7 Best Laptops for Lawyers and Attorneys in 2023

Whether you’re a student just beginning your legal journey or a seasoned lawyer, chances are you need a reliable laptop to help you do your legal tasks smoothly and efficiently. 

Luckily, any laptop can be a decent option for performing online legal searches, running case management software, or typing up large contracts in MS Word. But to pick the right one, there are a few major factors you need to consider. 

In this article, we’ll show you what to be careful about when researching the best laptops for lawyers. Not only that, we’ll take a deep dive into some of the best options available today, and we’ll judge the pros and cons of each purchase.

Interested? Then let the trials begin.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

A laptop featuring any of the specs mentioned in the table below is pretty decent for a lawyer’s laptop. But to get your money’s worth, you need to have a better understanding of the hardware you’re getting. 

Roughly speaking, a laptop with the minimum specs shouldn’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars. But if you’re aiming for the recommended specs, you should be prepared to spend around $1000 or more. 

And as you’ll soon find out, our list includes some excellent options that fall within these price points.

Top 7 Laptops for Lawyers and Attorneys

Without further delays, I motion to review the top laptops for lawyers.

1. Excellent Performance for Attorneys: Acer Swift Go

Acer Swift Go

• CPU: 1.7GHz Intel Core i7-1355U
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: Integrated ‎Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 10 hours

$649.99

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Swift Go is one of the newer Acer models that quickly rose up in ranks. With awesome specs, a touchscreen display, and great portability, it’s a great laptop for lawyers.

The machine runs on the latest Intel Core i7 processor, along with good amount of the latest-gen, fast RAM and Intel Iris graphics. This is a productivity beast and it can handle the Outlook, signing forms, reviewing media, and general tasks with no sweat. 

As for display, Swift has a high-quality, 14” WUXGA panel that is also touchscreen. In other words, it feels great to read docs, take notes, or simply switch it to touchscreen when it suits you better.

The 14” diagonal might not be for everyone, but if you don’t mind it — it will give you heaps of portability. In my tests, I got Swift to last about 9-10 hours, which is enough for a full day at the office — or the court. And it weighs only 2.76 lbs, similar to the Macbook Air, so it’s easy to carry around.

Acer upgraded the keyboard, so now the keys are very tactile and comfy.

This is a sturdy laptop that can withstand everyday tumble. However, the overall design does feel a little blocky and outdated.

If you don’t mind the aesthetics, Swift Go’s specs — along with a reasonable price — make a very compelling case. It’s awesome what Acer put into this laptop.

2. Superb Mobility & Reliability: Apple MacBook 15 Air M2

Apple MacBook 15 Air M2

• CPU: 3.5GHz 8-core M2
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.3-inch Retina (2880 x 1864)
• GPU: Integrated Apple 10-core GPU
• Battery: Up to 18 Hours

$1,299.99

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You can’t really talk about productivity laptops without considering a MacBook. And the latest MacBook Air has so much to offer: a bigger display, powerful performance, and the same impeccable design Apple is known for.

First things first — we’ve finally got a 15” Air! Air M2 comes with a 15.3” Retina display and all the goodies we love about it: high brightness levels, excellent resolution, and very comfortable viewing angles.

Apple’s latest brainchild runs on the M2 chip. The M series has proven, over and again, to be one of the most reliable processors on the market today. Whether you’re e-signing, multitasking, reviewing, or conferencing — this bad boy can handle it without a stutter.

Speaking of video calls, Air M2 also packs a high-quality webcam and mics.

And the Air remains loyal to the vision — it’s still a very lightweight and portable laptop for lawyers. The battery really lasts 14-15 hours, which makes Air one of the longest-running laptops on the market today.

The main issue with MacBooks is that, for most part, they’re non-upgradable. When it comes to RAM and storage, this could be an issue, even with iCloud, so I’d weigh my needs carefully before buying. That being said, 8GB of DDR5 RAM on a MacBook will last a good number of years.

But, if you’re used to macOS and want that gorgeous Apple keyboard and practical, sturdy design, the latest Air M2 is definitely worth it.

3. Best for Law Students: ASUS VivoBook 16

ASUS VivoBook 16

• CPU: 2GHz AMD Ryzen 5 7530U
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$570.36

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If you’re a law student, you need a laptop that’s powerful, sleek, lightweight — and affordable. ASUS VivoBook 16 fits the bill and could follow you throughout the college years.

Under the hood, VivoBook packs a newer Ryzen 5 processor and Radeon graphics. When it comes to performance, this laptop excels in multitasking, assignments, G Drive Suite, reviewing docs, and legal software.

More importantly, there’s a lot of workspace. VivoBook 16 has a high-quality, 16” WUXGA display. For this price, it’s an excellent panel that won’t strain your eyes during late-night study sessions.

I also like the keyboard on this thing. The keys are very tactile, with nice travel distance — and ASUS included a numpad.

The overall design feels compact, not unlike the HP higher-end laptops. Plus, this is a lightweight machine: a little over 4 lbs is really not much for a 16” laptop, and it’s great when you’re taking it to campus to show it off.

