Law firm wins $75,000 tech update

It's been about four years since the law firm of Dyer, Lawrence, Penrose, Flaherty & Donaldson has had a new computer system.

In the tech world, that's practically eons.

Its Linux operating system is prehistoric. The firm's white-box server needs a burial service.

Soon the law firm will get $75,000 worth of new equipment, and Microsoft is footing the bill.

Kim Pack, firm administrator, said the staff was excited to hear the news this week that they were one of three businesses chosen nationwide to win total tech makeovers from Microsoft. The prize made them feel like they were in a reality TV show.

"We were all in our office and all of a sudden there was a man on a bullhorn who called our name and said we won," she said Friday. "It was really exciting. There was 30-40 people from Microsoft and HP there cheering for us."

The 2805 Mountain St. law firm was nominated for the award by JFG Systems, a local tech networking business. The Carson City law firm was chosen from 323 businesses to receive the HP hardware and Microsoft software, along with consulting services from JFG Systems Inc.

Cheryle Schaum, owner of JFG Systems, said the law office is mired in program version problems, and needs an updated, secure server created for small business.

"We will implement SharePoint, which is a Microsoft product that's an internal Web page, only we can get to it from anywhere," she said.

The staff of 14 will be able to communicate with each other away from the office. After going for so long without updating, Schaum said the firm will use every penny.

Jim Penrose, a partner since 1998, is looking forward to getting his own laptop computer

"The thing that most excites me is that our clients and our staff will be able to access our computer system through our Web site," he said. "Clients will be able to access our records online to determine the status of their case."

That may come in handy for the firm's clients in big business, such as Rite Aid and Sav-On, and their public-sector labor unions, such as the firefighters and teachers.

The firm's new equipment will be installed in the next four weeks, Schaum said.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.