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A Linux Users Group for Professionals?

Posted by Cliff on from the beyond-hobbyism dept.

ir0b0t asks: "I'm a lawyer in a solo divorce practice in Missoula, Montana. I have migrated my office to OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird and Sunbird but want to do more Open Source, yet I have issues that come up nearly every day. The problems I encounter are often unique to running a small law practice. Coders sometimes give me blank looks when I describe what I need. Other lawyers tend to automatically use proprietary solutions and show little interest in Open Source alternatives. I want to eventually use only Open Source code in my office. I am willing to do my homework. Are there others like me out there? Is there a Linux Users Group or other online forum for professionals like me who want more Open Source solutions for our work? Thanks."

5 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. PJ at groklaw might be able to help by grattwood · · Score: 5, Informative

    PJ over at http://groklaw.net/ might be able to help, or point you to peolple who are doing this. I think she is planning a Linux LiveCD for lawyers.

  2. Groklaw by neillewis · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://groklaw.net/ has had some discussion about OSS for lawyers in the past, particularly around WordPerfect import/export issues (WP still having something of a stronghold in legal circles) ... there must be some lawyers out there with the same issues as you, and if there isn't a LawLUG why not start one?

    Good luck.

  3. Debian-lex by philipsblows · · Score: 4, Informative
    Debian-Lex is an internal project to develop Debian into an operating system that is particularly well fit for the requirements for legal offices. The goal of Debian-Lex is a complete system for all tasks in legal practice which is built completely on free software.

    I subscribed to the debian lex mailing list a while ago out of curiosity. I can't say I know much more having subscribed, but perhaps there are some subscribers there with other specific ideas or answers to your question. No guarantees. Oh, IANAL.

    Debian-lex Project Page

    A link to the mailing list archive-- with a couple of messages from this month!-- can be found among other bits of info there.

  4. As a fellow Montanan... by USSJoin · · Score: 5, Informative

    I understand the problem you're going through; let's face it, most people look at you with a blank stare anytime you say *anything* related to computers.

    That said, I worked on the migration of a firm in Billings, MT to OSS. What we found was that there really *is* no replacement for the capstone software, Amicus Attorney, and I couldn't even make it run on Crossover. So we use OpenOffice instead of MS, and Firefox/Thunderbird, but are forced into Windows for one app (usual story). Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the legal field just isn't interested in Linux, *because* the big firms (like the Washington Big 10, for instance) are IP lawyers, so they're *defending* Microsoft etc. Tacky to use the competition, it seems.

    If you have no need for Amicus, then what software, really, do you need? PM me, we can discuss the issue.

  5. Business Forum by OSXCPA · · Score: 4, Informative

    Try this - http://www.smallbizgeeks.com/phpBB2/ They are pretty active and there are good forums, some of which may interest you.