Lawyers' Note-Taking Habits: Analog Attorney Survey Results

Common readers know Analog Lawyer is an impassioned reporter on all the things you may want or want for productive, efficient and satisfying note-taking. Our analysis into the very best pens, pencils, notepads and journals, together with the varied note-taking strategies, is obsessive (and infrequently costly). However any person has to do it. Just lately, our consideration has been riveted on a brand new entry within the note-taking house: ePaper or eInk tablets. This acquired us pondering: What’s the present state of legal professionals’ note-taking habits and preferences? Learn on for outcomes from the inaugural Analog Lawyer Survey.

Analog Lawyer Survey Outcomes: Highlights and Key Findings

The bulk (84%) of respondents reported taking handwritten notes “always” or “a number of instances a day.” Probably the most cited cause was for common functions (47%), adopted intently by shopper conferences.

Respondents desire to make use of authorized pads or notebooks over digital tablets or ePaper units for handwritten notes by a large margin.

The popular paper note-taking medium is the standard authorized pad, adopted by Moleskine notebooks. The preferred digital note-taking apps embody Apple Notes, OneNote, Evernote and Google Preserve.

Whereas most favor a clear, clean authorized pad, 24% reported utilizing a preprinted productiveness or time administration system corresponding to a Levenger Circa or Hobonichi Techo.

Amongst those that reported utilizing a selected principles-based system for organizing work and time, the Eisenhower Field and GTD strategies have been the most well-liked.

Greater than half learn work paperwork on an digital pill or ePaper system. Nevertheless, solely 35% accumulate signatures on these units.

Greater than half of respondents (55%) wish to doodle whereas taking notes, with 21% of these saying it helps relieve stress.

Whereas solely 3% of respondents use ePaper units corresponding to The Exceptional and Supernote as their first selection for note-taking, greater than half stated have thought-about them, with a 50% likelihood of attempting one out within the subsequent yr.

Greater than 120 attorneys and authorized professionals participated within the survey, carried out within the spring of 2024. Most of those attorneys work in corporations of 1 to five attorneys. The aim of the survey was to establish present note-taking habits and preferences whereas gauging curiosity in ePaper and eInk units, such because the Exceptional and Supernote. So let’s get into it.

Observe-taking Is a Good Enterprise Follow

Taking copious and clear notes is sweet authorized enterprise observe. And, not surprisingly, Analog Lawyer survey outcomes confirmed that almost all legal professionals (84%) hand-write notes always or many instances a day.

“Authorized pad or Notability (with Apple Pencil on iPad) all day lengthy.” — Survey Participant

When requested when, particularly, they’re most definitely to take notes as a part of their workflow, survey respondents’ high 4 solutions have been: Throughout shopper conferences, to handle my schedule, to handle circumstances, and through depositions.

Requested to rank how a lot of their work course of relies on notetaking, respondents’ median reply was 64 on a scale of 1 to 100. As for a way vital note-taking is to their understanding of their work, the median reply was 61.

When requested how typically they take handwritten notes, use a paper journal or Daytimer, or make use of handwriting in another trend of their workflow, 32% stated they accomplish that always, whereas 52% stated “many instances a day” and 12% stated a few times per day. Solely 4% reported by no means utilizing handwritten notes.

“Utilizing pen and paper makes the dialog extra memorable and helps solidify my pondering.” — Survey Participant

Notes Can Save Your Bacon

Whether or not handwritten, dictated or typed, ethics counsel Megan Zavieh says good notes ought to “establish work we’ve got finished or nonetheless must do, who we’ve got spoken with, when and about what,” and that note-taking is important to sustaining compliance with ethics guidelines. Your notes, she says, are indispensable for:

Dealing with shopper disputes: If a shopper ever comes again with a query in regards to the recommendation you’ve got given, your notes ought to mirror once you spoke to them, what you talked about, and what you informed them.

Answering state bar questions: For instance, an allegation of failure to behave with competence is perhaps that you just didn’t interview sufficient or sure witnesses in a case. Detailed notes of each contact, try to contact, dialog or correspondence with each witness will assist defend you. The identical is true of authorized and factual analysis, technique discussions, or every other side of a illustration.

Detailing contact with non-clients: Full notes will assist battle you out of a later shopper engagement. Your notes will even be useful if that individual ever accuses you of misconduct or says you had a shopper relationship. The notes may even turn out to be useful when following up with them on the enterprise improvement facet.

Learn Zavieh’s wonderful recommendation on “Holding Higher Notes” right here.

