Deadline Pressure In The Legal World

Meeting tight deadlines is even tougher when your equipment breaks down. Sometimes selecting the right paper is the key to productivity.

When the duplicating department at New York law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson receives a printing request from one of the firm's attorneys, it knows the urgency and quality requirements that come with the request. Whether it's a brief from a bankruptcy case, a subpoena or a client document, the in-plant knows it must produce the material right away—no matter what time of day it is or what day of the week.

With constant deadline pressure, the 18-employee in-plant must make sure the nine copiers in its centralized area are always in top shape—both the black-and-white devices, such as the Xerox DocuTech, 5100, 5680 and 5388, and the color copiers, like the Canon CLC and the Minolta CF-80.

"Maximizing the productivity of our equipment is critical because my department has to meet the immediate needs of the attorneys," notes Roland Ramos, manager of central duplicating.

In addition to providing the proper maintenance, Ramos also makes sure to provide the best paper for the job so that it runs smoothly through the printers without jamming. He uses nearly one million sheets of Georgia-Pacific's Microprint Laser 1000 paper per month. Quality paper, Ramos adds, also makes his law firm look good.

"Since law firms don't use a lot of marketing tactics, items like paper help present the firm's image," he says. "Paper is an important part of presentation."

Poor Paper Causes Jams

Ramos has seen the effects of low-quality paper. His previous stock had a high dust content, which often faulted the sensors within the laser printers and copiers, causing jams.

"Downtime can be devastating," he says. "We're supporting around 800 users with around-the-clock printing and copying."

He notes that the high temperatures inside laser printers and copiers can cause curling if the moisture content is not just right. In addition, it is important to consider the sheet's finish. Ramos says the vellum content on his previous sheet caused the feed tires in the printers to become too smooth, reducing the system's ability to grab the next sheet. A smooth finish allows for jam-free feeding, he says.

"A jam can go on to damage something else in the system," Ramos says. "For instance, a jam in the heat roller makes the paper turn brown, which can then ruin the heat roller."

The in-plant also uses Georgia-Pacific's new Microprint Multi-System paper. Ramos says it doesn't curl, it feeds better and it runs problem free. The paper is also used in the firm's fax machines with great success, he says. The department is now testing out Microprint Desktop paper on its color copiers.

So far Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson is quite pleased with the quick turnaround and high quality provided by Ramos' operation. Because of the complexity of the work, Ramos says, it makes more sense to continue printing it in-house.

"We can provide a faster service in-house," he says. "It's more cost effective."

Rick Cohen (left), of Global Standard Paper, and Roland Ramos, manager of central duplicating at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, discuss the runnability of paper on the in-plant's DocuTechs.