Tablets and Firm Resources

The firm is re-thinking the way we do mobility.

At the Partner Retreat last week, I discussed how IT is taking a look at new document management, case management, and time and billing systems.  Critical to any of these new systems is the ability to do most, if not all of your work on just about any device.

Traditionally, the firm has focused on supporting Windows computers.  This was fine when Microsoft held a virtual monopoly on your devices.  Now that we do more of our work on cell phones and mobile devices, the firm needs to transition in order to accommodate a range of other devices.

To make all this work, most of our computing will be moving to the cloud.  The "cloud" is essentially an industry term to mean using a server outside of our own office on some remote location accessible over the Internet. Over the next few years, I hope that not only our data will be stored on the cloud, but most of our computing will be done there as well.

On our existing network, we have our PCs do most of the computing work.  We grab a document, then use software on the PC to work on it.  In a cloud computing environment, we can work on the document through a web browser or an app.  The work is being done on some large server far away. Your computer is simply showing you the changes you are making on that far away server.

The big benefit of this system is that you do not need a powerful computer to do much of anything.  All the work is being done outside of your device.  As a result, you can have a much smaller, lighter mobile device to do much of your work.

With that in mind, the firm is testing the use of iPads as a mobile device for attorneys.  Rather than carry around a laptop everywhere.  Attorneys could have a desktop PC in the office and use an iPad to work on files, enter time, and check email when out of the office.  Not only would this  be much smaller and lighter, it would allow attorneys to have Internet access anywhere, using a Verizon 4G connection, the same technology your cell phone uses.  No more hunting for open WiFi networks!

We are beginning a feasibility study to see if these tablets really can serve as a viable alternatives to a full blown laptop when outside the office.  Hopefully, I'll have more good news to report on this soon.