Still, battery could have been better. Don’t get me wrong — I got 7-8 hours, which is ok, but for intense use you might need a charger.

More importantly, if you want to future-proof the VivoBook, I’d upgrade the existing 8GB RAM to at least 16GB.

For this price, however, this is an excellent laptop for law students that could go all the way to your first internship or job.

4. Large Screen & Lightweight: LG gram

LG gram

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-1360P
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 12 hours

$1,048.00

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When it comes to portability-to-screen ratio, few laptops can match LG gram. If you want both, and a great performance, this machine is an excellent choice for lawyers.

To start with, LG gram has a 17.3” WQXGA panel that’s hi-res, color-accurate, and bright. This makes it super easy to review docs in great detail, present, and minimize horizontal scrolling.

But the really interesting thing is the weight. LG gram is a 17” laptop that weighs under 3 lbs — yep, you read that right. It’s practically unheard of in the world of laptop brands.

Not only is it ultralightweight, but the battery on this thing can last. I easily get around 11-12 hours of juice on a single charge, which puts it just a little below ultradurable Macbooks.

The portability is even more impressive when you take into account that LG packed the latest Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM into the machine. These specs zap through demanding tasks, legal software, and online platforms.

As for the design, LG gram was recently revamped and now we’ve got modern and elegant chassis that looks professional.

The build does feel a little flimsy, so try to avoid harsh tumble. Since the profile is very thin, the laptop gets hot every now and then, and I’d get a good cooling pad.

But that’s far from a deal-breaker for me. What you get with LG gram is an amazing, portable laptop for lawyers and a large, gorgeous display.

5. Ideal for Legal Pros: Dell Inspiron 3530

Dell Inspiron 3530

• CPU: 1.7GHz Intel Core i7-1355U
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SDD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$795.76

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Perhaps you want a device that is as practical as it is powerful. In that case, Dell Inspiron 3530 is an awesome laptop for lawyers and attorneys that brings a lot to the table.

The latest-gen. i7 processor and 16GB of super-fast DDR5 RAM bring snappy performance to whatever you may be doing: pulling docs and presentations, e-signing, multitasking, or reviewing exhibits.

Moreover, with a large, 15.6” touchscreen display that is fast and responsive, it becomes very easy to navigate various folders, documents, and files. 

I also like that there’s 1TB of storage — since you’ll have enough space to store different cases and projects.

Inspiron doesn’t stop there: this is a sleek, sturdy laptop that’s very portable. Don’t let the thin profile fool you: Dell can withstand everyday tumble. And with only 3.6 lbs of weight, it’s easy to carry around.

The main objection would be the battery life. In my tests, Inspiron 3530 lasts roughly 6 hours, which is ok, but for office work, you’re gonna need a charger or a powerbank.

And if you don’t like fingerprints, I’d go for a metal chassis, maybe the Macbook Air M2.

Yet, this thin-bezel, thin-profile, pro laptop for lawyers sure gives a lot. And let’s not forget that Dell is famous for its fast customer service. When you take all of these into account, it’s one of the most reliable picks on this list.

6. Amazing Display and Performance: Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-1360P
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch AMOLED (2880 x 1800)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 15 hours

$1,191.28

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Speaking of amazing displays, I dare say that Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro goes even beyond the Macbook Air and LG gram. This powerful laptop for lawyers is also portable and sleek.

Why such bold statement? Well, while Air’s and gram’s displays are hi-res, Samsung sports an AMOLED 3K panel. All the panels are super-bright, but Galaxy Book3 also has deep blacks, amazing contrast, and rich colors. Needless to say, it’s very satisfying to work on.

Far from being merely a visual pro, the Galaxy Book3 Pro also packs serious power. With the 13th-gen. i7, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and Intel Iris graphics, this is a versatile laptop that will fly across office tasks, doc reviewing, and media.

Plus, the thing also scores high on portability. In my tests, I didn’t really get the advertised 15 hours, but the laptop did last good 11-12 hours on a single charge. At 2.58 lbs, only the smaller LG grams are lighter, so it’s a very portable machine.

I also love the keyboard. The overall design feels Macbookish, and I’m glad for that, since the keyboard is very high-quality and comfy. That being said, the trackpad can sometimes be imprecise. If this persists, I’d get a mouse.

If you’re into 14” laptops, and want a remarkable display, Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro brings one of the best panels on the market, along with serious firepower and a lightweight body.

7. Reliable Convertible Laptop: HP ENVY x360

HP ENVY x360

• CPU: 2.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 5625U
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
• Battery: Up to 8 Hours

$675.21

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Perhaps you want all the touchscreen goodies without a crazy price tag. HP Envy x360 is one such laptop for lawyers that also happens to have great design.

For an affordable price, you get a 15.6” laptop with responsive touchscreen display. I like that you can use it in tent mode since it’s great way to share presentations, focus on the docs, or simply take notes.

