It certainly is challenging for lawyers to find a suitable laptop. Deciding the best laptop for lawyers is not a piece of cake for someone not into the tech niche. You have to take performance, battery life, portability, weight, and the price too into consideration.
Too many options on the market always make the selection job all the more troublesome for someone with limited exposure to tech. As technology is not the forte of many lawyers, finding the best laptop becomes even more complicated.
As a law student or a professional lawyer, you’re probably be looking for a ready-made solution, the best to buy laptop; or perhaps, you’d want to improve your knowledge a bit before deciding on the best laptop for buy. Either way, we’ve made this buy best laptops job easier for lawyers and law students.
In the following article, we will look at various aspects of these laptops that’ll surely aid all the lawyers out there. You will also get to know which of these laptops would be suitable for you, depending on the time you will spend, and the amount of work carried out on the laptop.
So, let’s get started!
Features to Look for While Buying a Laptop for Law Students and Lawyers
With almost 90% of the paperwork gone digital, lawyers can take a deep breath they don’t have to carry a pile of heavy books anymore. They’ve got an option to save all the references in one place – their laptops. Even better; they can use the wireless internet feature to find the latest online sources related to the case.
But, what they might not be aware of is how to get the best laptop that does everything for them.
Although a mid-range laptop with mediocre specs could get a lawyer’s job done on a fine day, on a busy day, you will feel the need for a laptop that not only performs better but provides good battery backup too. You see, laptops for lawyers must be as performance-driven as this occupation needs lawyers to be.
So, what are the aspects you should be looking for while choosing the best laptop for lawyers and law students?
Processor
If you are buying a MAC, don’t worry about processor selection (more on it later). However, if you are looking for a Windows or Chrome OS-based laptop, the processor selection comes into play. Always go for a laptop with a performance packed processor, ideally the best and the latest.
Intel processors are pretty standard and used on most of the laptops and PCs; however, there are various Intel processor choices. Two of their best offerings are the Intel Core 15 and i7 processors.
It is also essential to check the processor generation. Although 8th generation and 9th generation processors are ruling these days, 10th generation Intel processors are the latest ones and provide the best performance.
RAM
Make sure that the laptop offers massive-sized RAM. With a big RAM, you can seamlessly run multiple applications on your PC without any hanging or freezing issue. Ideally, a good laptop for lawyers should open multiple apps and lets you work on different files simultaneously.
Don’t make the mistake of buying a PC with lesser RAM to save money. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a computer that hangs up as soon as multiple applications or software open and run simultaneously.
Laptop – Tablet Convertible
This has become a common feature in high end laptops. Tablet convertibility gives you 2 in 1 benefit, as you can turn it into a tablet when needed. Simply rotate the screen 360 degrees and it’ll become a tablet.
Now, tablets support touchscreen display; some models also offer stylus support. A laptop with a touchscreen is easier to use compared to the one without it.
You can access documents, take notes, make annotations, and draw illustrations super quick. Although not all lawyers may not need this, it is an additional feature that you can go for, which will always come in handy.
Battery Life
No matter how good a laptop performs and how many applications it can run at a time, it’s all useless without long battery life or backup. Whether you are a lawyer or not, a long-lasting battery is a prerequisite.
You will find yourself in situations where you need your laptop, but there’s no power source around. The only way to tackle this situation is by having a laptop with a battery that lasts long.
A laptop with a minimum of 10 hours battery life should be an ideal pick. Depending on your work requirements, look for a laptop that could run continuously without hampering your work.
Weight
Unlike people with stationary jobs, both lawyers and law students usually are on the go most of the time. In such situations, it becomes crucial to consider the weight of the laptop. If you are buying a laptop that is heavy, moving around with it becomes an issue.
A laptop that weighs about 2-3 pounds would be ideal for you. However, some of the high end laptops might get heavier than usual. If you do not mind carrying around those extra pounds, go for them. They might be heavier, but not so heavy that it would be a real problem. It all boils down to your preference.
Storage
Talking about the storage size of a laptop, the choice may vary according to users. Regardless of the storage-size meant for you, laptops these days offer 128 GB up to 2 TB. Chromebook laptops that run on Chrome OS, however, provide less storage as they promote cloud storage.
If you keep your files on cloud storage, then definitely, Chromebooks should be your choice. But if you like to keep your files safe on your PC, you can choose a laptop with storage space according to your needs.
Price
If you have just started off or if you are still a law student, the price factor could be a concern for you. Of course, you can find a budget-friendly laptop that packs power and offers excellent battery life, but you may have to compromise with one or a couple of aspects.
But remember, there’s always a workaround for such issues. If your pocket allows, you can invest more in these devices if you think your requirements will increase over time. Your laptop will be there for you in the long run. In contrast, if you invest less now, you might have to spend the same amount or maybe more later on if the overall usage increase.
Price also depends on features and benefits. Therefore, it’s ideal to identify your preferences and expectations with the laptop device, keeping in mind some seemingly unimportant features may become crucial in the near future.
