I am thrilled to post this insightful article from my good friend, Tara Cheever. Tara is a co-founder of LitSoftware. LitSoftware suite of products, including TrialPad and TranscriptPad, among others, revolutionized how litigators practice their cases. Thanks Tara!
A cultural clash has been brewing within law firms for years. On one side are midlevel associates who grew up immersed in the sleek, intuitive world of Apple products. On the other side, legacy IT teams prefer entrenched Microsoft-based infrastructure, and are often dismissive of Apple altogether. As this clash reaches a boiling point, law firms may soon face an existential choice: stick with what’s comfortable for their IT departments, or embrace the future of technology that a growing number of associates not only prefer but demand.
In a recent American Lawyer survey reported by Samson Amore in Law.com, midlevel associates voiced their frustrations over “lame laptops” and “batteries about to explode.” For these associates—many of whom are accustomed to the efficiency, stability, and cool factor of their personal Apple devices—the switch to firm-issued Windows laptops is more than just an inconvenience. It’s a workflow nightmare.
The Complaints
What’s the complaint? Many associates, fresh out of law school, have been using MacBooks and iPads since their high school and undergraduate days. Law school classrooms are dominated by Mac users, with reports from some schools indicating that up to 85% of students bring Macs to class. These students-turned-associates now find themselves tethered to outdated, clunky PCs, running Windows systems that don’t feel like an upgrade but rather a step back.
And it’s not just midlevel associates feeling this pain. Partners, too, often vent their frustration, especially those who use Apple products at home. They, like their associates, wonder why their firm-issued laptops can’t match the seamless experience they enjoy on their iPads and iPhones, especially when much of their software is cloud-based.
As firms focus on efficiency, the lack of investment in reliable, high-quality tech becomes more glaring
It’s not hard to sympathize with their frustration. As firms focus on efficiency, the lack of investment in reliable, high-quality tech becomes more glaring. As one story illustrates, co-counsel on a large insurance defense case were all issued outdated ThinkPads that were simply not fit for purpose. Locked-down laptops, restrictive email policies, and file size limitations made collaboration downright painful. Associates spent hours navigating tech barriers that should have taken minutes. The result? Lost productivity, mounting frustration, and time-based bills to the client were far larger than they needed to be.
For many associates, opening a creaky, underperforming laptop in a public setting can feel like a professional faux pas. In a world where image matters, they’re embarrassed by their firm-issued technology and infuriated when it fails to work properly. In contrast, Apple products function and they elevate the user’s professional presence.
Tom Vidal, a Partner in Pryor Cashman’s Litigation, Media + Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Technology Groups, echoes that sentiment saying, “Law firms can no longer treat legal technology as simple commodity products. Computing devices and software are not office supplies but vital tools that can enhance or detract from the delivery of world-class legal services. Apple products promote delivering quality legal services in three ways. First, the user experience is more reliable and less prone to configuration problems. These tools famously “just work.”
Second, the hardware is high quality and suffers less downtime than PCs. Moreover, with services like AppleCare+, replacing non-working hardware is simple and convenient. Third, the app ecosystem is designed to solve very specific problems efficiently.” Tom prefers mobile devices and web or iPad apps to access data instead of the “thin clients” provided to establish a remote connection with firm servers. He believes that “If IT departments were more welcoming to Apple products, they could enable lawyers to bring more creative solutions to their clients’ legal problems. The good news is that firms are becoming much more open to incorporating iPads and iPhones into the firm’s tech infrastructure. My trial team, for example, runs almost entirely and almost exclusively on iPads.”
Why Apple?
Why this attachment to Apple? There’s the famously simple answer, echoed by Mr. Vidal above: Apple products “just work.”
• Stability and Security: Apple’s macOS is renowned for its stability and security, thanks to regular updates and a design that minimizes system vulnerabilities. iPad, for example, was designed to protect both data and privacy. Built-in security features help prevent anyone but the user from accessing the data on iPad and in iCloud, while built-in privacy features minimize how much user information is available to anyone but the user. And, users can adjust what information is shared and where it is shared. For law firms that handle sensitive, confidential client information, this should be a compelling factor. Apple’s closed ecosystem offers peace of mind that Windows often struggles to match.
• Longer Lifespan: While the initial investment in Apple hardware may be higher, the longevity of Apple products more than makes up for it. A MacBook can last for years, often outpacing its Windows counterparts by several hardware cycles. When you factor in the cost of constantly replacing outdated PCs, the price argument starts to crumble.