Running on a capable Ryzen 5 processor, Radeon Vega graphics, and 16GB of RAM, there should be no issues with office tasks or legal software. In my tests, I got lag-free, stutter-free, objection-free performance with this combo.

Next to Lenovo, HP laptops have a distinctly elegant and compact design, and HP Envy x360 sure banks on this. The overall look feels sophisticated and premium, along with a comfy keyboard and spacious, precise trackpad.

The laptop also doesn’t weigh much — at 4 lbs, it’s easy to carry. This also becomes important if you’re using a convertible in tablet mode, since too much weight can be hard on the hand.

I would have liked a better battery life. While I did get around 7-8 hours, the touchscreen capabilities draw the battery faster. So if you’re at the office or court, I’d bring a charger.

But still, for this price range, HP Envy x360 is one of the convertibles that gets a lot of things right. It’s a future-proof laptop for lawyers that will pay itself over and again.

Buying Guide for Laptops for Lawyers and Attorneys in 2023

So here we go: 

1. Pick a Laptop With a Fast and Reliable CPU 

Whether you’re drafting legal docs, managing your client base, or doing online research for your next trial, you need a processor that can keep up the pace. So, when buying your next legal tool, your main focus should be the CPU.

Keeping this in mind, I strongly suggest you go for some of the latest generations of Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processors. These CPUs would power through any task you might do as a lawyer without breaking a sweat. 

However, if you’re looking for more affordable options, the lower-tier Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processors are still a solid choice. That being said, you can easily find some excellent budget laptops for just under $800 that feature these CPUs. 

2. Think About Portability and Battery Life 

Whether you’re a student or a professional legal counselor, I’m pretty sure that portability is a huge deal for you. After all, you need flexibility while juggling between classes or courtrooms. For that matter, investing in a thin and lightweight laptop is probably a good idea. 

Besides the weight, you should also be careful about battery life, and I wouldn’t rely too much on what the manufacturers are saying. So, the best you can do is check for the user testimonials. As a ballpark, anything that can run above 10 hours on a single charge is considered pretty good. 

Having this in mind, we included a bunch of models that excel in portability and battery life. Just take a look at the Galaxy Book3 Pro or the MacBook Air M2. 

3. Find the Right Display for You 

I must admit, I have mixed feelings when it comes to recommending the right display for lawyers.

On the one hand, a 14-inch device is a solid option in terms of portability, which we already established can be pretty important. But on the other hand, larger 15.6-inch displays (or higher) are more practical for working on multiple docs and browser tabs simultaneously. So, I’ll let you be the judge of what works best for you. 

As for the resolution, there is no need to overdo it. Even the traditional FHD (1920×1080) should be enough. Just make sure to choose something with an IPS panel since those offer broader viewing angles and better overall image quality. Of course, AMOLEDs, OLEDs, and Retina displays are much more pleasant to the eye. But they also cost more.

Finally, if you prefer style and aesthetics above all else, I suggest you look into thin-bezel laptops. 

4. Don’t Skimp on RAM and Storage Space 

I know I already mentioned performance above, but there are a couple more things that can massively improve your laptop’s performance. And those are RAM and storage. 

On that note, even the cheapest modern laptop should at least come with an 8GB memory stick. This should be enough for basic legal activities like web browsing and drafting legal docs. 

But if you want your laptop to perform smoothly for several years, I’d counsel you to go for a 16GB RAM laptop. 

As for the storage, you should prioritize laptops with SSD since they are much faster and more reliable. Luckily, most manufacturers have ditched the traditional HDD, but it’s a thing worth noting if you’re buying an older model. In that case, you should replace the HDD asap. 

Keeping this in mind, a 512GB SSD is a good starting point for students and pros too. And if you’re worried about running out of space, don’t be. Because most laptops come with upgradable storage features. But do check, just to be on the safe side. 

5. Set a Budget 

Last but not least, setting a budget can help you understand what is realistically within your reach. Once you define how much you can afford to spend on a new device, the choices will be more obvious. 

But the good news is – getting a decent laptop for lawyers doesn’t have to cost a fortune. 

FAQs about Laptops for Lawyers and Attorneys

Verdict

So here is the final verdict: with so many great options available, it would be unjust to single out one model as the best laptop for lawyers. Any of the recommended laptops is a solid choice one way or the other. So the ultimate decision depends on your specific tastes and budget. 

I know you lawyers like to be thorough and examine every little detail before deciding anything. So, if you’d like to learn more about laptops in general, check out our comprehensive buying guide. 

For the avoidance of doubt, here is a quick recap:

• For students looking for an affordable laptop with solid performance capabilities, the ASUS VivoBook 16 is your ideal choice. 
• If you’re looking for elegance, power, great portability, and visual excellence – all well packed in a Windows device, check out the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro. 
• But a list of productivity laptops wouldn’t be complete without an Apple device. Those machines excel in performance, portability, and battery life, among other things. On that note, check out the Apple MacBook 15 Air M2.  

So, which laptop are you buying and why? Let us know in the comments below.