When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad in 2010, he described it as a new category of device that slotted between a smartphone and laptop. I was fascinated. I had already been experimenting with tablet computers for lawyers so I saw enormous potential in something that allowed legal professionals to hold, read, annotate, and interact with digital information almost as naturally as they did with paper.
Sixteen years later, we don't have to argue anymore about whether lawyers can do "real work" on an iPad. The more interesting question in 2026 is: Where does the iPad fit into a modern legal workflow?
That's the question I've spent much of my career helping lawyers answer. I've worked with law firms and legal departments on eDiscovery, litigation support, artificial intelligence, mobile technology, and numerous other tech-tools with the chief goal of supporting the practice of law. I’ve trained lawyers around the world on Macs, iPhones, and iPads; co-authored the ABA book Macs in Law: The Definitive Guide for the Mac-Curious, Windows-Using Attorney; and created the Apps in Law blog to provide practical guidance on mobile apps for legal professionals. I also co-host the weekly In the News podcast with Jeff Richardson of iPhone J.D.
The ABA TECHSHOW has also been an important part of my professional life. I served as Chair of ABA TECHSHOW in 2015 and returned as Co-Chair in 2026. That's given me a front-row seat to more than two decades of changes in legal technology from mobile devices and cloud computing to cybersecurity and now, generative AI.
One question I've heard for years is, "Can an iPad replace my laptop?" We're closer to that being technically possible than ever before. Today's iPads have tremendous processing power, sophisticated multitasking capabilities, excellent keyboards, the Apple Pencil, external display support, and access to virtually every category of information lawyers work with.
But I'm still not convinced "replacement" is the right goal after all these years. I tell lawyers to identify the tasks where an iPad could simply be a better tool for their practice. Reading and annotating a long brief can feel more natural on an iPad than sitting in front of a computer monitor. The same is true for reviewing a deposition transcript, taking documents into a meeting or deposition, or standing in front of a courtroom and controlling a presentation yourself. An iPad doesn't have to replace your laptop to earn an important place in your practice.
Before we talk about TrialPad, TranscriptPad, Microsoft Word, PDF apps, or anything else, we need to answer a very basic question: Where are your files located?
Lawyers increasingly have documents spread across Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, document management systems, email attachments, and local storage. Understanding how those locations interact with the iPad is foundational.
It doesn't matter how good an app is if you can't confidently find and import the files you need. There's also a distinction between having something available in the cloud and having it available locally on the iPad. If I'm helping an attorney prepare for a deposition, hearing, mediation, or trial, I don't want their entire strategy dependent upon the quality of the building's Wi-Fi – I always recommend making local copies of your critical files before you leave the office. The cloud is wonderful, but preparation is better. y as much. I still want to help lawyers get beyond being impressed by technology and reach the much more valuable point where they can say: "This makes the way I work easier."
Security is a Mobile Workflow Non-Negotiable
Security is another area where the conversation has matured considerably. Apple has built extensive security protections into modern iPhones and iPads, including hardware-backed security, encryption and Data Protection, biometric authentication, and support for enterprise device management. Organizations can use mobile device management to enforce policies, configure settings, and remotely remove corporate information from managed devices.
But owning a secure device doesn't automatically create a secure workflow. I encourage lawyers to use a strong device passcode and Face ID or Touch ID, enable multi-factor authentication on important services, install operating-system updates promptly, understand what information is being synchronized to cloud services, and follow their firm's policies regarding mobile device management, networks, and remote access.
And there's still some wonderfully low-tech security advice: Don't leave an unlocked iPad sitting on the conference-room table. Technology changes rapidly but common sense remains surprisingly valuable.
Exceptional Power in Your Hands
One of the biggest changes in mobile computing has been how much work can now happen directly on the device.
TranscriptPad is a terrific example. An attorney can bring an official deposition transcript together with the corresponding video and have TranscriptPad sync them right on the iPad. Lawyers can then apply page-and-line designations and export video clips for review or presentation. Think about what that represents. Tasks that historically required powerful desktop computers and multiple-day turnarounds can increasingly be done on a device you can hold in your hand. That’s an enormous change from the iPad I first started training lawyers on in 2010.
Don't Get Hung Up on the "Trial" Part of TrialPad
This is something I've said for years, and I still believe it. TrialPad is obviously a powerful courtroom presentation tool, but a courtroom is only one place where a lawyer needs to put a document on a screen and direct someone's attention to a particular paragraph, photograph, contract provision, or exhibit. I've demonstrated TrialPad for depositions, mediations, client meetings, conference-room presentations, classrooms, and CLE programs.
There's an important difference between a linear presentation and a dynamic presentation. PowerPoint and Keynote are excellent when you're moving from Slide 1 to Slide 2 to Slide 3. But litigation usually isn’t that orderly.
Sometimes someone asks about Exhibit 37. You need to find it immediately, put it on the screen, zoom into paragraph 14, create a callout, highlight a sentence, and then jump somewhere completely different. That's where TrialPad on an iPad can become less of a computer and more of an extension of the lawyer confidently and persuasively presenting important information.
Start with the Workflow, Not the Technology
After all these years of teaching lawyers about technology, the most important lesson I’ve passed on to lawyers is not to start with the question “what apps should I download?” Start instead with “What am I trying to accomplish?”
Maybe you need a more efficient way to review transcripts. Maybe you want to avoid carrying boxes of exhibits into depositions or courtrooms. Maybe you want to annotate documents without printing them. Maybe you need to organize the chronology of a complicated case. Maybe you want to walk into a trial with everything accessible from one device.
Once you understand the workflow improvements you need, choosing the technology becomes much easier. That's also one reason I've enjoyed watching the LIT SUITE grow. What started with TrialPad has expanded into a collection of tools addressing documents, transcripts, timelines, exhibits, and presentations, with capabilities now extending across the iPad, Mac, iPhone, and even CarPlay in appropriate workflows.
The technology has changed dramatically since I first saw Steve Jobs hold up that original iPad in 2010. My goal hasn't changed nearly as much. I still want to help lawyers get beyond being impressed by technology and reach the much more valuable point where they can say: "This makes the way I work easier."
Learn More About Brett Burney, Esq.
Website: www.burneyconsultants.com
LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/brettburney/
Apps for Lawyers: www.appsinlaw.com
In the News Podcast: www.inthenewspodcast.com
👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wawGdHp-SLCcS4_t5Xoa5Q
We'll cover:
• The tasks where an iPad beats your laptop
• Why he starts every training with the Files app
• How to keep your mobile workflow secure
• Why TrialPad isn't just for trial
Bring your questions!
