🎙️🎁 TSL Labs Bonus: The Ultimate 2025 Tech Gift Guide for Attorneys — Expert-Curated Gadgets, AI Tools, and Must-Have Devices Every Lawyer Needs!

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🎯 In this TSL Labs Bonus episode, we are experimenting with Google’s Notebook LLM to do a “Deep Dive” on our November 24th editorial on the ultimate 2025 tech gift guide for attorneys. We use this AI-powered conversation to unpack the key themes, ethical challenges, and actionable recommendations. Whether you're a solo practitioner, big law associate, or tech-curious partner, this episode delivers expert-curated insights on gadgets, AI tools, and must-have devices that support technological competence as a professional obligation.

If you're a busy legal professional seeking practical tech recommendations that enhance daily practice rather than collect digital dust, join us for this insightful conversation that explores how the right technology investments can improve your practice, safeguard your clients, and help prevent unnecessary bar complaints.

🤔 Join Google AI Deep Dive as they discuss the following three questions and more!

  1. What are the essential low-cost tech gifts under $25 that can make an immediate impact on an attorney's practice, and why do items like cables and tracking devices matter for professional competence?

  2. Which professional-grade tools under $100 deliver the best value for attorneys seeking to fulfill their ethical duty to work smarter and faster through AI integration and productivity enhancements?

  3. Why should premium technology investments over $100—including physical infrastructure like ergonomic chairs—be considered essential to an attorney's professional obligation to their clients?

In our conversation, we cover the following:

[00:00:00] — Episode introduction and TSL Labs Bonus overview

[00:01:00] — Navigating the perfect tech gift for attorneys: unique needs like security, portability, focus, and raw power

[00:02:00] — The three seismic forces driving tech choices: AI integration, cloud-based practice management, and heightened ethical duties

[00:03:00] — Target audience: solo practitioners, big law associates, and tech-curious partners who need technology that lasts

[00:04:00] — Essential low-cost gifts under $25: OWC Thunderbolt 4 USB-C cable and Apple AirTag for security and reliability

[00:05:00] — Productivity essentials: Logitech Pebble M350 silent mouse and Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub for presentations

[00:06:00] — AI tools for "forced competence": ChatGPT Plus one-month subscription as a low-risk nudge toward AI exploration

[00:07:00] — Professional grade tools under $100: Apple Pencil (1st Gen) for document annotation and Logitech MX Keys Mini keyboard

[00:08:00] — Focus and noise cancellation: Soundcore Space One headphones with 40+ hours battery life

[00:09:00] — Precision document navigation: Logitech MX Master 3S mouse with horizontal scrolling for wide documents

[00:10:00] — Premium mobile computing sweet spots: iPad Air with M3 chip ($599) and MacBook Air M4 ($999)

[00:11:00] — Physical infrastructure as health technology: Herman Miller Aeron chair ($1,351) for sustained high-quality work

[00:12:00] — Ultra-wide monitor benefits: LG 34" 5K 2K ($315) for seamless document comparison and reduced cognitive strain

[00:13:00] — Virtual practice essentials: Logitech Brio 4K webcam ($160) and Samsung T7 SSD ($109) for secure data management

[00:14:00] — The ultimate organizational hub: CalDigit TS3 Plus dock ($280) with 15 ports for cable clutter elimination

[00:15:00] — Strategic gift-giving advice: Understanding ecosystem (Apple, Windows, Android) and workflow considerations

📚 Resources

🖥️ Hardware Mentioned in the Conversation

Under $25:

  • OWC Thunderbolt 4 USB-C Cable (~$19.99) — Universal cable supporting 40Gb/s data, 100W power delivery, up to 8K video —(https://www.owc.com)

  • Apple AirTag (Single Pack) ($24) — Bluetooth tracking device using Find My network —(https://www.apple.com/airtag)

  • Logitech Pebble M350 Wireless Mouse (~$19.99) — Silent click, 90% noise reduction, 18-month battery — (https://www.logitech.com)

  • Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) (~$19.99) — HDMI 4K@30Hz, USB ports, SD card slots — https://www.anker.com)

  • ORICLE 65W USB Travel Power Strip — Flat plug, 4-foot cord, 7-in-1 hub for travel —(https://oricotechs.com)

