| Rank | Brand | Tablet |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ |  |
| 2. | Apple iPad Air |  |
| 3. | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 |  |
| 4. | Apple iPad Pro |  |
| 5. | Lenovo Tab M10 |  |
Ever since we created the list of best tablets for law students, people have been asking:
What is the best tablet for lawyers?
Well, after much deliberation by our review team, we have awarded the best tablet for lawyers to the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+. It is a premium product for business professionals, lawyers included. Seamless integration with Windows applications, full 1080p HD front facing video capabilities, and hardware that rivals some of the best laptops. All of this packaged in a lightweight and portable device for lawyers. These tablets for lawyers make the best Christmas gifts.
You may wonder why we reviewed tablets for lawyers if we are primarily focused on law students entering and attending law school. However, we believe that the big-ticket items from your budget should span through your law school years into your beginnings as a young associate. Therefore, we created this list of best tablets for lawyers because some law students may purchase their tablet in their 2L or 3L year.
Additionally, they may even use some of that summer associate internship money to help pay for a tablet. We believe that a tablet can be a great addition to law school and also a young lawyer’s career. So, we created this list so you can see the consideration that a lawyer has before buying a tablet and how they may be similar or different to your concerns as a law student.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Tablet for Lawyers
- Is this tablet compatible with my law firm IT system?
- Does the tablet include a pen?
- Does the tablet have the ability to add an external keyboard?
- Does this tablet support Microsoft Word and Outlook?
- Can I get work emails sent to the tablet?
- Can the tablet connect to my law firm’s document management system?
- What is the front-facing camera quality for video conferencing?
Top Five Best Tablets For Lawyers (Fall 2024)
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ is an elite tablet for lawyers. It was a difficult decision for our team whether the Surface Pro 7+ should claim the top spot. However, we felt that it deserved the name best tablet for lawyers because it is after-all a Microsoft product. This means that it is fully compatible with the Microsoft suite of applications. Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Teams all work seamlessly on this machine. That is because this tablet comes equipped with Windows 10 Pro for an operating system.
Like the regular Surface Pro 7, the 7+ is lightweight, sleek, and intuitive to use. But, the Surface Pro 7+ gets a significant upgrade in terms of processing power and memory storage. For example, the 7+ includes a Quad-core 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor. 8GB of RAM memory is more than enough for a lawyer’s needs. The storage includes 256GB SSD which is a significant bump up from the regular 7.
Finally, most important of all features, the front and rear facing cameras are equipped for 1080p full HD video. This means your video conferencing will be crystal clear. Unfortunately, an external keyboard and Microsoft Surface Pro Pen are not included. But, the soft keyboard included with the purchase of this Microsoft Surface laptop is great and you can easily add other keyboards if you choose.
If you would like a more in-depth review, check out our review of the Microsoft Surface Pro.
✅ Reasons to Buy Microsoft Surface Pro
- Camera – the ability to stream in 1080p full high definition from the front-facing camera will ensure that any video conferencing looks professional.
- Processing power – with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage tacked on to the quad-core processor, you’re essentially looking at mid to high range laptop bundled up in a tablet that is easier to carry around.
- Lightweight – at only 1.69 lbs and 12.3 inches this tablet will be easy to carry and fit inside your bag or purse.
❌ Reasons not to buy Buy Microsoft Surface Pro
- Accessories needed – like most tablets, the Surface Pro only comes with a type cover keyboard. If you want to use a pen, mouse, or normal keyboard with it you’ll have to purchase those separately.
- Price – the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ is the flagship product for business customers. This mean it is on the pricer side for tablets. However, if your law firm gives you a technology stipend or offers to partially pay for it, this can be a great option despite the high price.
- Firm uses Apple – if your firm primarily uses Apple products and operating systems, we would stay away from the Surface Pro and instead go with one of the Apple tablets below.
⚖️ Bottom Line
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ is the premier tablet for business professionals. Lawyers love it because it is essentially a high-end computer packaged into a lightweight, easy to use, touch screen tablet. The fact that this product is created by the same company that makes all your most important law firm applications is a great sign. Lawyers will love how flawlessly everything works together in the best tablet on the market.
2. Apple iPad Air
The Apple iPad Air is the second best tablet for lawyers. We think it comes in at a very close second to the top spot for lawyers. Although not as seamless to integrate into a lawyer’s daily routine as the Surface Pro 7+, this tablet is a incredible device. We also give it the edge over the iPad Pro lower down in the rankings because it is our assumption that most lawyers already have a laptop for work. Thus, a tablet for lawyers is more of an added accessory rather than a primary computing machine. The Apple iPad Air serves that role perfectly because it has all the portability and lightweight advantages of a tablet without the need for extremely advanced processing power and memory.
The great thing we love about the Apple iPad Air is that it integrates well will most law firm technology. So, for lawyers that are already familiar with Apple products whether through iPhone or personal MacBook, the iPad Air offers a familiarity in the workplace. This is an extremely light weight tablet and we recommend adding a second generation Apple Pencil to make note-taking easier.
