Important Tips for Remote Working - Internet Access Backup!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

I was reviewing some articles I had read during the early stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article from the National Law Review about "How to Manage your Law Firm Remotely During COVID-19" still holds up and is worth a reread for some tips for lawyers new to working from home. But, I think it forgot one crucial consideration - consistent internet connections! Note that "connections" is plural.

We live in an age where for those practicing law, the internet is a standard utility. The internet is no different from other basic necessities like water and electricity. If your water or power goes out, then you have a calamity that on a very basic level interferes with your day if not days, week or weeks. The same is true if your internet goes out - you can't research, communicate (e-mail and VOIP) with your clients, opposing parties or relevant government agencies, or file court documents.

If for whatever reason, your home internet goes down, you need to have a backup means to access the internet. Most of us have a smartphone that is "data" enabled.  This can serve as a backup when you are in your office (virtually at home or physically in your brick and mortar building) on the road or in a court proceeding (hearing, deposition, etc.).

While you can accomplish many communications through your smartphone or tablet, it may be missing some aspects that are unique to what you can do on a computer (note tablets are not laptop killers IMHO, and laptops appear to have only scratched the surface when it comes having a data [cellular] chip installed [Apple needs to really catch up on this]). You need to ensure your smartphone or tablet or both can serve as a modem for your office computer. 

Utilizing your smartphone as a modem for your computer (and other devices) is also known as creating a Mobile Hotspot (Wi-Fi Sharing). Each of the four leading carriers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, offer tethering capabilities. It will also depend on the type of smartphone you use. Contact your smartphone carrier to see what kind of tethering internet backup you can get today! Just make sure you keep an eye out on your data package and what the charges are for going over your data packet limit. 😃

If you have individual questions, feel free to leave messages in the comments or e-mail me directly at MichaelDJ@TheTechSavvyLawyer.Page.

* Note to my Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia "DMV" readers.  I'm rolling out a one-to-one personal tech support service.  I'll be offer services to assist lawyers with their software and hardware set-up and instructional needs.  I'm offering a COVID-19 special right now.  If you are interested, contact me at MichaelDJ@TheTechSavvyLawyer.Page and we can set up a time to talk!