In addition to their basic ability to maintain contact information, addresses and appointments, PDAs can also interface with exisiting desktop scheduling software to ensure that up-to-date information is available at the touch of a button. This flexibility is ideal for busy professionals that rely on others to maintain their calendar, utlize group scheduling functions or need to maintain an accurate record of court dates.

Because most PDAs can easily fit into a pocket, they make an ideal repository for reference material. Ranging from legal terms and definitions, to text books to complete legal documents, there is a wealth of readily available information that can be stored on your PDA for access at a moment's notice.

One of the most common uses of PDAs by legal professionals is to manage billing and expenses. the portability of these devices makes them ideal for recording time spent on client matters, particularly when away from the office, and recording reimbursable expenses at the time they are incurred. Ancillary software packages can even import this information directly to the firm's billing software to ensure proper accounting and eliminate transcription errors.

Why should you buy a PDA to help you with your legal career? Because of the enormous amount of information needed by legal professionals and the increasing demand for that information at remote locations, PDA popularity has been significantly building in the legal community. Not only have several companies released PDA products catering to the needs of practicing professionals, but these offerings are becoming more and more useful as lawyers integrate PDA's into their practice. Primarily three uses for PDA's have emerged as the main functions in the legal environment: billing and expense tracking, reference, and enhanced contact management.

Are you interested in contributing to the Tutorials sections or would you like to see a specific item discussed? Drop us an e-mail and let us know about it.