The iPad is the coolest new tool in the lawyer’s toolbox. In fact, Reid Trautz wondered, iPad Impact: Going Where No Lawyer Has Gone Before?  However, because it is so intuitive and easy to use, few lawyers have taken the time to completely familiarize themselves with its features. Fortunately, Carol Gerber has taken the time to help busy lawyers get up to speed on their iPads by posting iPads for Lawyers: Shortcuts for Power Users in Attorney at Work. Geri Dreiling reports on one judge’s creative use of an iPad in One judge’s embrace of technology helps the court save time and taxpayer money at her blog, Lawyer Tech Review. Hopefully, our local courts will follow the example of South Carolina and revise their sites to become more iPad friendly as reported by Justin Kahn on his iPad Notebook.

While personal computers require programs, iPads use “apps.”  Hence, Bill Latham’s recent post: The Hytech Lawyers Recommends Thirty-One Great Apps for Lawyers is most helpful.  However, Josh Barrett at TabletLegal reminds readers to avoid cluttering up their tablet with too many apps. Of course, the software with which lawyers are familiar is not necessarily available at the App store, particularly the Office Suite from Microsoft  However, David Strom at ReadWriteWeb recently reviewed a presentation app called SlideShark for which he describes as a “game changer,” especially for experienced Powerpoint speakers. In addition, John Paul Titlow reviewed devices and apps in Why the iPad Works for Writing. Although security apps for the iPad have lagged behind in both availability and functionality, Tom Michell did review one such app called Virus Barrier at his IPAD 4 LAWYERS blog.

Because typing on the iPad is less than ideal, users frequently resort to wireless keyboards. Randall Ryder posted his impressions of one such keyboard in, Verbatim Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard Review posted in the Lawyerist.  Writing and sketching on the iPad is greatly enhanced by styluses. Bill Latham reviewed some of his favorites at his blog, Hytech Laywer, as did Tom Mighell at IPAD 4 LAWYERS. When it comes to styluses, however, more money does not always provide better functionality, as Sam Glover wrote in his Alupen Pro iPad Stylus Review.

"Legal Tech in the Blogosphere" is written by members of the ISBA's Standing Committee on Legal Technology (COLT).