The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/588021
WWW.ILTANET.ORG 75 THE FUTURE OF LEGAL IS INTEGRATED MOBILE APPS Industry blogs and other publications are splashed with headlines like "The Best Productivity Apps for Attorneys." This might be helpful for the individual lawyer but misses the law firm's objective: actualizing collaboration and productivity. True mobility requires more than disconnected apps and the hope that each will work to increase productivity and profitability. Integrated mobile apps will redefine how mobility is delivered to attorneys and law firms. Attorneys, administrators, paralegals and outside counsel require adequate mobile technology to do their jobs regardless of location. Integrated apps simplify workflows when individuals are connected to the firm's enterprise or third-party systems. For example, real-time validation works with mobile time entry solutions to alert attorneys when they are recording time that does not adhere to the client's billing requirements. This allows attorneys to fix the problem immediately, preventing delays and revisions. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HTML5 AND NATIVE APPS True mobility requires integration and a focus on the user experience, which brings us to the raging debate about HTML5 vs. native apps. Native apps are built for a specific operating system (OS) and carry out activities and functions within the apps themselves; they work only on the device for which they are built. HTML5 apps provide a gateway to a mobile website to carry out these activities and functions; they can work across all operating systems and devices. Unlike native apps, the one-size-fits all approach of HTML5 apps are not built with the user's needs in mind. For vendors, HTML5 is appealing because it gets an app to market cheaper, faster and easier than a native app, which is time-consuming, costly and resource-intensive to build. The downside of HTML5 is that long-term user engagement and technology adoption is compromised when the end user is not the primary focus. Although HTML5 has come a long way, it cannot win over the experience provided via a native app. USERS HAVE THE FINAL WORD AT THEIR FINGERTIPS The mobile user is not concerned with the complexities of a challenging development environment or what it takes to integrate apps into the firm's systems. The user cares about one thing: "Does this app make it easier and more efficient to do what I need to do?" If the answer is "yes," the app is likely to win approval in the form of long-term adoption. True mobility is more than just having an app. If you are looking to drive mobility in your organization, having access to a suite of mobile apps is not enough. Do the work of integrating them and understanding the differences between HTML5 vs. native to deliver all the benefits your firm requires in an app. ILTA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ILTA is governed by a seven-member board of directors who are elected by the membership. An executive director oversees the operations of the organization. President MEREDITH L. WILLIAMS, JD Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz mlwilliams@bakerdonelson.com Executive Vice President KATE CAIN Sidley Austin LLP kcain@sidley.com Secretary ANGELA DOWD Burns & Levinson, LLP adowd@burnslev.com Treasurer SKIP LOHMEYER Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP skiplohmeyer@parkerpoe.com Director at Large SHIRLEY CROW Farella Braun + Martel LLP scrow@fbm.com Director at Large ROBERT DUBOIS Briggs and Morgan, P.A. rdubois@briggs.com Director at Large TRACY ELMBLAD Hinshaw & Culbertson tracy.elmblad@gmail.com Executive Director RANDI MAYES ILTA randi@iltanet.org