Nicole Black, BridgeTower Media Newswires
Usually I write about the intersection of law and technology in this column. One reason I’m so passionate about technology is because it saves lawyers time and money. After all, lawyers’ daily lives can be hectic and stressful, and anything that can be done to reduce some of that stress is well worth the effort.
That’s why I’m sharing some of my top life hacks and gadgets in today’s article. None of them are in any way related to legal technology, but all of them save me time and streamline my day-to-day life. Hopefully a few of them will do the same for you, too!
First up, my trusty robot vacuum cleaner: the Roomba. I don’t know how I ever managed without it. I currently own the Roomba 690, and it’s a lifesaver. We have 2 dogs, who seem to shed year round, and my Roomba manages to make life with them so much better. Every night we set our Roomba to run in our two most-trafficked areas — our family room and kitchen — and then wake up to clean floors. A Roomba can cost anywhere from $200 to $300, but trust me, it’s well worth the price you’ll pay!
Next up, my recently purchased Mirror (online: mirror.co). It’s a full-length, interactive gym from which you can play one of hundreds of pre-recorded or live workouts (and there are also live one-on-one training sessions available). It’s like having a boutique gym right in your house. No matter what your poison — yoga, boxing, barre, dance, Pilates, cardio, and more — the Mirror has you covered. You choose the class length (15, 30, or 45 minutes) and the difficulty level (1-4), and then start exercising, guided by the full-length image of the instructor and your own image on the mirror as you work out. You can exercise any time day or night, so it’s perfect for busy lawyers without much free time — especially those with kids. So if getting into shape is one of your goals for 2020, the Mirror might be just what you’re looking for. Sure it’s pricey ($1,495 for the Mirror itself and $39/month for access to the classes), but it’s a great investment.
Another recent purchase of mine that I highly recommend for the home or office is the Google Wifi Mesh Router. One of the best parts about this router is that because of the mesh network, which is made up of individual Wifi points that “talk” to each other, it has extensive reach. Another added bonus: setup is a breeze. The router is controlled via your smartphone, so the first thing you have to do prior to setting it up is download the free Google Wifi app (available in iOS and Android). Next, you plug in your primary Wifi point. The number of Wifi points that you use is determined by the size of your home or office. For a smaller space (500-1,500 square feet), you’ll need one Wifi point. For a medium-sized space (1,500-3,000 square feet) you’ll need two. And for a larger space (3,000-4,500 square feet) you’ll need three. Not only does Google Wifi provide reliable, consistent internet access — it also offers a number of other great features, including the ability to prioritize a specific device and built-in family control features. A single Wifi point starts at $99 and a set of 3 can be purchased for as low as $242 on Amazon.
Last but not least, my favorite laptop stand, the Moft “invisible” laptop stand (online: moft.us). This laptop stand permanently attaches to the bottom of your laptop via an adhesive backing. When not in use it folds nearly flush to the bottom of your laptop, lays flat at 1/9”, and is barely discernible. It weighs only 3 ounces. Its dimensions are 170x224x3 mm and it’s designed for use with laptops with screen sizes between 11.6” and 15.6”. It can be folded into two different height settings, and costs only $24.99. So if you’re in the market for a lightweight and incredibly convenient laptop stand, I highly recommend it!
Those are just a few of my favorite life hacks and gadgets. I hope a few of them sound like a good fit for you. And stay tuned: In the near future I’ll share a few more life hacks. So keep an eye out!
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Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney, author, journalist, and the Legal Technology Evangelist at MyCase legal practice management software. She is the nationally-recognized author of “Cloud Computing for Lawyers” (2012) and co-authors “Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier” (2010), both published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authors “Criminal Law in New York,” a Thomson Reuters treatise. She writes regular columns for Above the Law, ABA Journal, and The Daily Record, has authored hundreds of articles for other publications, and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies. She is an ABA Legal Rebel, and is listed on the Fastcase 50 and ABA LTRC Women in Legal Tech. She can be contacted at niki.black@mycase.com.
