From Paper to Pixels: How Litigators Can Successfully Adopt Digital Binders

We attorneys love binders — at all times have, at all times will. That doesn’t imply we’re caught with paper, although. Right now, it’s definitely doable to have binders in digital type, both through the use of general-purpose instruments or purpose-built binder software program. Listed below are my ideas on key issues for choosing the right digital binder device in your workflow.

Three Issues to Contemplate

Attorneys want to contemplate three issues when selecting a digital binder system: options, gadget and file storage location.

Notice that I gained’t be recommending a particular digital binder product, and that’s for a few causes. First, full disclosure, I make and promote a digital binder software program product for attorneys referred to as Align, so I’m biased. Second, this actually is workflow-dependent. A lot because it pains me to say it, one measurement doesn’t match all.

1. Digital Binder Options

You utilize binders, in fact. Take a second, although, and take into consideration what’s necessary to you once you have a look at your binders.

Do you annotate the paperwork or simply learn them?

If you happen to annotate, do you spotlight or write on the paperwork, or each? Do you employ sticky notes or flags, and the way?

Who makes your binders—you, an assistant or a paralegal? How are your binders up to date?

Do you share your binders? Do you give a replica to a witness or opposing counsel or the court docket?

The place do you learn your binders? Is it at all times in your workplace, or is it totally on the street or in your home in a comfortable chair?

As you reply these questions, make an inventory of which of this stuff are necessary to you and, simply as importantly, which aren’t. That is going that will help you slender down your seek for the appropriate device. For instance, if another person makes binders for you, it’s going to be necessary to have a device that enables a number of customers to entry your binders. If you happen to make them your self, that’s much less necessary.

2. Deciding on the Perfect System for Digital Binder Workflow

Since you’re going to go digital, ask your self what the best digital gadget is on which you’ll work together with these binders. It might be a tool you have already got or it might be one which’s in your vacation want listing. Listed below are a couple of issues concerning the units which are on the market. I consider them in three classes:

Laptop computer. You’ve one already, so in some ways in which’s the simplest alternative. Nonetheless, the ergonomics of laptops aren’t at all times the perfect for studying—not to mention studying and taking notes. Lots of people (myself included) prefer to learn with the paperwork mendacity flat, not upright. A laptop computer isn’t nice for that except you might have a laptop computer/pill hybrid. If you happen to do have a type of, check out studying and writing on it. Some individuals love that have; others discover that the units are too heavy or too thick.

iPad. This will get its personal class as a result of it’s the 800-pound gorilla of tablets—and for good cause. It’s gentle, has nice battery life, is extraordinarily nicely supported and, with the Apple Pencil, has nice handwriting choices. It’s additionally very safe. Associated to that, if you’re at a legislation agency with tight safety insurance policies, that is virtually definitely the gadget it helps. If you happen to haven’t tried an iPad but, pop over to your nearest Apple Retailer or Finest Purchase and test it out.

Different. There are numerous different pill choices available on the market. There are, in fact, Android-based tablets. Additionally fashionable are tablets that particularly goal paper-loving customers, just like the reMarkable. There’s quite a bit constructive to say about these units, however there are two issues you’ll want to at the least contemplate if you’re leaning in that course. First, they aren’t practically as nicely supported because the iPad. I’m not saying it needs to be that approach, nevertheless it’s a truth. Second, you’ll want to contemplate safety, particularly when you find yourself taking a look at non-Android tablets. That is each a query of what your legislation agency’s IT division will permit and in addition simply frequent sense. What occurs in case you depart your pill on the practice with tons of of consumer information on it? How simple is it for somebody to unlock it? Is its reminiscence encrypted?

3. Storage for Your Recordsdata

The very last thing to consider is the place the information in your digital binders will reside. Particularly, the next query goes to make an enormous distinction when it comes to which digital binder product is best for you: Do your information must reside (a) solely on the gadget, (b) on a general-purpose cloud storage service or (c) inside a devoted system?

The reply to this query goes to dramatically alter your choices.

If you happen to don’t thoughts getting the information onto your gadget manually and also you don’t want to have the ability to share them simply with different individuals or have your binders up to date by different individuals, you’re going to have plenty of choices.

If you happen to want to have the ability to share information throughout units or with colleagues, however can use cloud storage like Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive, that can restrict your choices, however you’ll nonetheless have a good quantity.

Lastly, in case your information have to be saved in an enterprise-class storage service (usually the case in case you work at a big agency), you’re going to discover that you simply want a binder or doc answer that particularly targets enterprises.

If you happen to take away one factor from this text, it’s that you simply positively can — and will — begin shifting your binders to digital codecs.

Make 2026 the yr you lastly fulfill your decision to go paperless!

Right here’s a handy guidelines detailing precisely what to incorporate within the three core litigation binders, when to make use of them, and easy methods to hold them organized.

Sam Davidoff is a former trial lawyer and the CEO and founding father of Align, a digital binder answer designed to offer attorneys with paperless workflows.

Picture © iStockPhoto.com.