Technology for Lawyers

May 20, 2014 by Arkady Bukh

As the chair of the local bar’s computer and technology committee, I often get questions about computers, software and other things. Here are a few of my recommendations for the trial lawyer.

Computer – I would go with a lightweight laptop over about anything. Portability is key. I use a Dell Latitude D400. Although, if you are really on the cutting edge you may want to wait a month and see what the Microsoft Origami project is all about. It is supposed to be released on 3-9-06.

Software –

• Microsoft Office Standard Edition. (Word, Outlook, Excel & Powerpoint)
• Time Matters for calendaring.
• Microsoft Visio for putting some pretty need graphics in your power point presentations.
• PCLaw for accounting.
• iTunes

Other hardware –

• A projector to take to the courtroom.
• Get yourself a wireless broadband card to go in a PC-MIA slot on your laptop. I has rendered Wi-Fi obsolete. You can pick one up front Sprint or Verizon.
• Two Flat Panel monitors. Most video cards have the ability to use two monitors. This is great for using mutiple programs at the same time. You’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
• A USB flash drive
• Wireless presenter with laser pointer for powerpoint presentations.
• Get an iPod with video capability. They are so cool.
• Since a hard drive just crashed causing me to lose some data, I am now on the backup bandwagon. I-Omega has a one terrabyte external hardrive for 799.00 that works via USB 2.0 or firewire. I don’t own it yet, but I will get it soon. Thanks to Rick Georges of futurelawyer.com for pointing this one out to me.

Cell phone/PDA –

• I use a Samsung I-500.
• However, the Treo kicks butt and there is a new version out. Treo 700W.
• Blackberry was good, but they have lagged behind and lost quite a few users that switched to something else when they were worried that RIM was going to get shut down.