Last Updated: 16th November 2021
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Are you an attorney looking to boost your productivity? In law school and looking for a flexible note-taking device?
Lawyers and law students have special needs and the right electronic hardware helps them to conduct their work duties with ease…or to study law in a more efficient manner.
In our opinion and that of legal eagles worldwide, some tablets are ideal for law work and these include the Surface Pro 4, the iPad Pro, the iPad Air 2 and the Galaxy Tab 4.
Why Buy a Tablet, Anyway?
Today, we’re going to talk about why these best tablets for lawyers and law school are so impressive.
There are many great reasons to invest in these electronic toys. For example, lawyers who work as civil litigators use tablets in order to decrease the amount of paper that they need to work with. Some legal work typically requires tons of paperwork and using a tablet for certain tasks, such as reviewing legal documents and studying depositions, helps to keep clutter at bay.
When lawyers choose tablets, they are able to avoid toting around files. Instead, they may carry tablets which are loaded with tons of digital documents which may be accessed and searched with total ease. The best tablets are great for scans and for character recognition tasks. So, there’s just no need to use paper if you can access excellent software to use with a tablet (and you definitely can)!
Civil litigators are just one example of lawyers who are increasingly reliant on tablets. Personal injury lawyers also love them. Typical tablets are very light in weight and the convenience of storing document-intensive files on mobile devices is impressive to say the least.
Perform Legal Tasks Remotely
In addition, tablets are great because they allow lawyers to do legal tasks remotely. Since lawyers are so busy, it helps them when they can perform tasks out of the office if they need to. Tablets work well with cloud computing interfaces and this combination of hardware and a cloud-based account allows lawyers to check out documents online.
Case management software is recommended as the perfect link between a tablet and a cloud-based portal.
Most lawyers use tablets for reading and review. They may also create documents. The majority of lawyers who use tablets take them into courtrooms. It’s very helpful to have digital versions of documents available in court and tablets make it easy to create complete archives of relevant legal documents.
Also, lawyers use tablets in order to serve the needs of clients. For example, clients may sign engagement forms via tablets and this is very convenient for everyone. Once a document is signed digitally, it may be saved to a Practice Management program. At this point, it may be mailed electronically to the client who signed it.
The Business Case for the Right Tablet
Tablets That Lawyers Love
Apple iPad Pro
Being a lawyer implies more thank knowing your case in and out, asking the right questions and being up to date with all legislation. It also means using the right tools in order to be able to edit your documents, store and organize them. Lawyers tend to use business laptops and tablets that have good performance, stylish looks that make an impression and fast processors. The reason why you need all that is that you cannot risk getting caught in a tech-related drama when you need the device the most. Although ultra-thin laptops are hugely popular among users in this branch, tablets have become so advanced that you simply don’t need a laptop anymore.
The iPad Pro from Apple is lightweight, portable, performant and comfortable to use. Once you have tried it once, you will have the answer to the lawyer’s dilemma around what choice to make when it comes to the right device. The iPad Pro is incredibly successful thanks to its premium design and mindblowing technical capabilities. It is compatible with every application that you might need for note-taking, document editing and commenting, as well as or collaboration on different platforms. The stylus makes writing so easy, that you won’t even know you are not writing on paper. What helps even more is the fact that it comes with a 12.9 inch screen, which is larger than most tablets. Also, it allows you to use side-by-side apps to work faster and more productively.
As for the display, it is equipped with an LCD Liquid Retina display and has True Tone screen. Its graphics are better than a laptop’s and the Apple Pencil 2 has a new magnetic dock that decreases the risk of losing it. This display has an active area of 10.32 x 7.74 inches, a 2K screen resolution and high pen pressure sensitivity. There is one disadvantage when it comes to its screen, though. It is glossy instead of matte, so if you are planning to use it outside, you might want to consider getting yourself a matte screen protector.
Microsoft Surface 3
As a lawyer, you need more than a laptop. If you are up for a new way of working, one that implies more flexibility and freedom of movement, as well as the option to detach the screen from the keyboard when needed, then you move towards a more modern approach.
One of the best options that the market has to offer is a 2-in-1 tablet. The Microsoft Surface 3 is a great idea, for many reasons. If you want a device that allows you to take notes using the keyboard or pen, that is lightweight, fast and easy to use, but affordable at the same time, you should take a good look at this product.
