Using the iPad in your legal practice – 2016 update

by Jason Kay

It has been over 3 years since I wrote this piece – Using the iPad in your Legal Practice – I feel an update is in order. I want you to know what has worked for me, and what hasn’t. Let’s start with the apps I’ve been using regularly for work.

… its “defer till later” function which allows me to put aside unimportant emails which will reappear in my inbox …

For emails, I am still using the native iOS MAIL app, but now in tandem with INBOX BY GMAIL. The reason I use the second app is because I need its “defer till later” function which allows me to put aside unimportant emails that will reappear in my inbox later in the day, the next day, the weekend, or to a specific date and time — or (and this is cool but not really useful for me) to a time when I arrive at a particular place (this is useful when I need, say, a batch of emails to reappear in my inbox when I arrive at a particular location for a meeting).

My calendar is still the native CALENDAR app – mostly. But since my mobile phone is an Android, I also have the GOOGLE CALENDAR app because its “schedule” view totally works for me.

For word processing, I use the native NOTES app for quick pieces since basic formatting is now available. I will only use PAGES when the need arises to edit the raw text since anything pasted into PAGES is pasted as raw text, while formatting is maintained when you paste into NOTES. I have not used the MICROSOFT WORD app after trying it out for a month or two. But it's a good app. When collaborating with other lawyers, I use GOOGLE DOCS because it allows for realtime editing with collaborators and we can leave comments for each other. This speeds up work tremendously.

What I do is use tags (in Evernote) to … to help me tap into research already done when preparing a future case.

When preparing cases, I work mainly with scanned PDF of my files – annotating them to remind myself of salient points for each case file. I still use PDF EXPERT. It is, to me, the best app on my iPad. For organising the development for each case file, I use EVERNOTE and devote 3 notes (usually) per file – chronology, examination-in-chief/cross-examination flow/questions, and submission flow. Each case file gets a specific name, and I do not create individual folders for each case file. What I do is use tags to remind me what each case is about, for e.g. statute, court, active or closed case file, area of law, and anything that will help me tap into research already done when preparing a future case. I use the tag function as guideposts.

To convert photos to PDF, I use SCANNER PRO, and I have PDF PRINTER on standby to convert web pages to pdf (this can also be done with the ‘save to PDF in iBooks’ function now available on the latest iOS).

I still use DROPBOX and GOOGLE DRIVE for my cloud storage needs. iCloud is on by default.

Having Telegram on both the iPad and phone is liberating …

For instant messaging, I have WHATSAPP and TELEGRAM on the phone, and TELEGRAM on the iPad. Having Telegram on both the iPad and phone is liberating because there is the option of typing out longer messages (and it’s easier to proofread on the iPad), sending it to myself via Telegram, and then forwarding it to others via WhatsApp (which is the preferred app for most of the people on my contact list). There is less chance of typographical errors. I also use ZELLO on occasion – usually when coordinating large events or outings. It’s just plain cool to make your mobile phone a walkie-talkie.

As part of my “continuing education”, TED talks are a staple. I use the YOUTUBE app. Channels that I find particularly good are The RSA and The School Of Life.

New things that I currently use: IKEA’s ISBERGET tablet stand. Cheap, and works brilliantly when I’m conducting a case in court.

Things/Apps that I do not use anymore: The stylus. iPad works best with fingers. That is its magic. As for all the other apps that I mentioned in the original article but not in this, I don’t/rarely use them anymore.

And this article? Written on the iPad with the 2-thumb typing method, and final editing using a laptop.

Explore the apps mentioned in the article:-

• Inbox by Gmail – https://appsto.re/my/gcI81.i
• Google Calendar – https://appsto.re/my/8XXm2.i
• Pages – https://appsto.re/my/EysIv.i
• Microsoft Word – https://appsto.re/my/PWh9I.i
• Google Docs – https://appsto.re/my/qimpY.i
• PDF Expert 5 – https://appsto.re/my/nGcwS.i
• Evernote – https://appsto.re/my/m49Yq.i
• Scanner Pro – https://appsto.re/my/lva5t.i
• PDF Printer – https://appsto.re/my/QHkDz.i
• Dropbox – https://appsto.re/my/63ZHt.i
• Google Drive – https://appsto.re/my/Z2yrE.i
• WhatsApp – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp&hl=en
• Telegram Messenger – https://appsto.re/my/psM6O.i
• Zello – https://appsto.re/my/WcWsE.i
• YouTube – https://appsto.re/my/WxoBG.i