• Cloud Integration: Much of today’s legal software is cloud-based, making the need for Windows-based devices less relevant. Associates ask, “Why can’t I just use my Mac?” And they have a point. If the software is platform-agnostic, why force them onto clunky, outdated hardware?
There’s also an intangible quality that Apple products bring to the table—the cool factor. Associates want to be proud of the tools they use
• Cool Factor: Let’s face it, there’s also an intangible quality that Apple products bring to the table—the cool factor. Associates want to be proud of the tools they use. Apple’s sleek design and user-friendly interfaces enhance the user experience, making long workdays just a little more bearable.
The Law Firm-Apple Disconnect
So why haven’t law firms embraced Apple products en masse? One big reason is that Apple challenges the comfort zone of entrenched IT departments. Many IT professionals have spent their careers immersed in the Windows environment, managing fleets of PCs and supporting Windows-based systems. Switching to Apple would require a shift in mindset and a willingness to learn and support a new system. For some, this presents a perceived threat to their job security. After all, Apple products require less maintenance and fewer troubleshooting calls.
This resistance to change comes at a cost. Firms that cling to outdated technology frustrate their workforce and risk falling behind in productivity, efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, talent retention.
There is a middle ground many firms have claimed — requiring Windows PCs while at the same time supporting Apple devices like iPhone and iPad. This is the approach taken at Adams and Reese, a law firm with nearly 300 attorneys and advisors located in 21 offices and 10 states throughout the United States and Washington, D.C. As Jeff Richardson, the chair of the Technology Committee at Adams and Reese, explains: “Like other large law firms, we rely on important software for services such as our document management system that are designed to integrate with Outlook on a Windows PC. But almost all of our attorneys also use an iPhone, and a large number also use an iPad. Mobile Device Management software allows Apple products to be a secure part of our environment, and virtually all of the platforms that we use on our PCs can also be accessed using an app on an iPhone or iPad. Our attorneys love being able to use Apple’s intuitive and powerful mobile devices while providing legal services for our clients.”
Getting Ahead of the Curve
Some law firms are getting ahead of the curve, recognizing the long-term benefits of adopting Apple technology. These firms aim to see happier associates, smoother workflows, and enhanced security—all with less friction. By investing in Macs and iPads for their legal teams, they attempt to foster an environment where associates are more productive and engaged. And when a device does need support, Apple’s renowned customer service ensures that issues are resolved quickly, minimizing downtime.
Nathan Treanor, Executive Director of Dean Omar Branham Shirley, a tech-forward plaintiff’s firm with a national practice explained why the firm chose the Apple ecosystem instead of Windows PCs, “For us, choosing Apple over Windows came down to a few things: 1) the seamless integration between devices. 99% of our attorneys and staff have iPhones, and a large number of them use iPads. The ability to work across all devices helps with productivity and makes our lives easier. 2) Apple’s focus on security and privacy, especially when handling sensitive client information, gives us peace of mind that potential data breach or compromise risks are significantly reduced. And 3) despite the higher upfront cost, the reliability and longevity of Apple products leads to lower costs for replacing equipment in the long run.” He added, “I am sure there are other benefits… and, to be honest, Apple products just look better than most PC products. While I am sure most people wouldn’t admit that is a consideration, I am sure it plays a part.”
In today’s legal landscape, efficiency and security are paramount in the tools a firm chooses.
Apple Intelligence and Security: the Game Changer?
As law firms grapple with emerging technologies like AI, they will soon have another decision to make. How will AI be integrated into legal workflows, and which platforms will provide the safest, most confidential use of these tools?
Apple’s approach to on-device AI, with a focus on privacy and data security, positions it as a safe choice for firms dealing with sensitive legal matters. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s cloud-based AI solutions may introduce new concerns about data breaches and confidentiality risks. Law firms that want to remain competitive in the AI age must consider which platform offers the best blend of functionality and security.
In today’s legal landscape, efficiency and security are paramount in the tools a firm chooses. The burgeoning cultural divide between IT teams and a tech-savvy generation of attorneys is coming to a head, and firms that fail to embrace Apple technology risk alienating the very talent they rely on to thrive.
The question may not even be whether Apple is the better choice—it’s whether your IT team is holding you back from making it.
Photo Attribution: Photo by The Jopwell Collection on Unsplash