Under $100:

Premium Over $100:

  • iPad Air with M3 Chip (Starting at $599) — 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, ideal balance of power and portability — (https://www.apple.com/ipad-air)

  • MacBook Air M4 (Starting at $999) — 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, up to 18 hours battery life —(https://www.apple.com/macbook-air)

  • Herman Miller Aeron Chair (~$1,351) — Ergonomic office chair with PostureFit SL, three sizes for 1st-99th percentile —(https://www.hermanmiller.com)

  • LG 34" Ultrawide 5K 2K Monitor (~$315) — 3440x1440 resolution, curved display for seamless multitasking — (https://www.lg.com/us/monitors)

  • Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam (~$160) — 4K@30fps, RightLight 3 HDR, adjustable 65°/78°/90° FOV — (https://www.logitech.com)

  • Samsung T7 Portable SSD (1TB) (~$109.99) — 1,050MB/s read speed, AES 256-bit encryption, 2m drop resistant — (https://www.samsung.com)

  • CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock (~$280) — 15 ports, 87W laptop charging, dual 4K display support — (https://www.caldigit.com)

💻 Software & Cloud Services Mentioned in the Conversation

  • ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) — OpenAI's premium AI assistant with GPT-4 access for research and drafting — (https://chat.openai.com)

  • Grammarly Premium (~$96/year on sale; $144/year regular) — AI-powered writing assistant with plagiarism detection —(https://www.grammarly.com)

  • Apple Find My — Location tracking app for AirTags and Apple devices — https://www.icloud.com/find

📌 Disclaimer: Prices mentioned throughout this episode and show notes are approximate and based on manufacturer suggested retail prices around the time of the publication date; actual pricing may vary depending on manufacturer availability, retailer promotions, seasonal sales, and geographic location, and we recommend verifying current pricing before making any purchase decisions.

🎙️ Ep. #125: Transforming Law Practice: Allison Johs on Legal Tech Productivity, AI Ethics & Automation Strategies.

/ The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page/

My next guest is Allison Johs, former Chair of the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center and founder of Legal Ease Consulting. 🎯 Allison has spent nearly two decades helping law firms prevent "lawyer meltdown" by guiding them through digital transformation, boosting productivity, and providing practical tech solutions for modern legal professionals. With 15 years of practicing law and experience growing a firm from 15 to over 50 attorneys, Allison brings real-world expertise to the challenges lawyers face when balancing technology adoption with successful client service.

Join Allison Johs and me as we discuss the following three questions and more! 🤔

  1. What are the top three foundational mistakes lawyers make when implementing new legal technology, and how can solo and small firms avoid these pitfalls to ensure their technology investments actually improve their practice rather than just create additional complexity?

  2. What are your top three recommendations for lawyers who want to responsibly integrate AI into their practice while maintaining ethical compliance and ensuring client confidentiality?

  3. What are the top three technology-driven strategies lawyers can implement immediately to automate routine tasks and reclaim billable hours?

In our conversation, we cover the following: ⏱️

  • [00:00:00] – Episode introduction and guest welcome

  • [00:01:00] – Allison's current tech setup: Dell laptop, HP all-in-one desktop, Logitech Brio webcam, Microsoft 365

  • [00:02:00] – Discussion of portable monitors (INNOCN) and dual-screen productivity setups

  • [00:03:00] – Document scanning workflow with ScanSnap scanner and going paperless

  • [00:04:00] – OCR considerations for different practice areas, Adobe Acrobat for occasional OCR needs

  • [00:05:00] – Mistake #1: Not considering roles of all people who will use the technology in the firm

  • [00:06:00] – Including staff input during technology selection and implementation

  • [00:07:00] – Coaching resistant employees through technology adoption

  • [00:08:00] – Addressing legitimate objections vs. fear of change; demonstrating value to staff

  • [00:09:00] – Mistake #2: Not checking how new technology integrates with existing systems

  • [00:10:00] – Hidden costs of technology transitions: running parallel systems for 6-8 months

