Biglaw Technology Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all.

I have a couple questions regarding phones/laptops for associates in biglaw.

1. Do most firms provide an iPhone to associates? If so, do you have a choice between getting one new phone (i.e. having it be your personal + work phone) and getting a new iPhone strictly for work (i.e. having two phones). If so, any thoughts on the difference between having one phone/two phones?

2. Do firms ever provide Apple laptops for associates? I haven't used a PC in over a decade and I'd prefer to keep it that way

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[blair.waldorf]

I have been at two firms (one 1L summer, another for 2L summer and beyond) and neither offered Apple products to associates. At both firms, you could choose between using your personal phone for work and getting a small monthly reimbursement for your cell phone bill or receiving a second work phone (my current firm lets you choose between an android and a google pixel). I chose the second phone because (1) I’m not sure what all the firm IT people can access/see on my phone, and I don’t want them to access any of my personal stuff and (2) I think it helps you have the ability to “unplug” when you go to bed or on a weekend. I usually silence my phone at 9 on weekdays (I’m at an early to bed, early to rise market/firm) if I have no reason to expect further work, and if I want to use my personal phone after that, I don’t have to see work stuff, which is nice.

I was the same as you re: loyalty to Apple products, but I have adjusted pretty quickly to using a PC.

[proshren]

My firm gives associates the choice between using their current phone as a combo personal/work phone or getting a firm-issued iPhone for work. Associates who use their personal phone for work get a monthly reimbursement from the firm for data. I personally got a second iPhone for the same reasons Blair Waldorf mentioned.

My firm allowed us to pick between a windows laptop and a MacBook. However, associates who use MacBooks have to use a windows virtual desktop in order to work, so even with a Mac you’re running windows. My sense is that the vast majority of firms are windows only.

[Anonymous User]

I think New York firms do generally provide iPhones to their associates? At least that's what Cravath and Latham said

[nixy]

I have two phones for the same reasons that blair.waldorf gave. For me the psychological boundary is important. But since I’m usually carrying a purse or tote bag, two phones isn’t a big deal (even more so during WFH of course).

[Anonymous User]

Maybe markets differ? TX biglaw here and I wish macs were at least a standard option. I keep my MacBook for personal use and I’m still like 5x faster doing things on my Mac than the firm pc laptop. Seriously slows me down to use the pc. The firm phone is not an iPhone either, so I took the reimbursement instead to keep using my iPhone.

[Anonymous User]

I have one phone. It’s a pain to carry two large phones in your pocket, especially if you have keys and other stuff. My firm gave us a reimbursement regardless ($80/month), so I just use the $80 to pay down my phone bill.

If the firm wants to view my photos or dating apps, whatever. It’s not like I’m doing anything illegal.

As for the laptop, I didn’t have a choice. The firm only has PCs.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland provides iPhones to their associates.

As for laptops, there is absolutely ZERO chance you're going to land at a firm that uses macbooks. You're going to be stuck with a thinkpad or equivalent. I've never heard of a biglaw firm using macbooks. Welcome to corporate America.