Montana Lawyer April/May 2025

3. Monitor Firm Tech Usage with Audit Logs • Why: Tracking user activity helps idetify unauthorized access and supports internal accountability. • Tip: Enable audit logs across your systems to monitor who accesses what—and when. 4. Centralize Knowledge with Internal Wikis • Why: Staff often waste time searching for proce dures or asking repeat questions. • Tip: Build a searchable internal wiki for firm policies, templates, and common tasks to improve onboarding and consistency. Staying current with legal tech doesn’t always require major changes—sometimes it’s the small upgrades that have the biggest impact. These simple tools can enhance security, streamline workflow, and support your team’s productivity in meaningful ways. He finds the humanity in our clients: their history, their current circumstances, and, most importantly, their potential. He writes beautifully. His sentencing memorandums show incredible empathy for his clients while not diminishing the se riousness of the offense. Each is tailored to the client’s case and circumstances and argues the law effectively and accurately. He conducts thorough investigations, does meticulous research, and knows and follows the law and the rules of pro cedure. His pleadings are often used as templates when other panel members need an example of how to get something done. Dylan is brave and is a great tactician. In a kidnapping and assault with intent to commit murder case he sensed the gov ernment wasn’t ready – so he got ready and pushed for a speedy trial. The case was settled with a witness tampering charge. He takes some of the most difficult clients and goes to trial on tough cases. In an impressive example of advocacy Dylan, along with his co-counsel and law partner, Seamus Molloy, tried a case that everyone thought was a total loser. There were sig nificant challenges including a 17-count indictment consisting of 2 counts of failure to pay child support; 11 counts charging false, fictitious and fraudulent claims; 1 count of bank fraud; 1 count of false statements to a bank and 1count of money laun dering. Dylan and Seamus methodically dismantled the case and received NOT GUILTY verdicts on all 17 counts! Dylan is a tremendous asset for other panel members. He has served as a mentor to our new panel members on multiple occasions and frequently steps in to co-chair cases with panel members who want some help. We are grateful for his service to his clients, the CJA panel, and our system of justice.

understood how essential these messages were to the defense and didn’t let it go. She came to trial with a point brief ready in case the State opened the door by asking something like “what would a 50-year-old woman be doing in a park at 2am fighting with a couple of drunk kids if they didn’t start it?” That’s exactly what happened, and Ellen was ready. She renewed the motion to admit the texts, they came in, and the rest is history. One of the reasons that client is free today is that Ellen man aged to be a good lawyer and a good human at the same time. We can’t wait to see what her second season brings. The John Adams Award is given annually to recognize outstanding work on behalf of the CJA panel. It was named to honor John Adams and all those who risk wealth and fame to stand with those who are least favored and most vulnerable. The 2025 recipient of the John Adams CJA Panel Lawyer of the Year is Dylan McFarland. Dylan is willing to jump in and help – without even being asked. When he sees something that needs done, he does it.

Dylan McFarland with CJA Supervising Attorney Wendy Holton at Chico 2025

Tech Tips for Lawyers Practical Tips for Lawyers

Technology continues to offer practical ways for law firms to work more efficiently and securely. Whether it’s improving internal processes or protecting client data, small changes can make a big difference. Here are four quick tech tips to consider incorporating into your practice. 1. Enable Auto-Redaction in Document Review • Why: Manually redacting sensitive information is time-consuming and prone to human error. • Tip: Use tools that automatically detect and redact confidential data before sharing or filing documents. 2. Use Digital Notary and E-Signing Platforms • Why: Clients and colleagues increasingly expect the option to sign and notarize documents remotely. • Tip: Adopt secure digital solutions to streamline the signing process and maintain accurate records.

APRIL-MAY 2025

23

WWW.MONTANABAR.ORG