Welcome to Geeky Nerdy Lawyer — where legal professionals come to make technology behave (or at least stop actively sabotaging them).

If you’re an attorney, firm administrator, or legal professional who has ever thought: “This should be easier than it is,” you’re in the right place. Technology can be a superpower. It can also be a never-ending side quest. My goal is to help you get more of the first and far less of the second.

I’m Nerino J. Petro Jr.. Geeky Nerdy Lawyer is my public-facing brand: articles, recommendations, and practical guidance for lawyers and firms trying to keep up with the constant churn of legal tech, cybersecurity, AI hype, and the occasional software update that arrives like a raccoon in your kitchen.

When you want the hands-on work done—consulting, implementation, software/hardware, training, and ongoing support—that’s CenCom Technologies, serving lawyers and law firms since 1994. Same mission. More horsepower.

You’ll find “neat shtuff” here, but also the things that actually matter: making your practice more efficient, more secure, and less dependent on that one person who “knows computers.”

Ready to stop surviving and start dominating your tech stack?

Schedule a Meeting with CenCom Technologies using this link or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact us.

Our Story

Does he really know what he’s doing?

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: I’ve been working at the intersection of law + technology for a long time—long enough to remember when digital dictation felt futuristic, when “paperless” was treated as a personality trait, and when the biggest cybersecurity threat was someone leaving their laptop in the back seat.

Over the years, I’ve written about legal tech, spoken at events, tested and reviewed products, and helped firms make smart decisions about tools and workflows. I don’t just like gadgets—I care about what they do for your practice, your people, and your sanity.

And here’s the part you specifically asked to make clear:

– Geeky Nerdy Lawyer is the front porch: the content, the commentary, the recommendations, the “here’s what works (and what doesn’t).”

– CenCom Technologies is the shop: the consulting and support company that’s been helping lawyers and firms with technology since 1994—hardware, software, planning, implementation, training, and ongoing support.

So if you want education and insights, stick around. If you want a partner to actually help you modernize your firm, clean up your systems, secure your data, and get your workflows under control, we do that too.

Schedule a Meeting with CenCom Technologies using this link or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact us.

 

 

 

About us

Why Follow GeekyNerdyLawyer?

Because most legal tech advice falls into one of two categories:

1. Vendor marketing dressed up as “helpful content,”

2. Tech jargon that assumes you have unlimited time and a dedicated IT department.

This site is neither.

GeekyNerdyLawyer exists to help you:

– Understand what matters (and ignore what doesn’t)

– Choose the right tools without getting sold a shiny object you don’t need

– Improve efficiency by reducing friction, clicks, double-entry, and “where is that file?”

– Avoid avoidable mistakes (especially the expensive ones)

– Deal with AI and cybersecurity with clear eyes and practical steps—not fearmongering, not hype

And yes, I’m going to keep it conversational, occasionally snarky, and always focused on real-world outcomes—because you’re busy, and you’re not here for a TED Talk.

If you want to read, learn, and improve things gradually, great. If you want to stop patching problems and actually fix the underlying system, that’s where CenCom Technologies comes in.

Schedule a Meeting with CenCom Technologies using this link or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact us.

 

 

Blogs & Articles

Read & Learn from Our Popular Articles/Blogs

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish!

new and experienced lawyers continue to wonder if practice management software is really worth the time, effort and cost? This is like wondering if a washing machine really makes your life better!

20 May, 05
Read more

Backup, why do I need to Backup?

In this day and age it still amazes me that there is still a group of lawyers out there that still don't take seriously the need for regular backups of their computers!

7 June, 05
Read more

129th IL State Bar Association Annual Meeting

I’m writing this from the 129th Illinois State bar’s Annual Meeting being held at the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, WI. Beautiful weather, terrific views of the lake and some great CLE and presentations taking place are making this another successful meeting.

17 June, 05
Read more

Portfolio

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Profile

Nerino Petro

Admitted to the IL Bar in November 1988, I’ve been a practicing lawyer since 1989. Licensed in IL & WI, I’ve been involved in technology for lawyers since the early 1990’s.

I am a technology speaker, writer, technologist, blogger at compujurist.com and much more over the last 30 years.

Get in Touch – Geeky Nerdy Lawyer

Get in Touch (without dial-up sounds or a 1998 modem handshake)

If you’d like to talk about your firm’s technology—what’s working, what isn’t, what’s keeping you stuck, or what you’re trying to build next—there are two paths:

 

Path #1 (fastest):

Schedule a Meeting with CenCom Technologies using this link or use the contact form.

This is ideal if you’re ready for consulting, implementation, support, or a strategic review.

 

Path #2 (classic):

If you prefer email or phone first, that’s fine too—some habits are worth keeping.

Email: info@geekynerdylawyer.com

Phone: (815) 516-8484

Either way, the goal is the same: get you to a clear plan that improves your systems, reduces ongoing friction, and makes technology a competitive advantage instead of a recurring distraction.

(And yes, we can do this without turning your office into a science experiment.)

Office Address:

Rockford, IL

Telephone number:
+1.815.669.0075
Email address :
info@geekynerdylawyer.com
Response Time

We’ll reply faster than you can say `git commit -m "Hello World"` — usually within 24 hours.

Disclaimer

We love to chat about tech, gadgets, workflows, AI news, and all things nerdy. But please note: we don’t offer legal advice through this site.