Ninety-one percent of attorneys use a smartphone, according to the 2013 ABA Tech Survey. Fully 62% use iPhones, 22% are on Android phones, and 16% are still using BlackBerrys. Almost half (48%) use tablets as well, and again, Apple dominates: 91% who have a tablet use an iPad. There are a number of mobile apps for lawyers worth checking out as the use and popularity of smartphones and mobile devices continues to rise.
Most of the apps out there were initially created for iOS and later adapted for Android. Some can work on smartphones as well, although given the amount of data lawyers routinely work with, tablets may be more ideal platforms for many legal apps.
Mobile Office Apps Recommended By The ABA Journal
If you’re the cautious type, stick with apps the ABA Journal favors (if nothing else, these are more or less vetted). Many are combined with a service you might already use in the office, such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, and are therefore free for your office. Others have a small charge, none over $10/month.
In addition to WestlawNext®, which the Journal says is “well-designed and easy to use,” take a look at these apps—available in iOS and Android—which can help keep you billable outside the office:
- Documents to Go shows redline edits, handles footnotes, and lets you zoom in on text, three functions other mobile document services don’t offer.
- LogMeIn (iOS) and LogMeIn Ignition (Android) give you access to any of your office systems lacking a mobile application, such as time-entry and document management.
- dLaw (iOS) and fastcase (Android) provide free legal research for tablets and smartphones.
- Dropbox stores and retrieves files from the cloud.
- ezPDF Reader lets you read and edit PDF documents.
Get Mobile Access To U.S. And State Laws
Lawyernomics likes LawBox, a mobile law library for iOS devices that delivers comprehensive court rules and statutes in seven states:
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- New York
- Texas
You can choose which states to subscribe to. LawBox also offers the entire U.S. Code.
Another standard legal tool, Black’s Law Dictionary, is provided in iOS and for Android. It includes, Lawyernomics notes, a pronunciation guide along with cross-references.
Go For It All With Practice Management Mobile Apps For Lawyers
If your firm uses a cloud-based practice management service, find out if it offers mobile apps for lawyers.
- MyCase offers the MyCase App for iOS and Android devices that gives access to the same features used in the office. It also offers client login portals to access to their case notes, documents, and appointments, freeing up support staff time.
- HoudiniEsq creates customized, cloud-based legal practice management packages for virtually any device.
- Clio has created iOS and Android apps that provide virtually all the desktop services. The iPhone app was updated in June 2014.
Don’t Forget Pre-Installed Apps On Your Smartphone
Both iOS and Android devices have pre-installed apps that provide very useful tools to use with and outside work. Here are a few good for emergency, practical, and everyday use:
- Maps
- Camera/Video recorder
- Weather
- Calendar
- Find My iPhone/Find My Phone (if not available on your Android device, activate the Gmail app for this)
- Flashlight
- Car locater
- News
- FM Radio
