[blindlaw] Formatting Woes

Mon Sep 2 12:06:44 UTC 2013

Oh, I see. Thank you for all the tips. They do sound very feasible and
reasonable.  I'll definitely try out some of those during my next
internship.

Cheers,
Rahul

On 02/09/2013, Angie Matney <angie.matney at gmail.com> wrote:
> My assistant checks my formatting before I send a document to a partner for
> review. Here, it is deemed a reasonable disability accommodation. Also, our
> secretaries sometimes help others with formatting anyway.
>
> Angie
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 1, 2013, at 3:58 AM, Rahul Bajaj <rahul.bajaj1038 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Thanks for the great responses.
>> Russ,
>> I believe most law firms  provide  sample documents to their associates
>> and interns so that they can use them  as  points of reference while
>> preparing their own documents.
>> While this is a reasonably good solution, the only problem is that the
>> details in the original  document have to be altered which affects the
>> formatting.
>>
>> Thanks for your suggestion, though.
>> Robert,
>> That is an interesting suggestion. Like you, I've never really been fond
>> of Braille.
>> In fact, my knowledge about Braille is fairly limited since I have never
>> had to really use it much.
>> This is something that I can look into.
>> Does this approach only allow  you to check the spellings and spacing, or
>> does it also help in checking the formatting in a quicker manner?Angie,
>> Most firms do have an executive whose job is to check the formatting of
>> the documents before they are sent to  clients.
>> But  there is 1  main problem:
>>  The document has to be approved by your senior before it is sent to the
>> formatting guy. So, an incorrectly formatted document can create a  very
>> bad impression.
>> Can you think of any way of circumventing this problem?
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Rahul
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Sep 1, 2013, at 12:21 PM, "Dittman, Robert" <rdittman at stmarytx.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I am a solo attorney so must find ways to get the work product completed
>>> of as little errors as is possible.
>>> I had a Refreshable 18 cel display called a "refreshabraille 18" that I
>>> bought myself while in law school in order to use with my mobile phone.
>>> In this way I would build up my use of Braille and thus increase my
>>> reading speed.  Guess what?  It worked.
>>>
>>> Now that I am practicing, and having to generate work product, pleadings,
>>> and other day to day documents, I find that perhaps more is required.  To
>>> this end, I have bought myself an 80 cell display so that I can see as
>>> much of the document as is possible; much like the sighted do their
>>> edits.
>>> Granted, not everyone can drop the coin on an 80 cell display, but it
>>> would be good for most to pick up a display of any size.  First because
>>> it will show you just how many mistakes in spelling we are making, and
>>> secondly it helps with spacing awareness.
>>>
>>> Just my thoughts and by the way, I hated Braille as a kid.  It was
>>> lawschool that made me see the light... I'd love to talk to kids,
>>> parents, and other blind people about why Braille is so useful, and fun
>>> once you realize it opens doors.
>>>
>>>
>>> Robert D. Dittman, ESQ.
>>> Attorney and Counselor at Law
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Sep 1, 2013, at 1:08, "Angie Matney" <angie.matney at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I do my best to use documents that are in the form I need, but
>>>> invariably, something isn't exactly as it should be in the final
>>>> product. My secretary is responsible for making sure my documents look
>>>> Ok before I either send them out to clients or third parties or
>>>> distribute them to the partner who gave me the assignment. This was
>>>> how it worked when I was a summer associate as well. It is more
>>>> efficient for my secretary to do this; it gives me more time to do
>>>> more billable work.
>>>>
>>>> I also agree about a braille display. I could not do my job without
>>>> one.
>>>>
>>>> Angie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/1/13, William Burley <wburley at burley-wilson.com> wrote:
>>>>> I agree with this approach. If you don't have access to old forms,
>>>>> maybe the
>>>>> firm uses O'Connors forms for your particular state.
>>>>>
>>>>> Great conversation!
>>>>>
>>>>> Will Burley
>>>>> Burley-Wilson & Associates
>>>>> Main: 888-494-0031
>>>>> Direct: 832-529-3243
>>>>> Web:www.burley-wilson.com
>>>>>
>>>>> "Virtual Consultants for Your Success"
>>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 31, 2013, at 7:59 PM, "Russ Thomas"
>>>>> <rthomas at emplmntattorney.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Find out what different formats you will need and then create one form
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> document for each format. Then when you need a particular format.
>>>>>> Open
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> formatted document and use it. When you create a new document, rename
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> current document so that you do not compromise the basic form you are
>>>>>> using.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For example, in California pleadings have to be prepared in a very
>>>>>> particular format. We have a default pleading document which we all
>>>>>> use
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> me and my sighted paralegals. Preformatted documents save you a lot
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> time
>>>>>> and eliminate the risk of inconsistent or unacceptable documents.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>>>>> Rahul
>>>>>> Bajaj
>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 5:09 PM
>>>>>> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> Subject: [blindlaw] Formatting Woes
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hope this message finds you well.
>>>>>> I was wondering if we could have a dialogue about 1 major challenge
>>>>>> which
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> have often  encountered during my internships and which  some of you
>>>>>> must
>>>>>> have had to confront as well at some point.
>>>>>> As I am sure you know, it is not easy for a visually impaired person
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> format documents as effectively and quickly as a sighted person.
>>>>>> Due to this inherent difficulty, it often becomes difficult to
>>>>>> complete
>>>>>> assignments in a time bound manner, as one has to scrupulously check
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> formatting of the documents which is not at all easy with a screen
>>>>>> reader.
>>>>>> The sighted person, who is responsible for assigning the work,
>>>>>> generally
>>>>>> believes that the  aforementioned delay is due to the fact that the
>>>>>> VI
>>>>>> person lacks efficiency and competence.
>>>>>> This is primarily because most of them do not know how hard it is for
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> VI
>>>>>> person to format documents independently. Another point worth noting
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> the VI person cannot overlook evenminor instructions pertaining to
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> formatting of the documents just  to complete the work quickly,  as
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> would greatly tarnish his/her image.
>>>>>> This problem prevents visually impaired people from truly showcasing
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> potential which substantially reduces their chances of getting a  job
>>>>>> offer.
>>>>>> So, what, in your view, is the best way of dealing with this problem?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>> Rahul
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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