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Sharon Nelson and John Simek’s Article Featured In Virginia Lawyers Weekly

April 9, 2020

“Getting Started with Zoom And Using It Securely” by Sensei’s Sharon Nelson and John Simek was featured in Virginia Lawyers Weekly.  

Excerpt: The coronavirus pandemic has forced a lot of lawyers to utilize video conferencing to “meet” with co-workers and clients. One of the more popular video conferencing platforms is Zoom. There are others, but we see Zoom being used the most, especially among solo and small firm lawyers. While we can’t cover all the options and settings for Zoom, we’ll try to give our advice on the best way to use and secure Zoom for your firm.

Basics

The first question is…what the heck is this thing called Zoom? According to the website, “Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms.”

Zoom is extremely easy to use and is available across multiple platforms and operating systems. You can use your mobile device with apps available for Android and iOS. There are desktop clients available for macOS, Windows and a bunch of Linux/Unix versions (e.g. Ubuntu, Linux, CentOS, OpenSUSE, etc.).

Equipment

To state the obvious, you will need some sort of camera to participate in a video conference call. Most modern-day laptops are equipped with a webcam for video calls. You could even use your iPad or smartphone with Zoom. Another consideration is sound. The built-in microphones for laptops or phones don’t sound particularly good if you are on the receiving end. Consider using a headset (with microphone) or earbuds. You’ll be able to hear better, and so will all the other participants.

Don’t forget where you physically sit during the video conference. If your back is to an open window, the brightness may make you difficult to see. Objects behind you may be distracting too. Think about what the person on the other end is seeing. Be cognizant of those around you too. Family members may be able to hear you discussing confidential information even if you are wearing a headset.

Read the entire article here. ( subscription required)