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Hey all,

I am starting a job as a first year associate at a big law firm in NYC. The firm reimburses the cost of the phone and the rate plan (does not issue standard blackberries).

Based on experience would you recommend:

(1) Use my personal cell (iPhone) as my work phone as well; or (2) Acquiring a second phone solely for work

If you would suggest option (2), is there a specific phone you would recommend? I am tech savvy and would not have issue using iOS, Android, or RIM.

Thanks for the advice.

A lot of people including myself tried the 2 phone separate work life thing, but all eventually gave up carrying 2 phones / having two numbers. Just use your iphone.

Why would you want two?

Desert Fox wrote:Why would you want two?

A bunch of people are (irrationally) scared of their phones being jacked for discovery if the firm is sued. Or big brother reasons

Similar spot. I'm planning on using 1 phone for everything. I think people usually get two and think that it will mean they can separate personal from work life. But in reality, like someone above said, they just carry 2 phones everywhere. Kind of pointless. Just don't sext the wrong person.

Just use the one phone. I know it's tempting to try to keep work and personal life separate, but it's a lost cause, work bleeds over anyway, whether or not you keep a separate phone. It's just another thing to keep track of.

I have never tried in law context, but every time I attempted or was forced to keep two separate phones at previous jobs it sucked. Keep your iPhone.

Nokia RAZR. Super thin and convenient. Also flashy.

I was wondering the same thing. I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it. Was wondering if I should be worried about texting about drugs/sex/whatever. Is that something to be worried about?

Nucky wrote:Nokia RAZR. Super thin and convenient. Also flashy.

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(there is no such phone)

Anonymous User wrote:I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it.

Wait, what?

kalvano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it.

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

Desert Fox wrote:

kalvano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it.

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

That one's slightly troubling, but worth it for a subsidized phone I guess.

Desert Fox wrote:

kalvano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it.

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

Awesome, thanks. I haven't gotten the phone yet so not sure what their exact software is, but it's a very standard market-following biglaw firm. Just didn't want some bored IT guy going thru my texts and finding a dick pic/texts with my weed delivery service.

And yea Kalvano, I know they install some sort of software b/c they told me that a while ago when they were talking about firm benefits, etc. Could be just as simple as what DF says tho

Firms operate under a don't ask don't tell policy for the most part.

Desert Fox wrote:Firms operate under a don't ask don't tell policy for the most part.

How would you know this?

Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Firms operate under a don't ask don't tell policy for the most part.

How would you know this?

They don't drug test. They don't closely review your web history. They barely background check.

They treat us like adults.

That's weird. Neither of my firms have done any sort of software install.

kalvano wrote:That's weird. Neither of my firms have done any sort of software install.

Smaller firms?

ymmv wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

kalvano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know that if I just use one phone, the firm has to install security software on it.

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

That one's slightly troubling, but worth it for a subsidized phone I guess.

Additional downside for iPhones: losing use of Siri and control center from lock screen, and extra steps to get into phone (more than 4 digits for passcode plus an additional ok button). Doesn't seem like much but if you check your phone a lot like I do it's a pain in the ass.

echooo23 wrote:

ymmv wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

kalvano wrote:

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

That one's slightly troubling, but worth it for a subsidized phone I guess.

Additional downside for iPhones: losing use of Siri and control center from lock screen, and extra steps to get into phone (more than 4 digits for passcode plus an additional ok button). Doesn't seem like much but if you check your phone a lot like I do it's a pain in the ass.

I just use the fingerprint scanner. Makes it faster than most passcodes.

echooo23 wrote:

ymmv wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

kalvano wrote:

Wait, what?

Firms will usually require you to install some security software like MobileIron. It protects them from you leaking out all their data via your phone. But, the apps can't read your sexts or pic messages. It can't track your web history or anything like that.

It can only access

Carrier and country
Make, model, OS version
Device identifier (e.g. IMEI)
Phone number
Complete list of apps installed
Location of device
Battery level
Storage capacity and use
Corporate email and attachments (via Exchange server same as PC)
Corporate contacts (via Exchange server same as PC)

That one's slightly troubling, but worth it for a subsidized phone I guess.

Additional downside for iPhones: losing use of Siri and control center from lock screen, and extra steps to get into phone (more than 4 digits for passcode plus an additional ok button). Doesn't seem like much but if you check your phone a lot like I do it's a pain in the ass.

I don't lose any of that. Sounds like they've got you locked down tighter than I am. I have to have a 4 digit passcode, but fingerprint scanner is legit.

Well excuse us proles still rocking the iPhone 5.

ymmv wrote:Well excuse us proles still rocking the iPhone 5.

This is for BIG LAW.

Checking in to represent the two-phone crew. I spent a lot of time thinking about this same question when I started work. I decided to go with two phones and I have no regrets. It's true that I essentially carry two phones around all the time, but I don't mind that at all. My particular circumstances may not carry over for OP, but for me, the pro's are:

1) My firm doesn't support Android. I am a huge Android fan and didn't want to give this up.

2) I didn't have to install firm security software on my personal phone. Call me paranoid, but I do not like the idea of my firm having access to everything in my personal phone. At the very least, when there are tech issues and IT needs to mess with my phone, I would not be comfortable giving them my personal phone.

3) I don't freak out every time I get a personal e-mail at night. If I had one phone, I would definitely jump every time I got an e-mail thinking it was a partner hunting me down. With two phones, I only feel like jumping when I know its my work phone buzzing.

4) It really does help to feel like my work and personal lives are separate. If I'm going out and don't want to be bothered with work, I actually leave my work phone at home or in my office. It's a small victory, but makes me feel a slight sense of freedom.

5) My batteries never die because I go back and forth between the two phones.