If you would like an more in-depth review, please check out our review of the Apple iPad Air. Also be sure to check out whether the iPad Air vs iPad Pro is better for you.
✅ Reasons to Buy Apple iPad Air
- Apple compatibility – integrates with other Apple devices and accounts you may have. But, be careful not to upload personal pictures to the work server.
- Display – Liquid Retina display is going to be better than almost any other tablet on the market.
- Front-facing camera – Apple is renowned for their camera technology. The 7MP FaceTime camera will give you crystal clear footage for all your videoconferences and online meetings.
❌ Reasons not to buy Apple iPad Air
- Older Model – Apple recently upgraded certain models of iPad but the Air was not one of them. Since the iPad Air was last updated in 2020, it has fallen behind in terms of chip generation. It features the A14 chip which is incredibly powerful, but less so than the M1 chip in the iPad Pro or the A15 chip in the new iPad mini.
- Accessories – an Apple Pencil and an external keyboard will cost you extra.
⚖️ Bottom Line
Apple iPad Air almost takes the top spot for best tablet for lawyers. It is an incredibly powerful machine for its size and weight. With the right law firm technical support, this device will integrate perfectly into a lawyer’s lineup. We highly recommend the iPad Air for those that are familiar with the Apple suite of products and want to continue this familiarity in their daily work life.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 or S7+
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 12.4-inch tablet is an affordable option of a high-powered tablet for lawyers. This tablet runs on Android operating system. We recommend the Galaxy Tab for those that are comfortable with Android. Either the S7 or the S7+ will work well for law professionals. We recommend one of the large memory versions such as the 256GB model. If you need additional memory you can add up to 1TB of external storage. One important aspect is screen size. For the S7 the screen size is 11 inches. The S7+ has a larger screen coming in at 12.4 inches. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a wonderful pick because they specialize in providing business laptops so it will be compatible with your typical law firm apps.
If you would like a deeper dive check out our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7.
✅ Reasons to Buy Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Pen included – this is a significant advantage because other tablets for lawyers fail to include a tablet pen.
- Front Facing Camera – at 8MP on the front camera, this is one of the better options in the tablet market.
- Audio – the quality of sound on this tablet is great because of the AKG quad speakers with Dolby Atmos Surround sound. This means prestige audio quality for those client meetings.
- Processing Power – either model includes the Octa Core processor with either 6GB or 8Gb of internal RAM.
❌ Reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Compatibility – if your law firm laptop or desktop is not Android-friendly, you may run into compatibility issues. Additionally, Android is not known for tablet friendly apps so you may lack software support for the tablet.
⚖️ Bottom Line
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ are incredible tablets for lawyers looking to save money. Double check with your law firm’s IT department to before buying this Android device. If it is compatible this will be a great addition to your mobile legal electronics.
4. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch
The Apple iPad Pro 11-inch is one of the best tablets for lawyers that money can buy. We placed the Apple iPad Pro lower down the list than the Apple iPad Air. This is because we assume that most lawyers already have laptops that perform the majority of the law firm tasks. Thus, lawyers are looking for something in addition to their laptop rather than to replace it. The Apple iPad Pro is so powerful it could entirely replace most lawyer’s laptops. Therefore, we believe this device is for lawyers that are trying to go above and beyond. Rather than being simply another tablet, the iPad Pro is more like an additional Apple MacBook Pro in terms of computing power and battery life.
If you decide to be an ultra-fancy lawyer with the most premium tablet, we recommend adding the Apple Pencil for your note-taking. If you want a more detailed review, check out the review of the Apple iPad Pro 11-inch.
✅ Reasons to Buy Apple iPad Pro
- Apple features – integrates with other Apple devices you may have, includes Apple’s ultra high-resolution camera lenses, numerous memory storage options, and the insanely fast M1 chip.
- Display – Liquid Retina Display will guaranteed be the best tablet display on the market.
- Speed – this lawyer tablet will be lightning fast.
❌ Reasons not to buy Apple iPad Pro
- Price – this is one of the more expensive tablets for lawyers.
- Accessories – an Apple Pencil and an external keyboard can cost extra money.
⚖️ Bottom Line
Apple’s iPad Pro is one of the best tablets on the market. However, it might be overkill for most lawyers. If you are feeling that your law firm laptop isn’t quite doing the trick and you want some increased power, consider this tablet. As far as video conferencing goes, you’ll be a league of your own the the high quality front facing camera this iPad includes. Apple’s MacOS operating system works seamlessly with most legal applications. This can be an awesome addition to any lawyer’s electronic devices if they don’t mind the cost
5. Lenovo Tab M10 10.3-inch
Lenovo’s Tab M10 Plus is the most affordable tablet for lawyers. We include this tablet in our top 5 list because it is a good value. However, the specifications are slim compared to the other tablets on the list. Specifically, the Tab M10 includes only 2GB of memory and 32GB storage. One the positive side, the front camera is 5MP which means your online meetings will have good video quality. Finally, the octa-core processor will be sufficient for your legal software needs.