  • [00:11:00] – Budgeting for duplicate CRM/LPM subscriptions during migration

  • [00:12:00] – Mistake #3: Failing to appropriately invest in ongoing training

  • [00:13:00] – Training new hires and keeping up with subscription software updates

  • [00:14:00] – AI Recommendation #1: Thoroughly investigate how AI tools handle data, security, and training

  • [00:15:00] – AI Recommendation #2: Setting and strictly enforcing AI usage policies; mandatory human review

  • [00:16:00] – The importance of reviewing AI outputs—lawyers should know precedents in their practice area

  • [00:17:00] – AI Recommendation #3: Start with non-client-facing AI work (internal processes, marketing, financials)

  • [00:18:00] – Ethical considerations: using AI on published court decisions for legal analysis

  • [00:19:00] – Using AI to find contrary precedents and distinguishing cases

  • [00:20:00] – Duty to supervise: real-world consequences when AI use goes wrong

  • [00:21:00] – Automation Strategy #1: Appointment booking tools (Calendly, Microsoft Bookings)

  • [00:22:00] – Automation Strategy #2: Templates, document assembly, AI chatbots for client intake

  • [00:23:00] – Automation Strategy #3: Automated time tracking and AI-powered billing review

  • [00:23:30] – Text Expander discussion: saving 2-5 hours weekly on repetitive typing

  • [00:24:00] – Allison's top automation tools: Calendly, Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Bookings

  • [00:25:00] – Discovering hidden features in Microsoft 365 (Ben Schorr webinar reference)

  • [00:26:00] – Using AI for travel planning: Google AI for trip itineraries, Perplexity AI for route optimization

  • [00:27:00] – Maximizing productivity during travel and conference attendance

  • [00:28:00] – Where to find Allison: websites, social media, and YouTube channel

Resources 📚

Connect with Allison Johs:

Mentioned in the Episode:

  • 📖 ABA Legal Technology Resource Center – americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources

  • 📖 How to Do More in Less Time (2nd Edition, 2023) – ABA Law Practice Division book co-authored by Allison Johs - https://www.amazon.com/How-More-Less-Time-Productivity/dp/1639052283

  • 📖 Make LinkedIn Work for You: A Practical Handbook for Lawyers and Other Legal Professionals – Co-authored with Dennis Kennedy - https://www.amazon.com/Make-LinkedIn-Work-You-Professionals/dp/1734076321

  • 👤 Ben Schorr – Microsoft 365 expert, now with Affinity Consulting Group - https://www.affinityconsulting.com/team/ben-m-schorr/

  • 🏛️ Universal Migrator – CRM/LPM data migration tool - https://www.universalmigrator.com/

Hardware Mentioned in the Conversation:

  • 💻 Dell Laptop - https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops?_gl=1*78tbrz*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgerxro6QkQMVdUpHAR0BUBUOEAAYASAAEgJ_R_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

  • 🖥️ HP All-in-One Desktop Computer - https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/vwa/desktops/form=All-in-One

  • 🖥️ INNOCN Portable Monitor (1080p mobile screen) – innocn.com

  • 📷 Logitech Brio Webcam (4K with built-in microphone) – logitech.com/brio

  • 🖨️ HP Printer - https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/vwa/printers

  • 📄 Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanner (duplex document scanner) – scansnap.com

Software & Cloud Services Mentioned in the Conversation:

🎙️ Ep. 120: AI Game Changers for Law Firms - Stephen Embry on Legal Tech Adoption and Privacy Concerns 🤖⚖️

/ The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page/

My next guest is Stephen Embry. Steve is a legal technology expert, blogger at Tech Law Crossroads, and contributor to Above the Law. A former mass tort defense litigator with 20 years of remote practice experience, Steven specializes in AI implementation for law firms and legal technology adoption challenges. With a master's degree in civil engineering and programming expertise since 1980, he brings a unique technical insight to legal practice. Steven provides data-driven analysis on how AI is revolutionizing law firms while addressing critical privacy and security concerns for legal professionals. 💻

Join Stephen Embry and me as we discuss the following three questions and more! 🎯

  1. What do you think are the top three game-changer announcements from the 2025 ILTA Conference for AI that're gonna make the most impact for solo, small, and mid-size law firms?

