Time Management

Why you should be using Evernote.

August 13, 2013

When Evernote first came out a few years back, I downloaded it right away.  Then, I proceeded not to use it.  Oh, I created a notebook or two, but I found it to be cumbersome and confusing.  So, I forgot about Evernote.

A couple of months ago I was looking for a way to organize notes for a book I’m writing.  Serendipity or dumb luck led me back to Evernote.  OK, I’ll admit it, apparently I never did cancel my Premium subscription – which is only $45 a year.  And now that I’ve rediscovered Evernote, I’d say it’s money well-spent.  But you don’t need to spend a dime to get started with Evernote.  A regular subscription is free.  I guarantee you that once you start using Evernote, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.  My friends will tell you that I’m given to hyperbole, but I think I’m spot on with this prediction.

I can’t tell you everything about why Evernote is so great in this post.  So instead, I’ll give you some instructions on getting started and a few ideas to get you going.  At the bottom of this post are links to some excellent blog posts about how lawyers are using Evernote in their practices.

What can Evernote do?
Rather than me trying to tell you, here’s a 50-second video.

Get Started

  • Go to www.evernote.com and download Evernote for your computer: Windows, Windows 7 or Mac.
  • Next, get the Evernote app for all your mobile devices.  Evernote works on iPhones, iPads, Android devices, Windows Phone, Blackberry and HP WebOS.

Get Going

  • Create a notebook.
  • Start putting stuff in it. When you download Evernote for your computer, you’ll be able to clip web pages and save emails right to your notebooks. I know this sounds ridiculously simple, and it is.  Evernote is really intuitive.  Unlike me a few years ago, you’ll get it very quickly.

How can you use Evernote for your practice?
Here are few things you can do to manage your practice with Evernote:

  • Create your monthly marketing plans and save them to a marketing notebook.  You can track your progress and update your plans from anywhere.
  • If you blog, Evernote is a great place to capture blog post ideas and resources.  Just set up a blogging notebook and start saving your ideas.  (The idea for this post is in my Evernote Blog Post Ideas notebook.)
  • You can organize all your travel stuff in one place: airline and rental car confirmations, maps, restaurant reservations.  You name it.

How are other lawyers using Evernote?

Here are just a few blog posts about how lawyers are using Evernote.

How to Use Evernote for Depositions

Using Master Checklists in Evernote to be a More Productive Lawyer

Evernote for Lawyers

Evernote gives lawyers a valuable archive for their legal research

You might also want to check out the Kindle book Evernote for Lawyers: A Guide to Getting Organized & Increasing Productivity (Productivity for Lawyers and Law Firms), by David M. Ward.

Finally, the folks over at RocketMatter are offering a free eBook entitled: How to Use Evernote in a Law Office.  Definitely worth reading!

Evernote is a powerful productivity tool for your practice and your life.  It lets you get everything out of your head and into your new, online brain.  Once you love Evernote, you may want to look into Evernote for Business, but for now just jump in and get started.

If you’re already using Evernote, I’d love to hear how you’re using it for your practice.

 

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