“I make notes within the margins of draft contracts in order that I’ve them for reference when speaking with a shopper or the lawyer representing the opposite celebration within the transaction. Preliminary notes and notes from completely different calls or conferences are every in a unique colour (so I can inform who stated what throughout which name or assembly).” — Survey Participant

The Authorized Pad: Lengthy Might It Reign

“Yellow pad and pen. Black ink for self-generated. Blue for conversations and different interactions. I take notes always and frequently and scan them to file within the particular matter or private undertaking.” — Survey Participant

Loads of legal professionals use note-taking and productiveness apps. They experiment with GenAi-powered undertaking administration/collaboration/kitchen-sink platforms and actively dictate fast notes and reminders into their cell telephones after conferences. However, when requested what medium they use most frequently, 86% stated they select the comforting scratch of pen on paper over e-tablets and e-paper.

In accordance with Analog Lawyer Survey outcomes, solely 9% of authorized professionals desire an digital system corresponding to an iPad, and three% report utilizing a Exceptional or eTablet. Nearly 40% of respondents stated they go for a authorized pad, whereas 35% desire a paper pocket book, planner or journal.

“I take advantage of a No. 2 pencil and paper notepads. I additionally are inclined to print paperwork and mark them in pencil whereas reviewing, transferring them to digital type solely in ultimate draft.” — Survey Participant

In fact, the survey’s “analog” title could have been self-selecting. Nonetheless, paper reigns supreme, with 74% preferring authorized pads or paper notebooks and one other 13% admitted they most frequently seize a free paper, scrap paper or no matter is at hand.

“I take advantage of The Dominator (NeuYear) for time-blocking work (and private issues just like the fitness center) every day. I take advantage of erasable markers and pens, so it’s simple to maneuver issues round. The time blocks are color-coded for common case work, courtroom/depositions, and private. I’ve a nasty behavior of taking notes on shopper calls and Zoom conferences with no matter I can get my arms on, then scanning the notes and saving them within the shopper file (within the Notes folder).” – Survey Participant

Most Well-liked Apps for Digital Notetaking

“I usually use an iPad and Apple Pencil for note-taking throughout interviews and depositions. I additionally use the identical in courtroom to jot down questions for cross-examination. I additionally maintain a authorized pad and pen by the phone for fast notes and messages.” — Survey Participant

Respondents recognized the next apps as the most well-liked note-taking apps on digital units, although no clear winner emerged. The 2 most talked about are default apps within the iPhone and Microsoft 365 ecospheres.

Do you utilize any of the next apps?

Apple Notes27%

OneNote27%

Evernote19%

One thing else16%

Google Keep11%

ToDoist8%

ReMarkable Connection7%

Asana4%

Notion3%

Airtable2%

Monday2%

Respondents have been requested to pick all the apps they use on this checklist, so whole doesn’t equal 100%.

Observe-Taking Techniques and Disciplines: Hail to the Chief

Time administration hacks, productiveness methods and planners have passionate fan bases, particularly in analog communities. There are numerous video playlists and tutorials, rooms on Reddit, blogs, and podcasts devoted to essentially the most area of interest features of dividing one’s day. Among the many legal professionals surveyed right here, 24% reported a choice for a specific model of paper-based preprinted system. The highest 4 manufacturers talked about are Moleskine, Levenger Circa, Hobonichi Techo and Leuchtturm.

(Learn “17 Wonderful Methods a Hobonochi Techo Will Change Your Life.)

“I take advantage of a journal for all conferences after which take a photograph and ship it to somebody if it must be typed. The journal lasts about three months.” — Survey Participant

When requested in the event that they actively use a principle-based system corresponding to GTD for organizing and prioritizing their work, most (57%) stated they don’t. The preferred reply amongst those that do use such a system was “one thing else,” adopted by the Eisenhower Field, Get Issues Accomplished (GTD), Most Essential Factor (MIT) and Inbox Zero.

“I take advantage of the Bullet Journal technique for monitoring duties and case-related assembly notes. I sometimes use authorized pads for extra intensive duties that require extra notes and scanning into our system. Something different legal professionals could must assessment I usually transpose to typewritten content material. Most all the things I write is for my reference solely.” — Survey Participant

Analog Attorney Survey Top 4 Time Management Systems

“I take advantage of paper and pen for brainstorming and inboxing my duties, appointments and different gadgets I want to maintain monitor of. I additionally use an Everbook for the GTD technique.” — Survey Participant

The Eisenhower Field is an easy one-sheet matrix—hand-drawn or preprinted—that categorizes duties into 4 quadrants based mostly on their urgency and significance.

