August 8, 2013 – Randall D. Crocker, President and CEO of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. (Wisconsin, USA), today announced that the firm is a finalist for the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) 2013 Innovative Project of the Year Award.
von Briesen was up against 15 firms in the first round and is now one of three finalists. The project that was nominated is von Briesen University and specifically its “inGenious Bar”. von Briesen reinvented its IT training by introducing 5-10 minute one-on-one sessions to teach a quick skill or task. The inGenious Bar is located in the Firm’s von Briesen University Classroom, which is a dedicated room for both delivery models of education. Modeled after the Apple Store Genius Bar concept, participants are taught a task that can be repeated at their desk and implemented immediately to help them perform their job better. Winners will be announced at ILTA’s annual conference later in August.
The inGenious Bar is open one time each week with weekly topics announced on the firm’s intranet a few days in advance. The limited availability keeps the demand and interest level high. Having a well-trained workforce that embraces new technologies quickly is very important to the firm and its clients. An additional benefit is the IT department is now in closer contact with its end-user community, allowing for dialogue that results in process improvements, software suggestions and expanded use of other technology. Attorneys and staff have commented that they enjoy the inGenious Bar because it is focused, friendly, convenient and even fun.
In 2011, von Briesen won ILTA’s Emerging Technology Champion Award. The award recognized the firm’s use of emerging technology in redesigning its Intranet known as vBDash. von Briesen assembled an innovative and “Social” Intranet using a variety of Open Source Software solutions. The total licensing fees for the project came in at under $800. Similar mainstream software would have cost the firm more than $55,000, in addition to annual maintenance fees.
Randall Crocker, the Firm’s President and CEO said, “I am very proud to see our Firm nominated for this award. Being nominated a second time, and up against two law firms that are triple to our size, is a sign of our commitment to technology. The inGenious Bar is a great way for our attorneys and staff to stay cutting-edge in their use and understanding of technology and reflects our goal of providing unparalleled service to our clients. Our IT team is an integral part of our Firm and a great asset to our practice. It is an honor to have our CIO, William Caraher, recognized on a national level for his creative genius and trailblazing leadership.”
About von Briesen & Roper, s.c.: von Briesen & Roper, s.c. is a 109-year-old Milwaukee-based law firm with over 100 attorneys in offices in Milwaukee and Madison. The firm provides legal services to businesses, institutions and individuals, with an emphasis on matters involving banking, bankruptcy, business restructuring, construction law, corporate law, employee benefits, health law, labor, litigation, risk management, real estate, and wealth management. For more information, please visit the firm’s web site at http://www.vonbriesen.com.