Operating System
Choosing an operating system you want to work with totally depends on your comfort. If you are comfortable with MAC OS, you should go for an Apple Macbook. But if your budget is limited, you can get a Windows laptop with similar performance figures for a lower price. Chrome OS is easy to work with, and if you are comfortable with it, you will get great options that are valued for money.
With the discussion revolving around these points, let us look at the best laptops for lawyers and law students.
Best Laptops for Lawyers and Law Students:
- Apple Macbook Pro
- Dell XPS 13
- Google Pixelbook Go
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
- HP Spectre x360
Apple Macbook Pro
Operating System: MAC OS X | RAM: 8 – 16 GB | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours | Touchscreen: No | Storage: 256 GB – 1 TB | Processor: Intel Core i5 – i9 | Weight: 2.8 – 4.3 Pounds
The Apple Macbook Pro is arguably the best laptops buy no matter which profession you’re associated with.
The Macbook Pro is not only known for its performance and reliability but also its sleek and lightweight design. Some say that all of the features Macbook Pro packs justify its overprices, but we cannot deny that other laptops with similar features and performance cost much less. So, if you do not have budget constraints, you can go for a MAC.
Although Macbook Pro is the best laptop to have among lawyers and law students, it lacks a feature or two that other laptops provide, such as the touchscreen and tablet features. These features not only help with going through a document in portrait mode but also in making annotations, drawing illustrations, and taking notes.
Who should buy the Macbook Pro?
Anyone seeking performance and reliability and is ready to pay a premium price should go for a MAC. If you will be taking lots of notes and will need to take them down quickly along with annotations and illustrations, this is not the device to consider.
Variants
The Macbook Pro is available in two variants; 13 inches and 16 inches screen.
The Macbook Pro 13 inches variant has three different storage options: 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB SSD. Here’s a breakup of the versions:
- 256 GB: 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM
- 512 GB: 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM / 2.0 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 16 GB RAM
- 1 TB: 2.0 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 16 GB RAM
The Macbook Pro 16 inches variant has two storage options: 512 GB and 1 TB.
- 512 GB: Intel Core i7, 16 GB
- 1 TB: Intel Core i9, 16 GB
Pros
Cons
Dell XPS 13 7390
Operating System: Windows 10 | RAM: 32 GB | Battery Life: 10 + hours | Touchscreen: Yes | Storage: 512 GB Solid State Drive | Processor: Intel Core i7 | Weight: 6.09 Pounds
The Dell XPS 13 7390 can be considered the best laptop for lawyers considering its price, battery life, full HD touchscreen, 2 in 1 tablet & notebook mode, RAM, processor, sturdiness, and various other features. For its price point, the device packs in a lot, that is more than what the Macbook Pro has to offer. Yes, its weight might be set off for a few users, but the rigid aluminum frame does justice.
Although it matches the mid-range Apple Macbook Pro at its price point, the whole package is an overkill for what you will be paying.
Who should buy this device?
The Dell XPS 13 7390 is an ideal pick for those accessing documents, taking down notes, annotating documents, and even drawing illustrations on their laptop. If you are viewing a lot of documents, you can quickly go through them in portrait mode, and when it comes to taking down notes or typing something, use the usual way to jot down text quickly.
The Core i5 processor and the 32 GB RAM on this laptop ensures that you can carry out multiple tasks and run various applications at a time without causing any freezing or hanging.
Variants
Although there are several models under the Dell XPS 13 range, we specifically talk about the Dell XPS 13 7390 model because of its 2 in 1 convertible feature.
Pros
Cons
Google Pixelbook Go
Operating System: Chrome OS | RAM: 8 – 16 GB | Battery Life: up to 12 hours | Touchscreen: Yes, HD | Storage: 64 – 256 GB | Processor: Intel M3 / i5 / i7 | Weight: 2.33 Pounds
The Google Pixelbook Go is a lightweight laptop that runs Chrome OS. This slick device could be a great choice for those who are on a budget and seeking performance. Yes, it might take a bit to get used to the Chrome operating system. But once you are in, you will find it somewhat familiar. And then there’s more to surprise.
The High Definition touchscreen with stylus support adds value to the package, but you will feel the lack of 360 degrees rotating screen to use it in tablet mode.
The battery can go on for more than 12 hours, and once the battery is low, you can quickly charge it up for 20 minutes to get an additional two hours of backup.
In terms of portability, it is super slim and weighs only 2.33 pounds. These features make this laptop very easy to carry around. And with the quick power-on part, you can quickly get back to work as soon as you open it.
With its powerful processor options, this laptop can compete with the top of the line devices for performance. The bright display, along with the Intel UHD integrated graphics driver, provides exceptional display dynamics.
Who should buy the Google Pixelbook Go?
This could be your device if you are a law student or have just started practicing law. The laptop models are budget-friendly and value for money. Depending on your budget and requirements, you can choose between any of the three processor variants. Chromebooks promote cloud storage, and if you are into keeping & managing your files on cloud storage, this device should be your pick.
