As we continue our global blog series, we’re diving deeper into the stories of professionals who are redefining productivity in their fields. From academia to entrepreneurship, our community is filled with individuals who are not only excelling in their careers but also finding innovative ways to balance their work with technology and well-being.
Today, we turn our attention to Jeff, a seasoned attorney from New Orleans with a passion for all things iPhone. He has a blog where he shares productivity tips and talks about how he integrates cutting-edge technology into his legal practice. From the seamless functionality of the Apple ecosystem to the potential of AI in the legal industry, Jeff knows how to keep pace with the demands of his profession. By leveraging tools like PDF Expert, Jeff has found new ways to streamline his workflow, reduce stress, and stay productive, even in the rushed world of law.
Managing high-pressure workloads in Law
For Jeff, the legal world isn’t just about understanding the law—it’s about managing an ever-growing workload, often under tight deadlines. As a lawyer, his schedule can be overwhelming. "When I feel stress in my job, it is often because I am feeling overwhelmed with all of the tasks ahead of me," Jeff explains. His solution? A streamlined to-do list that keeps him grounded. "I can prioritize what needs to be done and then tackle them one at a time."
However, Jeff’s approach goes beyond just managing tasks. It’s about finding moments of motivation amidst the chaos. "As I check items off my list, I can get past the stress and have a feeling of accomplishment, which encourages me to go to the next task and so on," he shares. By breaking down his workload into manageable steps, he finds balance and productivity even in the most stressful situations.
The power of the Apple ecosystem
As an attorney who deals with sensitive documents and high-stakes cases, Jeff’s ability to seamlessly switch between devices is crucial. "The best part of the Apple ecosystem is that everything works so well together. I can often go back and forth on a task between my iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and sometimes even my Apple Watch," he says. For Jeff, being able to pick up where he left off, no matter which device he’s using, adds efficiency to his workflow that’s hard to match.
This ability to work across devices is particularly important when Jeff is on the move. He’s quick to highlight how his iPad, often positioned next to his desktop, acts as an essential secondary display during his workday. "My iPad has PDF Expert open, and my PC monitor to the right has Microsoft Word open," he explains. "I can type my argument based on whatever I am viewing in PDF Expert."
AI and Law: the inevitable transformation
The legal profession is not typically thought of as tech-forward, but Jeff believes that’s rapidly changing. "AI will absolutely transform the legal industry. This has already started," he notes. Platforms like Westlaw have introduced AI tools that can sift through legal precedents with greater speed and precision than ever before. "Instead of searching for legal opinions that use one phrase within a certain number of words as another phrase, you can just explain what you are looking for, and the AI helps you find the best case."
However, Jeff acknowledges that AI isn’t perfect yet. "It doesn’t work all the time, but when it does, it is a huge time-saver and allows you to discover information that would have been difficult to find and/or would have required much more time."
Looking ahead, Jeff sees AI playing a pivotal role in managing and analyzing vast sets of legal documents, a time-consuming task that can slow down the legal process. "One of the next steps in AI tools is to provide answers based on a set of documents on a server. We are already starting to see these products, and as they evolve, they will be great tools for working with large amounts of documents."
Apple Vision Pro: entertainment or productivity?
While Apple Vision Pro is still primarily seen as an entertainment device, Jeff sees its potential in the legal world. "I love my Apple Vision Pro, but right now, I am using it mostly for entertainment. The immersive videos created by Apple are truly incredible and make you feel like you are in a different place," he says. Jeff envisions future scenarios where lawyers use the device to help juries better understand complex cases by presenting evidence in a more immersive, visual format.
"I can imagine using this as a lawyer in the future, perhaps using future tools to help a jury better understand what happened that gave rise to a lawsuit, helping the jury adjudicate fault between different parties," Jeff adds. "Plus, there is complete privacy because nobody else can see what I see."
PDF Expert: a legal lifeline
When it comes to Jeff’s day-to-day work, no tool is as indispensable as PDF Expert. "A big part of my practice is working with documents, and PDF Expert is my go-to app for reviewing and annotating them."
One of Jeff’s favorite features is the highlighter tool, which allows him to easily mark important sections of text. "The highlight tool is especially notable because the bright yellow color looks great on the text. All of the PDF programs on my PC tend to use a lighter yellow color that doesn’t stand out as much," he says. He also uses handwritten notes in the margins, often color-coding them to differentiate between various types of annotations.
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Jeff’s use of the app goes beyond basic highlighting, though. "With a paid PDF Expert account, you get the ability to create a custom toolbar. This is incredibly valuable to me. I have different pens with different colors and widths, highlighting tools, and drawing tools, and I have other tools that I use for annotations. With everything where I like it, I can be much more productive."
The stamp tool is another favorite. Jeff has created a custom Exhibit sticker, which he applies to documents during depositions.
Jeff’s must-have apps for Lawyers
We’ve asked Jeff to curate a list of must-have apps for legal professionals:
- PDF Expert: his daily go-to for document review and annotations.
- GoodNotes: ideal for taking handwritten notes during depositions or brainstorming sessions.
- 1Password: an essential app for securely managing sensitive passwords and client information.
- Scanner Pro: perfect for quickly converting paper documents into digital files.
Final Thoughts: Tech and Balance in the Legal World
Jeff’s journey as an attorney underscores the importance of staying organized, leveraging the right tools, and embracing emerging technologies like AI. His advice to fellow professionals? "Think of your iPhone as your second brain. Instead of trying to remember important facts and tidbits, just put them in the iPhone, such as in the Notes app. This always helps me to feel that I can free my mind to focus on being creative instead of holding on to mundane facts."
If you’re looking to improve your efficiency, give PDF Expert a try. With tools designed for legal professionals, it’s perfect for reviewing, annotating, and organizing documents. Ready to boost your productivity?
Yevheniia Dychko 
