Documents Go Here
One thing lawyers use a lot of is documents. We draft text documents, review and annotate pdf documents, assemble spreadsheets, etc. At present, the iPhone does not have a centralized place where documents can be accessed from or stored. Sure, you can dump everything into your DropBox, but Documents To Go can’t open them for editing. While some apps have workarounds, they are often clumsy and counterintuitive.
This all looks like it will change with the iPad. Version 3.2 of the OS will make available some sort of shared directory that can store documents created / edited on the device or that can be filled up from your Mac or PC. This will be huge toward making the iPad a device that can do more actual work and justify leaving the laptop behind. Consider:
- MS Office. All MS Office docs can be opened in the iWork applications and iWork applications can create MS Office compatible versions. It sounds like this import / export functionality will also be included in the iPad versions of the iWork applications. This begs the question about whether Redmond might be readying an iPad compatible version of its Office suite. While doing so might greatly increase adoption of the iPad by lawyers, it seems an unlikely distribution channel for Microsoft to pursue.
- Acrobat. A relatively full featured Adobe Acrobat application for the iPad would go a long ways toward making the device a tool for real work. A simple reading or file management app like Acrobat.com Mobile won’t be enough. i think a truly useful Acrobat application would need the ability to: create pdf; add, remove rotate pdf pages; protect pdfs; sign documents digitally; and use commenting tools like sticky notes, highlighter, stamps.
- Trial Notebook. I’m hoping to see applications like Circus Ponies Notebook available on the iPad. The flexibility to deal with lots of different types of content plus the organizational tools built in make them ideal for assembling trial notebooks or any sort of project.
- Packages. With an integrated file storage on board, I envision pdf, spreadsheets, photos, videos, text docs, presentation slides, etc. being assembled together into folders or containers of related information. I’d love to see a universal “player” application like QuickLook, perhaps with a CoverFlow style interface, to allow easy movement between, and display of, different file types. This could be the hub for controlling exhibit displays in juries, reviewing documents with a client or running a meeting.
- Safari. Lots of web apps accept file uploads. I immediately thing of Clio and its document management module. Create documents and upload to your SaaS matter management application and also make them available to clients via Clio’s Client Connect features. Or, move new documents into any of the 37Signals applications to be accessed by clients or other members of your firm.
Here’s hoping this file management feature makes it into the first release of the devices.
