The Bencher—Technology Columns

Technology is a hot topic in the legal profession. We have a regular column in The Bencher devoted to technology, which is authored currently on a rotating basis by Joseph C. Leonard, Esquire; Raffi Melkonian, Esquire; Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire and previously Kevin F. Brady, Esquire and Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire. The following articles have been published in The Bencher:

2025

• Walking and Talking: AI as a New Tool for Oral Argument Preparation—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (May/June 2025)
• Lessons for AI from the Early Days of Digital Legal Research—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (March/April 2025)
• Mentorship and the Evolving Practice of Law—By Joseph C. Leonard, Esquire (January/February 2025)
  

2024

• Maybe You Should Buy that Rankings Plaque!—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (November/December 2024)
• Back to Basics: Technological Competence and Confidentiality—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (September/October 2024)
• The AI Enthusiasm-Application Gap—Lessons from eDiscovery—By Joseph C. Leonard, Esquire (July/August 2024)
  
• Courts Can Adapt with Technology and Improve Practitioners’ Experience—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (May/June 2024)
• Delaware Supreme Court Stays Abreast of Emerging Technologies—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (March/April 2024)
  
• 10 Important Cybersecurity Tips for Lawyers and Judges—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., and John W. Simek

• Emerging Legal Technology Can Make Clerkships Even Better—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (November/December 2023)
  
• Discovery Implications for Video Conferencing—By Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (September/October 2023)
• Should You Forbid or Encourage the Use of Generative AI by Your Lawyers—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire and John W. Simek (July/August 2023)
  
• The Rise of the ‘Cheeky Amici‘—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (May/June 2023)
  
• Technology and Legal Education—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell (March/April 2023)
  
• How Lawyers Can Connect to Public Wi-Fi Safely—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire, and John W. Simek (January/February 2023)
  

2022

• Don’t Sleep on PACER as a Tool for Legal Research—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (November/December 2022)
  
• The Technological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Elder Law Practices—By Jessica Melusky, Esquire (September/October 2022)
  
• 25% of Law Firms Have Been Breached, Only 36% of Firms Have an Incident Response Plan—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire and John W. Simek (July/August 2022)
• Social Media Can Lead to Broader, More Inclusive Profession—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (May/June 2022)
  
• Pandemic Technology—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (March/April 2022)
• Ransomware: How to Defend Your Law Firm—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire and John W. Simek (January/February 2022)
  

2021

• Zoom Hearings: Might They Survive the End of the Pandemic?—By Raffi Melkonian, Esquire (November/December 2021)
  
• A Tribute to Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire—By Chief Judge Michael K. Newell and Ryan P. Newell, Esquire (September/October 2021)
• How the Pandemic Accelerated Technology Adoption by Lawyers—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire and John W. Simek (July/August 2021)
• Taking Your Home Network to the Next Level—By Sharon D. Nelson, Esquire and John W. Simek (May/June 2021)
  
• Technology: Sometimes You Just Have to Rant—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (March/April 2021)
  
• Technology: Selfies—A New Field of Law—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (January/February 2021)

2020

• Ryan v. U-Drive (Death by Autonomous Vehicle)—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (November/December 2020)
  
• The Virtual Courtroom—Zoom on Steroids—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (September/October 2020)
• The Art of Zooming—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (July/August 2020)
• Ephemeral Messaging Applications—What’s In and What’s Out?—By Kevin F. Brady, Esquire (May/June 2020) 
• The Perfect Witness: The Use of Technology at its Best—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire (March/April 2020)
• Trust but Verify When It Comes to Digital Redactions—By Kevin F. Brady, Esquire (January/February 2020)

2019

• Technology: Some Musings at a Recent Technology Ethics Seminar (You Really Should Be Listening)—Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (November/December 2019) 
• Emoji: Their Meaning and Role in Discovery—Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Sep/Oct 2019)
• Tips on Technology: 'Watch' What You Ask For…—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (July/August 2019)
• When Your Data is Held Hostage—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (May/Jun 2019)
• Special Discovery Master for a Day: An eDiscovery Writing Challenge—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Mar/Apr 2019)
• ABA Provides Guidance on Lawyers' Ethical Obligations after an Electronic Data Breach—Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Jan/Feb 2019)

2018

• Email Tracking Software—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Nov/Dec 2018)
• Can You Believe It, People Still Text While Driving? Do You Do It?—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Sep/Oct 2018)
• The Internet and Whatever Happened to the Right to be Let Alone?—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jul/Aug 2018)
• Nomophobia: A Litigator's Disability—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (May/Jun 2018)
• Spotlight on Data Privacy in 2108—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Mar/Apr 2018)
• Amazon's Echo "Alexa" Has Become a Part of Your Law Practice and Your Family—You Just Don't Know It—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jan/Feb 2018)

2017

• The Future of Courtroom Technology—Today Delaware’s eCourtroom Project By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Nov/Dec 2017)
• Proposed Changes to Federal Rules of Evidence Will Make it Easier to Authenticate Electronic Evidence for Trial—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (May/June 2017)
• The Rules of Professional Conduct will Have to Change to Include "The Ethics of Things"—by Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (July/August 2017) 
•  Judges Speak Out About Lawyers' Competence and eDiscovery—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (May/June 2017)
• Drones—New Technology Related Litigation for the Next Decade— By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Mar/Apr 2017)
• The Evolution of eFiling and the Rules of Professional Conduct—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jan/Feb 2017)

2016

• Ethical Trap with Technology—“Failure to Supervise”—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Nov/Dec 2016)
• To Err is Human—To Err Again May be a Violation of Rule 1.1 and 1.6—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Sep/Oct 2016)
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Jul/Aug 2016)
• Wouldn't You Rather Have a Notebook?—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (May/Jun 2016)
• Is Achieving Competence in Technology a Pipe Dream?—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Mar/Apr 2016) 
• Five Basic Technology Tips Without Glazing Over—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jan/Feb 2016)

2015

• Technology Drives Upcoming Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Nov/Dec 2015)
• Does Your Medical Insurance Cover You for PVS?—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Sep/Oct 2015)
• Proportionality and Ethical Competence in Technology—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Jul/Aug 2015)
• The Unintended Cell Phone Call-The TBFTGOGGI Breach—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (May/Jun 2015)
• Technology and the Mentoring Challenge—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. (Mar/Apr 2015)
• Cell Phone Etiquette: The Rules Withstand the Test of Time—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jan/Feb 2015)

2014

• Electronic Discovery "Too" Little Discussed Issues: Confidentiality and Privacy—By Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Sep/Oct 2014)
• Email: Don't Cross the Ethical Line—By Kevin F. Brady, Esq. and Richard K. Herrmann, Esq. (Jul/Aug 2014)