Applying Your iPad Skills to the Legal Field

Transcripts have long played a crucial role in many aspects of a case. Historically, though, lawyers had to wait to get their hands on even a rough version of a transcript, let alone a clean copy that could actually be used.

Thankfully, transcripts have finally caught up with the modern age through realtime technology that connects lawyers to court reporters, allowing them to see transcripts in realtime as they’re being written. The only problem is knowing which technology you need for which reporter. Using an iPad removes the guesswork. There are multiple realtime apps available for iPad, and better yet, they’re free. Now, as long as you have your iPad with you, you’ll be able to connect with any reporter at any time, regardless of which app is required.

Remember those boxes upon boxes of paper that have long plagued the legal profession? They’ve had a tendency to turn depositions into a feat of physical labor. Between stacks of exhibits and courtesy copies for opposing counsel, depositions make the idea of going paperless sound like a dream come true.

These days, that dream has become a reality with the help of apps. When equipped with an app such as eDepoze, an iPad can take the place of mountains of boxes and paper files. Paperless deposition apps allow you to pre-load potential exhibits, which can then be introduced at the deposition with just a few clicks or taps. All other participants, including the witness, opposing counsel, and remote participants, will get a full PDF copy of each exhibit sent directly to their own devices. When the deposition wraps up, an electronic copy of all the exhibits is sent to every participant as well as to the court reporter to be included with the final transcript. Picture the difference between bringing just an iPad to your next deposition or having a team haul in piles of boxes, and you’ll understand why going paperless is so appealing.

Law may be a profession of words, but visuals have always been a game changer when it comes time to present your case to a jury. As jurors themselves become more tech-savvy, they expect lawyers to follow suit and use technology to present their cases. One of the easiest ways to deliver on those expectations is to add the iPad to your arsenal of trial tools.

PowerPoint has always been a favorite when it comes to trial presentations, but everyone has seen enough traditional presentations with boring lists of bullet points to last a lifetime. The Keynote app for iPad offers a great way to spice things up and create presentations that are both professional-looking and visually interesting. You can even use your iPhone as a remote control when presenting to the jury.

For those who aren’t ready to give up PowerPoint just yet, there’s now a version for iPad. If Google Docs is your medium of choice, the Google Slides app allows you to present native PowerPoint slides from your iPad. For timelines, the Timeline 3D app for iPad automatically creates beautiful, interactive chronologies to help you dynamically present your case.

Regardless of your software preference, the key is to create visual presentations that will wow your jury and stay with them into deliberations. Presentation tools for iPad make that possible in a way that’s also efficient for you as the lawyer.