Here is something new to pass along. I have not had a chance to used Trial Pad. If you have, please let us know what you think in the comments. Here is the gently redacted press release:

I know you cover legal technology at Law With an Apple, and I wanted to let you know about an exciting new iPad app for lawyers that just hit the market.

It’s called TrialPad.  Basically, it’s a form of presentation software that displays evidence (or other documents) and allows lawyers to seamlessly cycle between different parts, as well as easily annotate (highlight, sticky notes, etc).  It connects directly from your iPad to the standard projection software available in most courtrooms, enabling lawyers to easily review, annotate, and scroll through digital files directly before the jury.  Think of it like a Powerpoint that’s much easier to annotate before a group and doesn’t require the forced linearity of the presentation.

The app is listed at $89, and provides an excellent alternative to the high priced “courtroom presentation specialists,” especially since it can be used again and again.

Though specifically designed for litigators, it could certainly be useful outside the courtroom to present and review documents before a group.  The app is in the iTunes store now, and you can find more information and watch demo videos at http://www.trialpad.com/.

I don’t know how you do it…bending that program to your will. In any event, you will be happy to know that the kind folks at Daylite are setting things up for the iPad. You can read more here.

From Gizmodo

“Last Friday night, California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen’s home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo. According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code.”

You can see the search warrant and read the full article here.

Since I cover a lot of cloud computing solutions for law firms, I thought I would post this link.  It is a good article with some interesting links on how others view the matter.

I think each person going to have a different experience  with Apple Care. I myself have had good and bad. But Apple Care is the human experience. You are talking to a person. If they perceive you as a person, you are going to have a better experience. I have been to Apple Care my fair share of times and people get very emotional about their computers/data/pictures/music/work/whatever. Moreover, people can get anxious, obnoxious, indignant and rude. And that is just while we are waiting in line to talk to the Apple Rep.

In this case, I loaned my friend my iPad so he could use it for a presentation. I had only owned the iPad for a few days. Long story short, he handed it to the CEO, the CEO dropped it on the table. Not bad so far. Unfortunately, it landed glass side down…on his car keys. A nice big scratch going right across the screen. For what it is worth, according to my friend, it did blend with the shooting stars background.

The damage was cosmetic and outside what Apple Care covers. Furthermore, it wasn’t even his. It was mine. Without calling me, he took it to the Apple Store and politely explained the whole thing. After some brief deliberation by the Apple Care Rep, they replaced the iPad. A quick sync at the office and a few adjustments, no harm done.

Now will Apple Care do this for you? I don’t know. I am sure each persons mileage will vary. I know I made a big ruckus with Apple Care when they sold me a MBP that ran hot enough to cook an egg on. Some folks got their laptop replaced. I was not one of them. I think it is a judgment call. It is a human decision. They listen and decide.

So remember when you go to get something taken care of from Apple Care, you are dealing with a human. Treat them accordingly and you might get results.

On a side note, Apple left a lasting impression on my friend. His next computer will be an Mac.

Well the iPad arrived on Saturday. Despite all the, “it is just a big iPhone” commentary flying around the net, I purchased the first generation. And it is great! I had loads of fun with the iPad this weekend and it sound like lots of other lawyers did the same.

So how is it?

For now, I have no buyers remorse. I have loaded up all my apps from my iPhone, plus a few that were made just for the iPad. I have a series of web pages as icons that I use daily. The web is just so much more practical on an iPad.

The calendar is fantastic. This is what we need in court when a judge sets the next court date. I can see everything I need, in a quick and intuitive fashion. The days of scrolling around on an iPhone while a judge stares at you impatiently are gone. Address book and mail look even better than the iPhone and you can tell they spent time thinking about how to effectively utilize the additional real estate the iPad screen provides.

Some of the apps from third party developers that have not been updated for the iPhone look pixelated and the interface needs to be shined up (dropbox, 1password, etc). However, I don’t expect it will be very long before these are fixed.

Note: for all you lawyers that keep sensitive emails (privileged communication) and or documents on your iPad, lock it down and set the iPad for a wipe after multiple attempts to unlock (in system preferences). It only takes a few seconds to set this up and will give you piece of mind if the iPad is lost or stolen.

Who else is talking about it?

Self proclaimed geek and legal technologist (and Criminal Defense Lawyer) Nicole Black did a great pictorial overview of her weekend unboxing. You can read her blog dedicated to iPad for lawyers here.  She even has a twitter list, for those of you that tweet, here. We also have Tablet Legal that is keeping up with all things iPad.

It is my understanding (my ear placed close to the ground) that Ben Stevens of Mac Lawyer fame is going to kick out a blog for iPad as well. We’ll keep you posted. Otherwise we’ll have to wait for the other Apple legal bloggers thoughts until next month (I think everyone else is waiting for their 3G order).

That’s it for now.

Excellent new blog on iPad using lawyers. This blog already has some great content and we seem to share many of the same hopes for what the iPad will turn out to be. Go check it out.

Once again, unless you are living under a rock, you heard about the release of iPad.  Unfortunate on the naming decision and lack of research. There have been some that say this will revolutionize the netbook market, the digital print industry and mankind as we know it. Hyperbole aside, I am sure that I will have one and it will make my life in court better.

When I am standing in front of a Judge on a busy calendar, looking through my calendar on my iPhone, it is painful. Solution: iPad. Working on documents in Pages (while waiting my turn on that same busy calendar) is not even an option.  Solution: iPad. Taking notes with clients on a laptop creates a physical barrier. Solution: iPad.  I can think of a dozen other reasons to see this as a great addition to our all Apple office. It isn’t perfect but it is cheaper than the first iPhone and will be much more useful.

I would still love to see Circus Ponies work on iPhone/iPad. I am not quite sure how it would be implemented. I have a Notebook for each client matter and viewing those Notebooks in a cloud solution, without opening Notebook, leaves me looking in a folder of jumbled mess.  I am thinking of taking another pass at Evernote and seeing how that might work. I know Ben over at Mac Lawyer enjoys using Evernote. And Evernote already has an iPhone app (which means it will work on the iPad).

I look forward to sharing with my readers the adventures with this new piece of Mac Hardware and tracking the changes it will bring to our office life.

Because of a busy holiday schedule, I have not had a chance to run Houdini Esq. through its paces. I was supposed to get in on the Beta, but the owner never got back to me. If anyone else has tried Houdini’s Practice Managment software, please leave a comment on your experience. It is free to try if you are a solo.

In other news, another SaaS PM product popped up. According to Singer (The Mac Grand Daddy) this one is for Criminal Defense Practice (oh boy!). The company is Top Dog Legal. You can check it out here. If you have already taken this out for a spin, let me know in the comments or shoot me an email: apelley at gmail dot com.

So many new Law Practice Management Options, so little time.