  2. What are the top three security and privacy concerns lawyers should address when using AI?

  3. What are your top three hacks when it comes to using AI in legal?

In our conversation, we covered the following and more! 📝

  • [00:00:00] Episode Introduction & Guest Bio

  • [00:01:00] Steve's Current Tech Setup

  • [00:02:00] Apple Devices Discussion - MacBook Air M4, AirPods Pro

  • [00:06:00] Android Phone & Remote Practice Experience

  • [00:09:00] iPad Collection & MacBook Air Purchase Story

  • [00:12:00] Travel Tech & Backup Strategies

  • [00:15:00] Q1: AI Game Changers from ILTA 2025 Conference

  • [00:24:00] Billable Hour vs AI Adoption Challenges

  • [00:26:00] Competition & Client Demands for Technology

  • [00:35:00] Q2: AI Security & Privacy Concerns for Lawyers

  • [00:37:00] Discoverability & Privilege Waiver Issues

  • [00:44:00] Q3: Top AI Hacks for Legal Professionals

  • [00:46:00] Using AI for Document Construction & Rules Compliance

  • [00:50:00] Contact Information & Resources

Resources 📚

Connect with Stephen Embry

• Email: sembry@techlawcrossroads.com
• Blog: Tech Law Crossroads - https://techlawcrossroads.com
• Above the Law Contributions: https://abovethelaw.com
• LinkedIn: [Stephen Embry LinkedIn Profile]

Mentioned in the Episode

• ILTA (International Lawyers Technology Association) Conference 2025 - https://www.iltanet.org
• Max Stock Conference - Chicago area legal technology conference
• Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - https://www.ces.tech
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure - https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/current-rules/federal-rules-civil-procedure
• Apple Event (October 9th) - Apple's product announcement events
• Gaylord Conference Center - Washington, DC area conference venue

Hardware Mentioned in the Conversation 🖥️

• MacBook Air M4 (13-inch) - https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/
• iPad Pro - https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/
• iPad Air - https://www.apple.com/ipad-air/
• iPad Mini - https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/
• iPhone 16 - https://www.apple.com/iphone-16/
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 - https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra-2/
• AirPods Pro - https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/
• Samsung Galaxy (Android phone) - https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/phones/galaxy/
• Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 - https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-z-fold7/

Software & Cloud Services Mentioned in the Conversation ☁️

• Apple Intelligence - https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/
• ChatGPT - https://chat.openai.com
• Claude (Anthropic) - https://claude.ai
• Brock AI - AI debate and argumentation tool
• Notebook AI - https://notebooklm.google.com
• Microsoft Word - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word
• Dropbox - https://www.dropbox.com
• Backblaze - https://www.backblaze.com
• Synology - https://www.synology.com
• Whisper AI - https://openai.com/research/whisper

Don't forget to give The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Podcast a Five-Star ⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast feeds! Your support helps us continue bringing you expert insights on legal technology.

Our next episode will be posted in about two weeks. If you have any ideas about a future episode, please contact Michael at michaeldj@techsavvylawyer.page 📧

🎙️ Bonus Episode: TSL Lab’s Notebook.AI Commentary on June 23, 2025, TSL Editorial!

/ The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page/

Hey everyone, welcome to this bonus episode!

As you know, in this podcast we explore the future of law through engaging interviews with lawyers, judges, and legal tech professionals on the cutting edge of legal innovation. As part of our Labs initiative, I am experimenting with AI-generated discussions—this episode features two Google Notebook.AI hosts who dive deep into our latest Editorial: "Lawyers, Generative AI, and the Right to Privacy: Navigating Ethics, Client Confidentiality, and Public Data in the Digital Age." If you’re a busy legal professional, join us for an insightful, AI-powered conversation that unpacks the editorial’s key themes, ethical challenges, and practical strategies for safeguarding privacy in the digital era.

Enjoy!

In our conversation, the "Bots" covered the following:

00:00 Introduction to the Bonus Episode

01:01 Exploring Generative AI in Law

01:24 Ethical Challenges and Client Confidentiality

01:42 Deep Dive into the Editorial

09:31 Practical Strategies for Lawyers

13:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Google Notebook.AI - https://notebooklm.google/