This isn’t one of those ultra-slim tablets, but it is a beautifully designed tablet with a 10-inch display, a 1920 x 1280 pixels resolution and a pixel density of 213. The magnetically attached keyboard offers a nice typing experience and becomes practical when traveling, as you can use the tab with or without it. At the same time, it includes a docking station that only Pro models have been granted so far.
If you were to choose between a Pro version of any tablet and the Surface 3, you wold probably think that the Pros are worthier of your attention. That is true, but if you think about the price, you will realize that the Surface 3 offers quite a lot of great features for the money. Microsoft has built a more compact and less powerful version of Surface Pro 3, which resulted in this model. The fact that it is cheaper surely means the manufacturer has to make some compromises, including a 10.8-inch touchscreen that is smaller than the 12-inch Pro Frame. But, the rest of the Surface Pro 3 is left intact, from a magnetically reinforced Type Cover keyboard to lots of quality accessories that you can buy for it. A tablet that turns into a laptop and still has the power of one is always a good idea. If you are a lawyer and you need fast operation, a stylish design and a great screen, but you would like to keep the costs low, this is an option that will satisfy all of those needs.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Designed for people who need to work on the move, for busy lawyers who can’t stay in the office for too long and professionals who are constantly working between meetings with new clients, the Surface Pro 2 in 1 laptops are lightweight, but come with enough processing power to handle the basics and batteries that are powerful enough for a full day’s work.
The latest Surface Pro family includes Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, which offer more power-hungry quad-core processing power, as well as Microsoft’s Surface Pen stylus support, which also lets you take notes by hand and to sketch on the fly. The keyboard dock of his tablet must be bought separately, but even so, the Surface Pro 6 kickstand is stable enough to ensure that if you have the tablet on your desk and use another Bluetooth keyboard, it will not fall easily, no matter how difficult it is for one of your cats to enjoy it. The keyboard docking station has magnetic tapes that allow it to be fixed and locked perfectly.
The Surface Pro 6’s Type Cover Docking Station measures 295 x 217 x 5 mm. In general, the typing experience is quite good, despite the narrow size of the keyboard. Significantly, Microsoft has allocated more area to alphabetic keys, which makes them smaller. The disadvantages include the four arrow keys, which are grouped in the lower right corner, and the left Shift key, which is quite small that hitting could represent a challenge for some users. The trackpad is very accurate and responsive, but here comes another challenge: the buttons next to the trackpad are missing and even though it supports left and right clicks, some users might feel like it is incomplete.
If you feel like your old laptop needs an upgrade, choosing the Surface Pro 6 will be life-changing in terms of portability, versatility and performance.
Lenovo Miix 510
The Lenovo Miix 510 is a stylish and professional tablet. At its price, it is only natural to have an elegant style, as it is meant to satisfy the needs of lawyers and other types of professionals who cannot make the wrong impression. The frame of the Lenovo Miix 510 is wider than expected, but it does not bother users too much. Except for that, the display is excellent, having deep blacks and vibrant colors.
The viewing angles are also really excellent, which is a huge advantage for anyone who wants to use this tab for collaborative projects. What represents a problem is the resolution, which remains in Full HD and did not improve since the last released model. The Lenovo Active Pen is also present in the box. The fact that you can use it to write and take notes of your trials’ advancements or simply daily ideas makes it perfect for your job.
Today, the pens that the tablets come with are way better than in the past. The Active Pen makes no exception. The Lenovo pen does not attach to the tablet in any way, but there is a pen loop on the case that you can use to store it. This is a detail that helps users make the difference between a premium product and one that involves some compromises. However, the price helps a lot in the decision making process.
This tablet is nicely designed, but will not surprise you with its shape and size. The detachable keyboard serves as a protective leatherette cover, too. It is easy to work with and very pleasant to the touch. It is a more sophisticated and advanced accessory than the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Type Cover, which must be bought separately. It is not the case of the Lenovo Miix 510.
As expected, this is a lightweight tablet that weighs only 900g when the keyboard is not attached. It is lightweight enough, to be used one-handed. If this is comfortable for you, using the other one to take notes on the screen can be quite practical. However, after a while, it will become tiring and you will want to let it down. As for the keyboard cover, it comes with Lenovo’s AccuType style keys, which are curved. They have enough size but do not have as much movement as the Surface Pro 4 cover.
