TextExpander (Mac)/Active Words (PC). Using a full-blown document assembly to quickly create form documents can make a big difference in a lawyer’s efficiency. However, those document assembly programs tend to be expensive and difficult to master. Take a first step by using a typing shortcut utility, like TextExpander for Mac, $34.95 (http://smilesoftware.com/TextExpander/index.html) or ActiveWords Plus for PC, $49.95 (http://www.activewords.com/). Not as fully featured as a product like HotDocs, but you’ll master it in minutes and it can save lots of time in your day.

Right Signature. RightSignature is an electronic signature solution that allows you to get documents signed via email. It’s a great tool for quickly getting documents like client agreements signed with a minimum of fuss. Starting at $11/month (https://rightsignature.com/).

WordRake. WordRake is an add-on for MS Word and Outlook that helps economize and streamline your writing. It works like track changes – simply press a button and it instantly edits your document to remove words and increase clarity. PC only. Starting at $129/year (http://www.wordrake.com/)

Perfect It Pro. Perfect It Pro by Intelligent Editing is an add-on for MS Word that scans your writing for internal inconsistencies, such as spelling the same word two different ways in the same document, like advisor and adviser. PC only. $99. (http://www.intelligentediting.com/)

ShareFile. ShareFile is a cloud-based service for sharing, storing and syncing your data, much like Dropbox or Box. The difference with ShareFile is its best-in-class security. Their prices are commensurate with the uptick in security, unfortunately. Starting at $29.95/month. (http://www.sharefile.com/)

Center for Practice Management. Members of the NCBA have at their disposal free consulting services from the Center for Practice Management, a practice management advisory program. CPM provides consulting and training on issues related to law practice management, including technology, marketing, management, start up and wind down. Free to NCBA members. (http://www.ncbar.org/members/practice-management)

Office 365 for Business. Getting rid of your on premises Exchange server in favor of a cloud based solution from Office 365 for Business can save your firm time and money. Starting at $5/month for a single mailbox. (https://products.office.com/en-us/business/office-365-business)

Matter Center for MS 365. Did you know that MS 365 can have practice management function built right in? Matter Center adds the functionality of a standalone practice management software inside your MS Office. Starting at $12.50/month for the Small Business Premium plan. (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/productivity/mattercenter.aspx)

Livescribe 3 SmartPen. Livescribe 3 SmartPen brings paper and digital note taking together. It pairs with your tablet or phone via a mobile app and wirelessly syncs your paper notes into digital notes. $149.95. (http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/smartpen/ls3/)

ZUtA Pocket Printer. The Pocket Printer is a robot that is roughly the size of tangerine. It connects to your phone or tablet wirelessly and then prints a document by rolling back and forth across a sheet of paper, somewhat akin to a Roomba vacuum. Its small size means its easy to tuck in a briefcase and

PhoneSoap. It’s a dirty world out there and few objects in a lawyers life gets handled and transported to more environments than the phone. PhoneSoap cleans your phone using UV light. $59.95. (https://www.phonesoap.com/)

Office for iPad. The ubiquitous iPad took a great leap forward when Microsoft made (nearly) fully featured versions of MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook for the iPad. These mobile versions of Office are very good and do away with the need to cobble together a string of third party apps for lawyers to handle their most basic office functions on a tablet. Starting at $5/month. (http://products.office.com/en-US/)

Lookout Mobile Security. Lookout keeps your mobile devices safe and secure. It can notify you of security vulnerabilities due to out of date software, take control of your privacy by helping you make good choices about which apps to download and which you allow to know your location. Lookout will protect all your Android, iOS and Kindle devices from the same Lookout account. Starting at $3/month. (https://www.lookout.com/)

Backup Your Computer 3 Ways. You can never be too careful with backing up your data. Noted technology guru Walt Mossberg suggests a three part backup plan: 1) use a sharing/sync service like ShareFile for the most critical files; 2) make a comprehensive backup using an external disc drive; 3) use a whole drive cloud backup system like BackBlaze. Don’t trust your data to just one backup. (http://recode.net/2014/03/11/triple-coverage-back-up-your-computer-in-three... )

Pluto Mail. Email has become the backbone of digital workflow, yet for such a critical technology, it has remained more or less unchanged over the years. Pluto Mail aims to change all that by adding a layer of new features like auto expiration, unsend email, edit sent emails and track email opens. It does this around your existing email client, such as Gmail or Outlook. In beta.

Highlighter with Clear Tip. File this under products that should have existed a long time ago. Keep your highlight lines straight and on the text you mean to highlight with a clear tip so you can see your work. $4/pack of 3. (http://www.staples.com/Sharpie-Clearview-Highlighters-Chisel-Tip-Assorted-3...)

Slingshot. Sharing your screen and collaborating has never been easier. You can use Slingshot to quickly share a document with a client or opposing counsel or host an online meeting. Starting at $4.99. (http://www.airsquirrels.com/slingshot/features/)

Business Cards in Evernote. Sometimes you collect business cards that you want to keep, but don’t necessarily want to keep them in your Outlook contacts. Evernote now has a new feature that allows you to capture business cards from your phone’s mobile app and have them stored alongside the searchable text from the card. There is no better way to have a modern Rolodex. Free with Evernote. (https://blog.evernote.com/blog/2013/12/12/evernote-for-iphone-and-ipad-get-...)

Gotenna. Text and share your location even when your cell phone doesn’t have service. Pre-order two Gotennas for $149.95. (http://www.gotenna.com/)

Silo Web Browser. Snapchat has taken the messaging world by storm with its auto-destruct messages. Now Silo, a web browser, has gotten into the act. Silo offers a cloud-based, secure browsing session that completely disappears when you close your session, leaving no trace behind. Starting at $10/month. (https://www.authentic8.com/overview/)

Redact Assistant. Payne’s Redact Assistant makes redacting document easy and fast by allowing you to redact multiple terms in one process, search and replace multiple terms, and creating lists of terms for specific redaction. Supports Microsoft Word and Excel. $45. (http://www.thepaynegroup.com/products/redact/)

Google Now/Siri. Typing on small phone keyboards is a pain. The future of controlling our increasingly powerful smartphones is to use their built in “digital assistant” – Siri for iOS and Google Now for Android. Much more than just simple dictation, these digital assistants allow us to make our phones do complicated tasks without ever touching a key. Free with mobile operating system. (http://gizmodo.com/siri-vs-google-now-vs-cortana-the-ultimate-voice-con-156...)

WhatWasThere.com What Was There is an iOS app that allows users to upload current and historical photos identified by their spot on Google Maps. The result is a pictorial history being constantly created and updated of any place in the world people take and share photos. (http://www.whatwasthere.com/)

NomadKey. Simply put, it is a charging cable for your mobile device that is shaped like a key and hangs on your keychain. As long as you have your keys, you’ll always have a way to charge your phone, too. Starting at $19.95. (http://www.hellonomad.com/products/nomadkey)

99 Designs. Custom graphic design doesn’t need to be expensive. 99 Designs puts the power of an auction behind you. Simply create a project to articulate what you are looking for, choose a package level, and wait for the custom designs for logos, business cards, or websites, to start pouring in. 30 designs starting at $299. (http://99designs.com/)

HaikuDeck. Persuading an audience is easier with an exceptional visual aid like a slide deck. But the same old boring slides packed with bullet points are not going to get you there. HaikuDeck is a cloud-based tool that makes it easy to make beautiful, persuasive slide decks that you can operate from an iPad app or from a web browser. Free. (https://www.haikudeck.com/)