2011′s Best Apps for Lawyers

We're almost done with 2011, and ready to start 2012. With that change comes this cliche or obligatory app review post. Here I'll discuss my favorite applications, then request your comments. I want to make it clear though that I won't discuss the "give-me" apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google Voice. I want to dig deeper. So, let's get started!

Coming in as my emnumero uno favorite app is Dropbox. While this is kind of a "give me" app, the fact that there are still a lot of attorneys who don't know about this means it probably isn't. Dropbox enables me to carry my entire (or nearly entire) office on my tablet, which I can access where and when I need.

There's a small concern, especially when mobile, about being able to actually access the documents with Dropbox.That's why my number 2 app is Documents to Go. At $14.99, this app may seem costly, but being able to sync everything onto my mini-sd card is fantastic.

My 3rd favorite app is Barnacle WiFi Tether. This app allows me to tether a laptop or tablet to my mobile phone and access the internet whenever I have a signal. Of course, when I upgrade to either the Droid Bionic or Motorola Razr, I won#'t need the app because of the WiFi hotspot (although I still believe Verizon has blocked this feature).

Logmein Ignition and Wyse Pocketcloud share equal space. You may want to check out this post for a review.

RepliGo Reader is the awesome Adobe Acrobat PDF alternative. With RepliGo Reader, you can read and edit PDF documents, using similar features as your desktop version of Acrobat Pro. I love reviewing, commenting, and highlighting briefs and motions, depositions, cases, or any other PDF document from the comfort of my recliner.

One of my silent partner apps is CallTrack. This app installs to your phone, then tracks your calls and inputs them to your Google Calendar. For me, I can sync my Google Calendar and add the telephone call to my billing. I know an exact length because the app tracked it for me.

If I would have kept my college copy of Gray's Anatomy, I'd probably be just fine. Instead, I purchased the app from the Android Market. I use it fairly regularly, especially for personal injury cases, to get diagrams and pictures. I'm sure there are better anatomy books available to the general public, but for $2.99, this is a steal. Look for my review soon.

DroidLaw is taking over the Android legal research and statutes market with its extensive databases, well maybe not quickly, but it's an awesome app. Check out my review here

SketchBook Mobile is replacing Canvas Pro as the go-to app for doing drawings, sketches, and even basic note-taking. Unfortunately for me, PenSupremacy fails to load if you don't have internet to verify the license, which basically obliterates any usefulness.

Adobe Create PDF, which I discussed here, is another app I didn't believe I'd have a lot of use for. However, this has become a pretty stable go-to program in my tablet arsenal. Since I do close to 100 percent of my work in either MS Office or Adobe Acrobat Pro, Create PDF helps convert to Acrobat in a pinch and for use later. Great little creation, and a must-have if you're looking to eliminate paper in your office.

Dropsync Pro is an app I found by happenstance, probably from some random review somewhere in time. This fantastice application allows you to sync your entire Dropbox account (assuming you have space) to your tablet or other device. The two-way sync keeps track of the changes in "the cloud" and on your device. What's nice is that when you go to open a Dropbox file, there's no downloading required.

So, there you have it. My favorite apps of 2011. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

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