Variants
Google Pixelbook Go has three variants based on their processors.
- Intel M3 Processor: 8 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage
- Intel Core i5 processor: 8 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage / 16 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage
- Intel Core i7 Processor: 16 GB RAM, 256 GB Memory
Pros
Cons
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Operating System: Windows 10 | RAM: 8 – 32 GB | Battery Life: up to 11.5 Hours | Touchscreen: Yes | Storage: 128 GB – 1 TB | Processor: Intel Core i 5 / i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Weight: 3.4 Pounds
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 series is one of the best laptops for lawyers. It outperforms several laptops in terms of performance, portability, battery backup, design, and display. And when it comes to the models under the series, the lineup is quite broad. Like the Macbook Pro, the Surface Laptop 3 comes in two screen sizes; 13.5 inches and 15 inches. The lineup can cater to both law students as well as lawyers. It all depends on your requirements and your budget.
Although this laptop series is a powerhouse, it packs all that grunt in a lightweight and robust package, making it easy for you to carry it around. You can get up to 11.5 hours of battery backup, thanks to its fantastic power management and durable battery. And if you ever run out of battery, you can use its quick-charge feature to charge the laptop up to 80% in about one hour of charging.
Who should buy the Surface Laptop 3?
As mentioned earlier, the laptop variants under this series are for everyone; you need to pick the one that perfectly fits your requirements and budget. Whether your workload would be low, moderate, or high, would you need less or more space to store files, and what screen size would you prefer; you can factor in all these points and your budget to make a decision.
Variants
Under the 13.5 inches and 15 inches screen options of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, you can choose from various combinations of RAM and Hard Drive sizes. Below we take a look at them.
Pros
Cons
HP Spectre x360
Operating System: Windows 10 | RAM: 16 GB | Battery Life: 10 + hours | Touchscreen: Yes | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Processor: Intel Core i7 10th Gen | Weight: 2.9 Pounds
Here is a laptop for lawyers that can be awarded as an allrounder. Be it the looks, built, performance, usability, or battery performance, the laptop scores high in almost all the departments. On your journey to buy the best laptop for lawyers, this could be the ultimate pick. How?
Well, let us begin with the display. It is a 13 inch 4K OLED Display unit that is not the only touchscreen but also supports a stylus. Additionally, you get a stylus with this laptop that fits into a slot provided in the laptop body. For you to use this laptop in tablet mode, a 360-degree foldable screen has been provided, which, when folded, sits perfectly to provide a seamless experience.
Talking about the performance department, the 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, along with the 16 GB RAM, can easily handle a heavy workload with multiple programs running on your laptop. So, if multitasking is something you are looking forward to, this laptop has all it takes to meet your needs. The 512 GB solid state drive memory provides ample space to store your files locally and access them quite swiftly, without any lag.
The Intel Iris Plus Graphics card on this device ensures bright, colorful, and sharp output through the 13 inches UHD screen.
Who should buy the Spectre x360?
We would recommend the HP Spectre x360 laptop to those who require all-round performance from their device. Among the best laptops for lawyers, this one is suitable for working professionals, but if you are a law student and can extend your budget, go ahead and make it yours without any second thought. The 2 in 1 feature of this device will give you an extra edge over your peers. Whether you have to view documents, take down notes, draw illustrations, watch multimedia files, carry out some research, or type, this device will make all of it convenient.
Variants
The Spectre x360 series has other models too, but among them, the variant mentioned here is the aptest choice for lawyers and law students.
Pros
Cons
Best Laptops for Lawyers – Buying Guide
With the above comparisons and spec discussion about the best laptops that lawyers should buy, it is always recommended to go with trusted devices. Keeping that in mind, you must make decisions according to your budget and needs. If that extra space is not going to be of much use to you, select a laptop with hard drive memory space that would be enough for you. If you will be running a couple of applications and multi-tab browsing, a system with a mediocre processor and RAM is recommended, such as an i5 processor and 8 GB RAM.
Will you be using the laptop for other purposes too? Like entertainment? Pick a device accordingly. The battery backup is another important aspect that you should look into. If you are going to spend your time moving, make sure to buy a laptop with positive battery performance reviews.
Never forget to check the review section of the laptops deeply. A single review of hundreds might clear your query and even warn you about the troubles that are likely to develop with specific models.
If you are used to working with a particular operating system, do not blindly go for laptops that run that operating system. Consider buying other laptops with different operating systems according to your needs and requirements. One can get used to the new operating system quickly. Its always better to learn a new thing instead of missing out on essential features that can help your line of work.
Closing Words
Almost all of the products mentioned above are among the best laptops for lawyers and law students. Each one of them has its own set of pros and cons that would have helped you with making a decision.
Requirements for each individual is different, and so are the features of these laptops. Therefore, make sure of what are the features that you will need and select at least two models, then make a final choice based on what your pocket allows.
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