Looking for a section symbol key? New keyboard is designed for lawyers
Image from LegalBoard.
BigLaw lawyer Brian Potts had a revelation after becoming annoyed by the multiple steps required to insert a section symbol in a brief he was typing.
Potts decided to create a keyboard designed for lawyers, and it includes a key for the section symbol, according to LawSites by Robert Ambrogi. The new keyboard, called the LegalBoard, is being formally introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The keyboard includes other functions often used by lawyers, Potts tells LawSites. With just one key, lawyers can add not only a section symbol but also a paragraph or copyright symbol.
A single keystroke can add a bullet; turn on and off italics, underlining and boldface; change line spacing; add common words such as “plaintiff” and “appellant”; and add a footnote. After the footnote is typed, the user can then toggle back to the main text.
Users who don’t want to use the keyboard functions for legal use can switch to standard mode, which returns the number pad and function keys to normal use.
Potts was a partner at Foley & Lardner when he became annoyed with the steps required for a section symbol. He said he couldn’t create a shortcut in Word for the symbol, because his law firm’s computers were networked and he lost the shortcut when he turned off his computer. He is now a partner at Perkins Coie.
The LegalBoard costs $65 and can be purchased here.