“I’m an enormous fan of the Eisenhower matrix as a result of it’s an analog software,” says Bull Garlington. “I do know there are Excel spreadsheets, apps, and web sites, however all of them miss the best worth of this trick: It’s simple, it’s disposable, and it’s quick.”

Lawyer Jamie Spannhake says, “By placing duties to their respective quadrants we get clear on which duties align with our core aims and deserve our consideration. This strategy allows us to make knowledgeable choices about the place to take a position our time and sources.”

Learn: “The Artwork of Prioritization for Attorneys” and “This Is How Eisenhower Bins Effortlessly Arrange Your Life.“

The Energy of Doodling

These 55% who stated they doodle and the 21% who stated it relieves stress are onto one thing. Doodling is usually a sensible hack for paying higher consideration in conferences.

“Only a few conferences are deliberate properly sufficient (or in any respect) to current info in a manner that captures and maintains excessive curiosity within the individuals sitting across the lengthy picket desk,” says Garlington. “PowerPoint shows pasted along with duct tape and hope, long-winded recitations of the phrases on the slide everyone seems to be already studying, and simply common fatigue make taking note of a deck—and absorbing the knowledge—unlikely.”

Doodling can change that, explains Garlington:

“While you’re trapped in a gathering, your mind may very well consider it as a lure. Your combat or flight response heart is triggered, and a sort of low-key nervousness erupts, inflicting you to cease paying such shut consideration to Steve’s deck about Kind 11-897-part-A and as a substitute consider methods you may escape. Doodling provides that a part of your mind (the amygdala) a pleasant cup of tea and a heat blanket and tells it in soothing tones to shush, all the things is OK. Then, whereas it’s chilling on the sofa, the opposite a part of your mind locks in on Steve, permitting you to soak up and retain—and, most significantly, recall—all the knowledge you’ll ever want on Kind 11-897-part-A.

“The Exceptional 2 is doodle ahead. It’s a endless provide of clean paper so that you can fill with squiggles, loops, cross-hatching or cartoon squirrels. Doesn’t matter. You’ll be able to Zentangle from edge-to-edge, so long as you retain doodling so you possibly can maintain paying consideration.”

Once we requested (in fact we did), virtually half (45%) of respondents stated sure, they actually want to enhance their drawing and doodling expertise.

Though the share of attorneys who reported utilizing the Exceptional 2 or related eInk tablets (Supernote, Kindle Scribe, Boox) was low, curiosity in utilizing such units was greater than 60%. This displays the enterprise world’s consciousness of eInk tablets and their rising curiosity.

“My spouse is in-house counsel for [nope] and just lately transitioned from her cherished hardbound journals to a Exceptional 2. For years, she took meticulous, copious notes by hand as a result of pondering on paper helped her win her circumstances. She says, ‘I solely take up issues if I write them down, however I can’t at all times discover my notes in a stack of handwritten paper notebooks. My Exceptional 2 provides me the power to put in writing by hand, and simply discover my notes.’”

In accordance with Garlington, a very powerful factor in regards to the Exceptional 2 is the way it organizes notes utilizing tags. This makes notes searchable, which saves time when it’s essential to discuss with a selected a part of your conversations with a shopper.

Kindle readers and related eReader units have established a distinct segment for studying books and magazines. In accordance with Reanin.com, the worldwide market in 2023 was $810.79 million and is projected to develop at 5.2% via 2030 to achieve a worldwide market worth of $1,156.17 million. The chart of annual development of eReader shipments since 2008 appears like a really steep staircase. Publishers and authors took be aware of this rise early and altered their enterprise fashions to match readers’ expectations.

Digital paper tablets are within the early levels of development, much like eReaders in 2008. Consciousness is rising, and phrase of mouth is fueling a few of that development as customers whip out their tablets in conferences, share notes, recall notes, and toss pictures and diagrams onto a whiteboard.

Learn “The Exceptional 2, Supernote Nomad and Onyx Boox: Battle of the Paper Tablets!”

Bear in mind when amassing digital signatures was a brand new factor and authorized tech ethics panels apprehensive over their use? What number of emails does an legal professional ship or obtain each week asking for signatures now? It’s fixed as a result of it streamlines the method, saves cash and chasing down signatures can occur in minutes as a substitute of hours or days.

Whereas simply 35% of survey respondents reported amassing signatures on their tablets (versus through electronic mail or in print), that determine will rise together with the adoption of ePaper units.

Count on ePaper units to rise in reputation as increasingly attorneys uncover their (ahem) outstanding usefulness.