2012′s Best Android Apps for Lawyers

Time for the annual run-down of the best Android apps for lawyers. You can check out last year’s list here. This year, I beefed-up the list, dropped the extensive rhetoric, and give you the apps I think are well-worth your time and money. There’s always a caveat to the list, which is this: these aren’t necessarily lawyer-specific apps, and I don’t list Twitter clients or Facebook. Yes, you will see Google+; I explain why.

So, let’s begin, in no particular order:

1. Depose ($7.99) – this is a great new release for taking depositions or arranging questions for direct or cross-examination during trial.
2. Evernote (free) – this is a staple app among lawyers, I use the app for tracking recipes and instruction manuals more than legal matters.
3. Dropbox (free) –  this app will probably always make the list because it’s a staple for lawyers wanting to go mobile and deliver their documents anywhere your internet connection can take you.
4. Fastcase (free) – here’s your answer to free mobile case law searches.
5. dLaw (free; paid for add-ons) – this is a great offline resources for statutes and other materials that you may need some time.
6. Google+ (free) – I’m moving more and more away from Facebook (particularly because of all the “challenge” requests), to Google+, which provides me with video conferencing, chat, and Facebook-like interactions. That’s why this app makes the list, while Twitter and Facebook don’t.
7. ezPDF Reader ($2.99) – a great PDF application that allows you to view, edit, annotate, and save PDF files on your Android device.
8. RepliGo Reader ($1.99) – see # 7.
9. Adobe CreatePDF (free) – gives the users an ability to create PDF documents on an Android tablet.
10. SignMyPad (free or $19.99) – well worth the price of admission to be able to capture and save digital signatures on an Android tablet or phone.
11. SignNow (free) – see # 10 without the cost.
12. PS Touch ($9.99) – edit photos in a Photoshop-like app.
13. LogMeIn ($29.99) – give yourself the ability to login remotely with the “home office” when you’re away.
14. PocketCloud Remote Desktop VPN – ($14.99) – see # 14, except cheaper.
15. Waze (free) – great turn-by-turn navigation app with plenty of features; I actually prefer this over Google’s built-in app.
16. CallTrack (free) – this app helps track the time of phone calls made from your Android phone, and imports them into Google Calendar for use later.
17. Google Chrome (free) – this is only available for Android 4.x devices, but is the best (not fastest) browser on the market.
18. Dolphin Browser (free) – if you can’t get Chrome, here’s the next-best browser for Android users.
19. Life360 (free) – a good way to keep track of your family, and now coworkers or staff.
20. Dictadroid ($1.99) – if you’re looking for an Android dictation app, this is a good one.
21. Speaktoit Assistant (free) – if you don’t have Google Now, or you’re not quite satisfied with Google Now, now, this app provides Siri-like usability for Android phones.
22. Vlingo (free) – I prefer Speaktoit Assistant, but Vlingo also makes the list of cool Siri-like apps for Android.
23. Maluuba (free) – has this replaced Speaktoit Assistant as my go-to Siri-Android-wannabe? Almost.
24. Swiftkey (phone and tablet | $2.99) – this app gets a lot of rave reviews because it adds superb predictive type to your Android device.
25. CamScanner ($4.99) – add the ability to “scan” documents with your Android tablet or phone to your mobile arsenal.
26. Google Drive (free) – I have reservations about actually storing important information, but for basic word processing and document creation, this is a great tool.
27. RealCalc Plus ($3.49) – easily add up your millions, or perform complex calculations; this beats the default calculator app.
28. Amazon Kindle (free) – I love being able to read books on my tablet, this boosts the enjoyment.
29. OfficeSuite Pro 6 ($14.99) – my favorite word processing app.
30. Documents to Go ($14.99) – a lot of folks love this app, my chief complaint is formatting issues.
31. QuickOffice Pro ($14.99) – I also love QuickOffice, though I use OfficeSuite more.
32. Paperland Live Wallpaper ($0.99) – although this doesn’t quite classify as an “app for lawyers,” it’s calming, soothing, and the graphics rock; moreover, it’s whimsical.
33. Sketchbook ($4.99) – I replaced my free app with this one, which offers a few more design features and tools; plus the price was right at $0.25.
34. TuneIn Radio Pro ($0.99) –  use this app to listen to radio stations across the globe.
35. iHeartRadio (free) – use this app to listent to the stations (usually held by Clear Channel) that aren’t available on TuneIn Radio.
36. FoxFi (free) – before Verizon restricted tethering, I used this app to share my internet connection with the world around me. Now, I use Verizon’s tethering app.
37. Google Apps Device Policy (free) – this protects your phone from security threats.
38. Lookout Mobile Security (free + paid) – so does this.
39. Key Ring Rewards Cards (free) – this is like Apple’s passport for your Android phone.
40. Future Date Calculator ($0.99) – here’s a little gem for a cheap price. The app does what it’s name implies. I will probably never discuss this.
41. Locale ($9.99) – this app is a life saver for managing actions on your phone, like turning it to silent when you enter the courthouse.
42. Weather Channel (free) – I prefer this app over the others because, well, it’s The Weather Channel, and I have fond memories of gathering around the tv and watching the weather, on cable, 24/7.
43. OnGuard Weather Alerts ($1.99) – I live in Tornado alley where we get fierce thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. This app acts like a weather radio, sending alarms for sever weather watches and warnings.
44. Google Reader (free) – this is the native app from Google for reading RSS feeds/
45. gReader Pro ($4.99) – this is an extension of the Google Reader app, with support for things like podcasts and voice reading.
46. Tasks ($0.99) – on flaw of Google Calendar is the tasks feature, this fixes it for your Android device.
47. Google Calendar (free) – this replaces the stock calendar app, with a full-featured, Google-designed app. It’s for ICS and Jelly Bean devices only though.
48. Pocket (free) – this app lets you store articles, websites, or other materials to read later; I use it for news stories when I’m writing my Weekly Round-up.
49. GasBuddy (free) – with rising gas prices, it’s nice to locate a station that’s selling the cheapest gas, or the closest station when you’re running on empty.
50. Google Play Magazines (free) – with Newsweek announcing an all digital format, this (well, maybe not just Play Magazines) is the future of magazine publishing.
51. Quill ($1.00) – this is my new favorite handwriting app.

What do you think? Am I missing your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

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