Corporate & Securities Law

The Mobile Lawyer: Time-Shifting on the Go

By John Wallbillich

The last item on the changing legal landscape potentially wrought by the once and future Verizon iPhone: understanding the lawyer (or client) on the go.

This perspective comes from an expert resource: the developers of Read it Later, an app for the iPhone (and plug-in for Firefox). They track how and when their users read content later using their product. And surprise! They just reported that many users are reading content on differing devices at different times of the day. It’s really worth reading, and has some great visuals. Here’s one for the iPhone:

So mobile computing frees lawyers from the desk, which is a good thing. I think it will change the way many practice, which is both a challenge and an opportunity.

Here is the summary conclusion from the article:

When a reader is given a choice about how to consume their content, a major shift in behavior occurs. They no longer consume the majority of their content during the day, on their computer. Instead they shift that content to prime time and onto a device better suited for consumption.

Initially, it appears that the devices users prefer for reading are mobile devices, most notably the iPad. It?s the iPad leading the jailbreak from consuming content in our desk chairs.

As better mobile experiences become more accessible to more readers, this movement will continue to grow. Readers want to consume content in a comfortable place, on their own time and mobile devices are making it possible for readers to take control once more.

Smartphones and super-tablets will allow lawyers to take historically desktop content and essentially Tivo it for later. That is, if content producers (such as media outlets or law firms) have created it properly.

There is so much more here, but I will step back from the mobile lawyer rant for awhile. After all, this is not the Wireless GC.

Full post as published by The Wired GC on January 14, 2011 (boomark / email).