I recently shared the podium with Cliff Holleran, an attorney and innovative technology user in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at a presentation on litigation technology to the Indiana State Bar. While I was talking about all the cool new dedicated litigation software that is now available, Cliff was making an excellent case for using tools like outliners for similar purposes because lawyers are used to making outlines.

I was thinking about his points because one of my pet projects is helping people get more use out of the programs they already own and Cliff had given me some good ideas. I then started to look at the outliners available for the Palm. The light went on.

I want the Palm to be a way for me to record ideas, sketch out ideas for articles and presentations, and to jot down ideas that I can develop from time to time. My initial thought was that the memo pad function of the Palm would do the trick. But it didn't. I decided to look at outliners.

There seem to be three major outliners for the Palm platform: BrainForest, ThoughtMill and Arranger. As with all Palm software, one may fit the way your work better than others do. I really believe that every attorney will want to test one or more of these programs.

BrainForest is my favorite. It is a classic outliner tool that allows you to create outlines with collapsible and expandable subsections (called "branches" and "leaves" in the BrainForest metaphor). You can highlight subsections and "drag and drop" the subsections into new places and change priorities. Double tapping on a subsection will open it to reveal all of the details of that subsection.

BrainForest places a triangle in front of sections that can be expanded. Tap in the triangle and the section expands to show details. Tap again and the section closes up. Don't like the outline number system? You can easily switch to other numbering and lettering choices.

BrainForest can shift into a "to do" mode that will allow you to create sophisticated to do lists and check off items as you complete them. A project mode will even allow you to list the "percentage completed" on the project.

It's a classic example of the Palm as PC extender, not replacement. I can jot down ideas for articles quickly and put together an outline. I can export an outline out of BrainForest into a "to do" or memo format and sync it to my PC and easily use it. More important, I can record and organize ideas as I have them, add new ideas when I want and reorganize the outline whenever I have a few minutes.

BrainForest seems like a great tool for lawyers to work on arguments, briefs and presentations and get down their thoughts on the fly when they have a few minutes free.

BrainForest is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that should be in every Palm lawyer's toolbox.

About the Author

Dennis Kennedy is an attorney, legal technology and Internet expert, author and speaker based in St. Louis, Missouri. Dennis is a member of the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Group at Thompson Coburn LLP. Dennis can be reached by e-mail at dmk@denniskennedy.com.