Is the BlackBerry cutting into billable time?

Sep 6th, 2008

MARZENA CZARNECKA

Greg Turnbull loves his BlackBerry.

And not because it’s sleek, sexy and a status symbol. Mr. Turnbull, the managing partner of McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s Alberta practice and a well-respected corporate practitioner in Calgary, doesn’t need a tech status symbol.

Jeffrey Shore is a lawyer at Goodmans who does commercial real state. Since he started working with his blackberry three years ago, that has become an essential tool. (Arantxa Cedillo for The Globe and Mail)

For Mr. Turnbull, as for most lawyers in the developed world, the BlackBerry is the ultimate client service tool. “You are available 24/7. You can be anywhere in the world and satisfy the needs of your clients. I do a lot of international travel, and the BlackBerry is fabulous for that.”

But, increasingly, Mr. Turnbull has been worrying about the “dark side” of the BlackBerry. Lawyers have “difficulty in unplugging.” BlackBerry-caused interruptions disrupt the flow of meetings, as well as participants’ concentration. There is concern that in some cases, lawyers sacrifice thoughtfulness and quality at the altar of the rapid response encouraged by the technology.