Thinking about buying a new tablet? If you work in the legal field and have something to review, add or write at all times, this product is a good option, especially if you are not looking for a top tablet that costs a fortune.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 tablet
A highly portable, flexible and good looking tablet for lawyers is the ThinkPad X1 tablet. There are many reasons why it is a good choice for someone who wants to be able to take notes at all times and not depend on a pen and paper. This Lenovo Hybrid tablet is a strong, cutting-edge notebook with a nicely designed keyboard that, when removed, allows you to use this responsive, rugged tablet on its own.
Add a stylus stored on the side and two Thunderbolt 3 ports and you get a Windows 10 workstation for almost any conceivable situation. Lenovo’s multi-functional hybrid, with a detachable keyboard, has returned in this nearly identical 3rd generation model that is performing well enough to deserve its price. Similarly to the previous ThinkPad X1, this is a 13-inch tablet with a removable keyboard that makes it a professional notebook. Just pull the crutch and it rests on your desk at any desired angle.
It’s difficult to remain unimpressed by the thin and practical design of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, unless you already use a more advanced model, say the Microsoft Surface Pro. The Lenovo is a little bigger than the competition, which is not so attractive at first. A ThinkPad Pen Pro is included with a bracket that snaps on the side of the device. This is perfect when you are sitting on a desk, but the pen tends to fall out of the rack when you carry the unit. Although the pen performs impeccably, Lenovo could have done better in this area.
The ThinkPad X1 Tablet can be considered a high-end 2-in-1 notebook, and it has the specifications to compete with the best Windows 10 similar devices. There are a lot of features that users adore on this tab. Lenovo has included more than a pen, but has gone the extra mile and offered its users a function that is now present on all devices: a fingerprint reader. More than that, it has included a front and a rear camera, as well as face recognition function.
Just like we could see in the previous versions, this 3rd generation tablet is a truly versatile tool for someone who is constantly on the go.
Surface Pro 4
Created by Microsoft, this tablet features a 12.3-inch display screen which is touch-sensitive and equipped with PixelSense technology for crystal-clear resolution. In addition, this tablet is pre-loaded with the Windows 10 Pro Operating System. Lawyers appreciate the lightweight design of this model, as it weighs just 1.69 pounds.
It also comes with a surface pen which makes it easier to take care of tasks. This tablet is as powerful as a laptop and is the best choice for most lawyers since it will slickly integrate with the PCs back in the office.
While the tablet itself is streets ahead of the competition, one downside is a lack of apps at the moment – there are far more for Apple and Android.
iPad Pro
iPads are known for their simple and immersive interfaces. The iPad Pro features a 12.9-inch display retina screen and the tablet offers twice the CPU performance of the Air 2 iPad. As well, this tablet comes with multi-touch technology which makes it easy to use and enjoy.
If you like a bigger screen and want the latest features, this design may be right for your needs. It’s definitely popular with legal professionals and law students, thanks to the gorgeous screen and massive range of apps.
iPad Air 2
The Air 2 has a smaller screen than the iPad Pro. However, it’s still loaded with appealing features. If you prefer a conventional tablet screen size, this design may be more suitable for you. In terms of features, the display screen measures 9.6 inches and pixel count is 264 per inch.
You’ll get a powerful CPU and long battery life (ten hours) when you choose the Air 2 – one of the best tablets ever made.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
This tablet measures 7 inches and it’s very easy to tote around from place to place. It features a dual core processor with 1.2GHz and an Android operating system (4.4 OS). It comes with a seven-inch display screen and is equipped with a resolution of 1280 by 800.
If you want something compact which is easy to slip into a pocket or bag, you’ll find that this design is quite appealing.
Useful Websites
Anyone buying an Apple product might find value in a site called iPhone J.D. It’s run by a lawyer in New Orleans who uses an iPhone and iPad to run his practice.
Summary
We’ve talked about why tablets are so useful for lawyers and law students alike. We’ve also detailed some tasks which are commonly performed on these devices, as well as the benefits of their mobile capability. Lastly, we touched on the key features of four tablet designs that lawyers love.
Now, you’ll be ready to choose the tablet that is right for you.