Hi there - thanks for coming back to visit! While you're here, why not sign up for the Legal Practice Pro Newsletter?
When working on a motion, bankruptcy petition or just doing some research we often find ourselves flipping between screens. Some lawyers keep their windows set to a size that allows more than one document on the screen at a time, others use programs to let them flip around using hot keys.
But with inexpensive technology comes better solutions to increase productivity. That’s why so many lawyers use multiple monitors to keep their workflow in check and make their lives easier.
Consider this – you’re working on a motion and need to get some research done. On one screen you’ve got your word processor of choice, and on the other you’ve got Westlaw (or Lexis or FastCase or LoisLaw or whatever). You can see both screens at full size at the same time, allowing you to get the job done more quickly.
Or you’re preparing a bankruptcy petition. One screen’s got your bankruptcy preparation software, the other has the client’s documents that have been scanned into your computer. Your desk is clean, your work moves ahead without a hitch.
How many monitors is enough? Well, that depends on you. For me, the limit is 2 – one laptop screen and a widescreen monitor capable of keeping two windows open at 95% each. I find that having more monitors gives me free reign to indulge a lack of concentration and maximize the potential for distraction. Sure, you can have a bunch of screens sitting around and look like you’re controlling a lunar landing. But why?
The brain can do only so many things at once without losing steam, and trying to multi-multi-multitask will only slow you down.
The convenience of using two or more monitors is astounding, but at some point too much is too much.
So, how many monitors do you use?
Image courtesy of Eazylanish.
Related posts:
I have my laptop screen and a 19″ Viewsonic monitor – wish I had more real estate! But years ago I discovered the power of the dual-monitor setup and feel positively hamstrung without it. As a designer, I think it would be hard to have too much monitor or too much RAM.
As a matter of fact, while touring a law firm in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I noticed all of the assistants had dual LCD monitors (this was at a time when CRTs were still widely in use and LCDs were relatively expensive). I mentioned it to the partner giving me the tour, and he said “that one single act has increased employee morale and productivity more than any other thing we have implemented in 20 years of practice.”
On another note – lovely fresh colors on the website! ::grin::
I have a 24″ Cinema Display and a 22″ Dell on the opposite corner of my desk and it is wonderful. Of course, I wish I could replace the Dell with a 30″ Cinema Display…but alas, I dream too much.
GREAT post BTW.
Finis
IAMAL but although I only have 2 screens on one pc (the laptop and an external screen) I also have a mac next to it that allows me to have three screens worth of real estate. I may have a session to a client that I’m working on in one screen, Firefox in another screen and email/word in another. Although I can cope with this many screens I do find people sitting at my desk really struggle to follow what screen I am using at any one point if they are sitting and watching what I am doing. I do spend a lot of time moving the mouse but the three screens is great. I could probably do with one more screen but that would be a luxury but I do find that after you hit three screens (especially if they are wide screens) there is a lot of twisting and turning of the neck and that can end up with painful neck or back muscles.