Lawyers Should Consider Producing Their Own iPhone Apps

"Applications" on iPhones and in the iTunes store are growing in importance and popularity, and lawyers should carefully consider the implications for marketing and content distribution.  In a March 4, 2009 article, The National Law Journal noted that more and more lawyers and law firms are embracing the iPhone.  The article conceded that the BlackBerry is still the PDA of choice for many lawyers, but that iPhone usage among attorneys is growing.  For example, according to the article, more than half of Chapman and Cutler's lawyers now use iPhones.  The article states that some other law firms boasting significant iPhone usage are Howrey and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.

One of the iPhone's biggest advantages is its connection to Apple's App Store, which is easily accessible from the iPhone.  The number of applications is growing quickly, and many of those applications are free; others are available for a nominal price.

Should lawyers and law firms have all or some of their content available through an application that can be downloaded to the iPhone?  The prestigious TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference has made many of its talks available through a free iPhone app.  Using that application, one can listen to the talks directly on one's iPhone.  A lawyer or law firm could follow suit by having its own "channel" in Apple's App Store.  The particular law firm's application would then be a way for the firm to distribute its speeches, seminars, and other content on an expanded basis.

I welcome your thoughts on how attorneys and law firms can leverage iPhone applications, and whether apps are a viable avenue for the legal profession.