✅ Reasons to Buy Lenovo Tab
- Price – this is the most affordable tablet we recommend. No bells and whistles, but it will get the job done!
- Card slots – for expandable memory up to 256GB. We highly suggest buying additional memory since the 32GB of storage will likely be used up quickly.
- Front Camera – 5MP is sufficient for a lawyers professional needs. At this price point, this is a great bargain on the front facing camera.
❌ Reasons not to buy Lenovo Tab
- Non-premium product – this is one of the lower-tier tablets. It is great if you are looking for a well-priced electronic device that allows more mobility. But, if you are looking for something high powered, this is not it.
- Android – the operating system should only be used by lawyers comfortable with it that know it is compatible with their other law firm devices.
⚖️ Bottom Line
The Lenovo Tab M10 is a great option for those that want the mobility of a tablet but don’t want to shell out the big bucks. Saving money is always a great idea and that is why we included it on the list. Many law firms use Lenovo for their employee laptops. As a result, Lenovo products can integrate nicely within a law firm. This Lenovo Tab may be the option for you if you are looking for an affordable tablet sufficient for high-quality video conferencing.
Conclusion – Which is the best tablet for lawyers?
The best tablet for lawyers is the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+. As the leader in developing business applications, you can be assured that Microsoft’s premier tablet will integrate perfectly. We never experienced problems with lag when using the Surface Pro. Paired with the powerful processor and technical specifications, it was a no-brainer for the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ to take the top spot in our list of best tablets for lawyers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tablets For Lawyers
It truly depends! While most lawyers have laptop computers that they take to and from work, these can be boring machines. Even more so, they can be clunky and heavy. A tablet offers the advantage of being more portable and lightweight than a laptop. For associates that take public transportation, it can be much easier to whip out a tablet on the train. Generally, all tablets have a single button to turn on and off the lock screen which makes them a great option for quickly jumping online and off before your stop.
In one respect tablets offer a huge advantage over laptops: video conferencing. Front-facing cameras on tablets are generally of much higher quality than any camera that is on a firm-issued laptop. Because videoconferencing is becoming an almost daily occurrence at law firms, there has never been a more important time to upgrade your cameras. As a professional, lawyers need top present themselves as polished and trustworthy. With a blurry camera, clients will begin to wonder if they should go with someone else! Thus, for lawyers looking to improve their videoconferencing presence over the best laptop for attorneys, a tablet is an easy way to upgrade the resolution of the video stream.
Absolutely, yes! Your law firm’s IT department or technology person will be able to tell you if the tablet you are considering is compatible. As mentioned above, it is very important for your tablet to be compatible with your law firm’s software if you plan to use it for work. You need to receive work emails on the device. It also is highly recommended that it can be remotely wiped of confidential data in the event of your tablet becoming lost or stolen. Finally, if you law firm uses a document management system, some applications require special permissions or profiles to be installed on your mobile device. This ensures that third-party software cannot access confidential files. Be sure to check with your technology representative at the law firm to get all the details.
For lawyers, the tablet is going to be their on-the-go electronic device. It needs to be connected to their professional email, document management system, and firm applications. Therefore, a big factor in determining the best tablet for lawyers will be the compatibility with the law firm’s technology infrastructure and security. For example, many law firms will require associates to have a remote wipe feature installed on the tablet for if it is lost or stolen.
Another consideration for buying a tablet for lawyers is daily use. Specifically, how will a lawyer use the tablet? Well, think about the activities that a lawyer does during a typical work day. Lawyers draft documents, conduct depositions, go to court, and visit with clients. These are only a few of the things that lawyers do. But, a tablet can be a part of some of the lawyer’s daily activities easier than others.
Drafting documents on a tablet is simple for a lawyer to do because tablets come with word processing applications such a Microsoft Word. A lawyer may use a tablet during the depositions by recording what the deposition using a tablet’s recorder application. Perhaps the tablet can even be used as a backup in case the primary recording device fails in the deposition. Lawyers are allowed to bring in documents and electronics depending on the type of court hearing that is occurring. Thus, a tablet can make for a much more lightweight and convent option for note-taking while in court.
Finally, because many lawyers now communicate via video conference technology such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, a tablet is a perfect way to video conference. Tablets often offer better camera quality than most laptops. As a result, lawyers can prefer tablets over laptops for video conferencing.
How Do We Test Tablets?
We test and rate all of the products that we review in accordance with our rating guide. This means that all products are thoroughly reviewed to ensure that the features and specifications are accurate. Additionally, we consolidate extensive feedback from users to find out if there are any technical problems to look out for. That is why in our opinion these are the top rated tablets for business use for lawyers.