In this week’s edition of Things I Wish I Knew, New York solo lawyer Joleena Louis shares her top five favorite mobile apps that she uses in her own solo practice!
I spend most of my time on the go, so I rely on my phone rather than my computer to stay organized and productive.
It’s not surprising that I am not alone in this regard. According to the American Bar Association’s latest Legal Technology Survey Report, mobile lawyering is more popular than ever and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Nearly all lawyers surveyed (94%) reported “regularly or occasionally using a mobile device for law-related tasks,”
There are several apps I use that have made solo life a little easier for me. Hopefully, they will help you too!
FollowUp
FollowUp is one of my new favorite email apps. You can set it to remind you about a certain email on a certain date or set it to send you a reminder if you don’t get a reply in a certain timeframe. You can also add notes and next step actions to each of your contacts.
I find this extremely useful for following up with referral sources and potential clients. And it helps me stay on top of current clients when I’m waiting on a response. The price is kind of high at $23 a month, but you get a free 14-day trial to determine if it’s worth it for your firm.
Brain Toss
Braintoss helps you capture what you need to do or remember, and sends it straight to your inbox. I’m a firm believer in getting things out of your head so you can stop thinking about it, and this app helps me do that. You can write a note, take a picture, or record your voice. Plus, the app is only $1.99 in the App Store.
Charlie
Charlie is an app that searches the web to research people you are scheduled to meet with and sends you a one-page document with useful information about the person before your meeting. This is extremely helpful when meeting prospective clients and referral sources and saves you time doing the research yourself. Right now the app is free too.
Strides
Strides is a goals and habit tracker that not only tracks your goals but shows you how well you’re doing and how far you have to go. I use it to track my fitness, health and financial goals.
CamScanner
CamScanner is a must have app for mobile solo attorneys. You can scan, fax, edit, and add notes, among other things – all on your phone. I love it for scanning notes or client documents on the go. This app helps me more than any other when I am on the road because it gives me the option to communicate with clients as if I was sitting at my desk.
Fastcase
The Fastcase app is perfect for when you need to do quick legal research on the go. It’s come in handy during consultations when the prospective client has a unique legal issue or when a case takes an unexpected turn in court. Essentially, it helps me to act quickly, which in turn can impress clients and colleagues alike.
What apps do you use to make running your solo practice a little easier?
