I started the Off-Site Law Center to help lawyers move their operations off-site, out of the office, to a home office or anywhere else they wanted to get work done. The basic idea is to grease the rails of information storage and exchange via a computer system or application of some type.
Before today, there were several good options and approaches. Today I saw the future and it's called iPad.
The iPad puts an unlimited amount information, quite literally, at your fingertips. Imagine replacing bankers boxes of documents with an 18-ounce slate a bit smaller than a legal pad. Then include a few complete sets of statutes, a calender, email, and a Notes application that actually looks just like a legal pad and we have just scratched the surface of what the iPad can offer lawyers.
My practice involves a great deal of research, writing, and collaboration. I have hundreds of cases, statutes, and reference materials on my personal website in full text; it is my law library. I can customize the look and functionality to my liking and securely share information with clients and colleagues.*
Today, while standing in the Apple store, I held it all in the palm of hand, controlled it with my fingertips, it looked great, and was easy to read. The whole of the law held in hand, now that's really something.
If you don't have your own full text online law library, the iPad will be useful out of the box.
Several iPhone applications that give access to the full text of statutes already exist. These applications should also run on iPad. A Library in Your Pocket: The Law on iPhone and iPod Touch.
Reading text on the iPhone is tolerable, on the iPad it's ready for the office, court, and everywhere.