some apps will automatically be shown when you login to Office. com; others you will need to click on “All Apps” to see. You also have the products from the Office suite installed on your computer.
To find an add-in, open an app and look on the toolbar at the top for “Get Add-ins.” In Outlook this button is on the Home toolbar, and in Word it’s on the Insert toolbar. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, try Microsoft AppSource https://appsource.microsoft.com.
MS 365 offers a lot of value for lawyers, with apps that can enhance efficiency, collaboration and more.
Here is a sampling of a few popular MS 365 apps and add-ins:
Teams
Teams is one of the main apps you see when you login to Office. com, along with regulars like Word and Outlook. At its most simple, Teams is a chat program to use with co-workers. But it is also a way to easily share files, assign tasks, hold online meetings, and share notes. Create a team within the Teams app for a practice area or a case, with channels (topics) underneath. Add more apps – like Planner and Forms – to Teams from a...
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