My 64 gig WiFi and 3G iPad arrived on Friday. I had it delivered to another office where I knew someone could sign for it. When I opened the package in the lobby, the lawyer – an ex-Marine with 25 years of trial experience – looked at it and asked, “what’s that?”
He was unconvinced that it had any value, and I didn’t take the time to explain it to him.
Fast forward to Monday afternoon, where the two of us were sitting for nearly two hours waiting for our case to be called. He asked me whether I knew the potential sentence for a class of crime. I said I didn’t, but quickly showed opened the sentencing chart I had loaded onto the iPad.
Then he got interested, so I showed him how all my clients files are synched onto the device, how I have started to create a presentation for potential DWI clients that I can show to them when I sit down with them in their homes for the initial consultation, and how I am currently putting together a Probation Violation presentation together replete with video of the family from another state pleading for leniency.
That got him interested. Obviously this only scratches the surface of what can be done, but his next questions were: How much is it, will it work with Windows, and could I help him set his up?
Aside from downloading some Apps and putting client flies and certain legal documents on the device, I’ve been too busy to play with it. Will give it a review later.
Greg Swann says:
I don’t know if this is doable yet, but Rowmote should let you control Keynote on the iPad from a virtual remote-control on an iPhone. Your clients can watch the presentation without you getting in their way.
May 4, 2010 — 12:50 pm
Alex Cortez says:
Typing on a blackberry now, so I won’t go into too much details, but iPad has changed the way I do business and my play time. I’ll post a couple of apps later on, when I finally get home (geez, it’s not even noon… long day).
May 4, 2010 — 2:38 pm
Robert Kerr says:
Damon, how are you protecting those clients’ files in the case the device is lost or stolen?
May 4, 2010 — 9:29 pm
Damon Chetson says:
The ability to protect client files is crucial. Right now I’m doing it through password protection. But I think I may simply subscribe to the MobileMe service. I actually do not like that service, but the one good feature is that it gives you the ability to wipe the device remotely if you lose it or someone steals it.
May 6, 2010 — 4:20 pm
Carmen Brodeur says:
The ipad is going to revolutionize real estate listing presentations. Everyone else will be left in the dust. 99.9% of realtors don’t use technology to their advantage.
May 8, 2010 — 9:58 pm