Mobile computing is on the rise for lawyers and smartphones and tablets are becoming the preferred interfaces of choice. In fact, according to Kevin O’Keefe at Real Lawyers Have Blogs, last year smartphones use overtook that of regular mobile phones, crossing the 50% mark for the first time (ComScore Report). And, mobile interfaces are quickly catching up to desktops as the interface of choice, with 37% of people using mobile devices as their preferred interface. So it’s not surprising to learn that as far back as the fourth quarter of 2010, the smartphone market surpassed the PC market, selling 101 million mobile devices compared to 92 million PCs (IDC). Lawyers aren’t immune to this trend and are jumping on the mobile bandwagon as well as reported in the American Bar Association’s 2012 Legal Tech Survey. According to the report, a whopping 89% of lawyers now use smartphones. And, one of the most drastic increases in lawyers using mobile tools was the surge in the number of lawyers using tablets. That percentage nearly doubled over the period of one year, with only 15% using tablets for law-related tasks in 2011, with that number increasing to 33% in 2012. Given how many lawyers are using their mobile devices for work-related purposes, it should come as no surprise to learn that one of the main ways that lawyers want to use their mobile devices is to manage their busy practices on the go. That conclusion seems fairly evident, but what is harder to predict is how and where lawyers want to use their mobile devices. In 2013, MyCase web-based law practice management surveyed a large group of lawyers regarding the rise of mobile in their practices. The following infographic shows what they learned.

1. THE RISE OF MOBILE FOR
LAWYERS
This infographic tracks the increase of mobile usage amongst lawyers
and explores the need to access important data on the go.
1.3 Million
licensed attorneys in the United States
of attorneys reported using
a smartphone for law-related
tasks while away from their
primary workplace.
31%
Blackberry
17%
Android
3%
N/A
49% iPhone
Percentage of lawyers
who use practice
management apps*
Where lawyers access
mobile practice
management tools
15%
1
1%
%
19%
16%
44%
15%
66%
24%
Court
Car/Train/Auto
Home
Vacation
Office
Other
All the time
Sometimes
Rarely
ITEMS LAWYERS NEED
ACCESS TO ON-THE-GO
0
15
30
45
60
Calendar
Time & Expense
Documents
Messaging
Contact Info
Case Info
Tasks
Other
Invoice & Bills
Reporting
Client Intake
Accounting
WHEN LAWYERS NEED
3G/WIFI ACCESS
When internet connection
goes down
With current or
prospective client
Other
@
?
When I receive
correspondence and
I’m away from
the office
In court while standing
before the judge, jury
or counsel
TABLET USAGE FOR
LAWYERS ALSO INCREASED
33
14%
2011
2012
91% of lawyers replace the word “tablet” with “iPad”
MOBILE HELPS BRIDGE THE GAP
TO ALLOW LAWYERS
AND LAW FIRMS
TO DO MORE WITH LESS
Smartphones used for
work related purposes
Tablets used for work
related purposes
YES 88%
YES 60% 40% NO
12% NO
The modern day law firm is heavily supported by technology.
Cloud-based software and applications give legal practitioners the
flexibility and organizational tools needed to work efficiently from
anywhere. With the right technology in place, attorneys can focus
on their legal affairs rather than mundane office tasks - ensuring
a higher quality, streamlined business.
Infographic from MyCase, providers of web-based legal practice management software
for the modern law firm. Learn more at www.MyCase.com.
Sites credited
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/apple_devices_are_popular_in_smaller_firms_survey_finds_o
nly_7_use_blackber/
http://thedroidlawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Lawyers-Mobile.png
http://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/News-Extra/Special-Sections/ABA/TECH-jc7312012.aspx
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-percent-of-the-us-population-do-lawyers-comprise.htm
http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2012/09/ten-highlightsfrom-the-2012-legal-technology-survey-report/
http://www.travelinsurance.org/oil-spills/
*Number derived from attorneys known to be using practice management software