Why Litigators and Lawyers Should Own a Projector
Apart from the sheer cool factor of being able to project your favorite movies and TV shows as large as your walls will allow at home, digital projectors can be really handy for lawyers and litigators. It could even make you a better lawyer.
Really! They're not just toys for grown boys, a digital projector can be a great business tool, and can take your presentations up a notch, both in and out of the courtroom. If you've been looking for a reason to plop down a few hundred dollars on one of the coolest tech gadgets out there, read on below for a few of the best.
You Can Use It in Court!
Juries and judges love to see evidence that is literally larger than life (just avoid PowerPoint). If you have your own projector, you are not at the mercy of the court's technological constraints. If you've ever had the pleasure of fumbling around with an Elmo, or overhead, in a courtroom, having all your evidence and exhibits pre-loaded on your computer and connected to a projector allows for much smoother transitions (though it takes some practice).
You Can Use It for Client Meetings
Having a projector is great for working with clients during meetings. If you want to show them documents, rather than risking the client suffering a paper cut and never hiring you again, you can use your projector. Clients like it when you use cool technology in front of them too, and plus, it cuts down on paper costs.
You Can Use It for Staff Meetings
Why hand out paper agendas? That not only wastes paper, but paper costs money. Just hook up the projector, and project that agenda up on the wall. A ten person firm with weekly meetings could save nearly $50 a year in paper alone, not to mention the labor costs of making the copies. You can also use it for a law firm movie day to reward the staff after a challenging trial or week.
It Makes a Good Babysitter
While a TV in the office can serve as a babysitter for a client's child who you are reluctantly forced to welcome into your office, a projector is more likely to keep that kid firmly planted in their seat. A small gaming system, like the new mini Nintendo consoles, makes a perfect compliment for this use.
Tips for Buying a Projector
The market for digital projectors has certainly changed in recent years. There are countless "knock-off" brand projectors that appear to be a good deal until you realize that the age old adage, "you get what you pay for," is all too true. Stick to the major brand names that you've heard of before, and get the highest contrast ratio in your price range, as well as at least 3000 lumens. Any less in the lumens department and your docs will barely be legible in a lit room.
Related Resources:
- How Can Lawyers Survive in an Automated World? (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Technical Difficulties: What to Do When Gadgets Fail in Court (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Top 5 FAQ on Using Technology in Court (FindLaw's Technologist)