Tablets growing in legal industry, but face restrictions

As they have in other industries, tablet computers are making their presence felt in the legal system, with lawyers, judges and other personnel adopting the technology to take advantage of its portability and performance potential.

According to a November 2011 study from media firm ALM Legal Intelligence, a survey of 266 lawyers reveals that 40 percent of respondents use tablet computers for work, and nearly 90 percent use smartphones.

These professionals, the report says, are using the mobile devices for a range of work-related activities, including checking email, research and accessing documents on the go, among others. Though tablets and smartphones can perform a large number of functions, only 13 percent of surveyed lawyers say the devices have supplanted their use of traditional PCs.

Mobile devices do face some restrictions in the courtroom itself, the study finds, as more than 40 percent of respondents say their use of smartphones and tablets in the courtroom has been restricted or discouraged by judges.

As in the legal industry, tablet use is growing in other enterprises as well. According to a December 2011 study from PCWorld, 40.3 percent of surveyed tablet owners use their devices for work-related purposes.