The laptop is a necessity for any law student. Whether you’re browsing the internet to find extra reading materials, looking up cases, or taking notes, having a laptop is crucial. It can be difficult to decide which laptop should suit you best.
There are many factors that go into finding the right fit, such as your needs and budget. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best laptops for law students.
Read on to learn about each one and how it might fit your needs.
Best Laptop For Law School Students and Lawyers In 2022
So how do you find the best laptop for law school? There are many things you need to consider like keyboard size, screen size, and operating system.
Find out which laptops are best for law school students below:
1. Dell XPS 13 Infinity Edge
High-end laptop, designed to be water-resistant, dustproof and spillproof. It also comes with a carbon fibre reinforced body.
Dell XPS 13 Infinity Edge comes with an Intel 8th gen Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM to run smoothly, lightweight makes your laptop fits perfectly in your hand and is flexible enough for various users’ needs.
The display is borderless and has a 4.3″ WQHD Touch display, it comes with security features such as Face-recognition, Touch ID, and has Windows Hello. XPS 13 Infinity Edge laptops come in five colours: White Silver, Champagne Gold, Platinum Silver, Burgundy Red and Midnight Blue. It comes with three different keyboards with Dell’s famous diamond pattern.
What We Like:
- The 360-degree hinge enables you to turn the screen fully so you don’t have to strain your neck.
- The processor is from 10th generation
- The ports are arranged excellently.
- It is lightweight when compared with other laptop models.
- 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 USB 2.0 port with Bluetooth enabled for easy communication on the go.
What We Don’t Like:
- The display is slightly above average, but not all that amazing in comparison to other laptops on the list.
- The battery life is about 3 hours less than an average laptop.
2. Apple MacBook Pro
The Apple MacBook Pro is the first choice for professionals. The computer features a retina display and super-fast processor with up to several hours of battery life.
The Apple MacBook Pro is a very efficient laptop that runs fast with very minimal slowdowns. It has a hard drive of 256 GB and the processor is a 2.2 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5. It has 4 GB of RAM and an Intel HD Graphics 4000.
It has one audio-in port, two USB 3.0 ports, one Thunderbolt port, one SDXC card slot, one HDMI port, and a MagSafe power port. It has a Mini DisplayPort, built-in webcam, and Bluetooth 4.0.
Another thing that’d interest you about this laptop is the 128 GB of storage, 8 GB of memory, and an Intel Core i5 processor. The screen size is 15.4 inches and can be purchased in silver or space grey.
What We Like:
- Great performance.
- The battery lasts a long time.
- Nice appearance.
- Comfortable to use and lightweight.
What We Don’t Like:
- Lacks a CD/DVD drive, which means you’ll have to rely on the internet to download drivers and software.
3. HP Spectre 360
A thin and light laptop that’s ideal for lawyers on the go. This laptop comes with a 360-degree hinge that allows it to convert into a tablet.
The HP Spectre x360 notebook is a powerful 2-in-1 hybrid. It features a 360-degree display hinge that allows it to be used in four different modes. The 13.3″ display is available in Full HD IPS or 4K UHD IPS, and the laptop is made from a blend of premium materials. It has a battery life of up to 14 hours, and it weighs less than 3.5lbs.
It features a variety of ports, including a USB 3.1 Type-C, a Thunderbolt 3, a USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a volume rocker switch.
Furthermore, the keyboard is backlit, and it has fast charging capabilities with a USB-C charge cable. It also has an Nvidia GeForce 940MX GPU for handling intensive tasks.
What We Like:
- A very solid case that will protect the laptop from a variety of accidents.
- A high-quality keyboard that is comfortable and easy to type on.
- Lightweight weighing in at just 2.9 pounds.
- The laptop’s 13.3-inch screen is Full HD and has a brightness of 350 nits.
- The Spectre 360 has a backlit keyboard, which is helpful when typing in low-light conditions.
What We Don’t Like:
- Compare to others on this list, it is quite heavy.
4. Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Surface Book 3 is the perfect companion for law students. Can run multiple programs at once, allowing you to multi-task without a slowdown in performance or crashing.
This laptop gives you all the features you need to do everyday tasks and then some more. It’s durable, fast, and powerful. You can do presentations, watch videos, and of course, write articles on Microsoft Surface Book 3.
The laptop has a high-resolution touchscreen that is smooth and high quality, providing a seamless experience. It’s also incredibly light! Topping it all off, the laptop looks sleek and attractive, making this one of the best laptops on the market.
What We Like:
- Two types of USB ports are available (Type-A and Type C).
- Battery life is above average.
- Lightweight about 3.4 pounds
What We Don’t Like:
- No touchscreen display.
- Does not have any ports except for USB-C which means that you will have to buy an adapter if you want to use any other kind of port on this laptop.
5. Lenovo Yoga 730
This is for those who need a reliable, high performance, full-featured laptop that can keep up with their busy lives.
The Lenovo Yoga 730 is one of the lightest 14-inch laptops available. It boasts 8-hours of battery life and an excellent screen. The screen is Full-HD and has the brightness to make the colours pop. The Yoga 730 combines great performance with excellent battery life and portability.
This laptop has a solid build quality and smooth hinges. On the inside, you can find an Intel Core i7-8550U 2.8GHz processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD; All your apps will load quickly.
Thanks to the ultra-fast SSD. It also has the Lenovo Active Pen 2 with a 10-point touch. Instead of using a touchscreen, you can now use an active stylus to draw, write, and take notes.
What We Like:
- Long-lasting battery life.
- Comes with an additional fingerprint scanner.
- Very lightweight weighs about 2.8 pounds
What We Don’t Like:
- Screen brightness is not as bright as Apple’s MacBook Pro, which is otherwise similar in specs and price.
- Not enough ports.
- No backlit keyboard.
6. Dell Inspiron 14 5400
An excellent choice for law students. It offers a sleek and stylish design. It is also highly durable, with a sturdy screen and solid construction.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5400 is ultra-portable, then the Inspiron 14 5400 is one of the perfect choices for law students. This Dell laptop weighs only 4.8 pounds and is only 0.9 inches thin. It’s also equipped with Intel’s 5th-generation Core i3-5015U dual-core processor.
It will be able to handle the work you need to get done quickly. Plus, for even faster performance, it comes with 4 GB’s of RAM and a roomy 500 GB hard drive.
Running on Windows 8.1, your laptop will be more secure and you won’t have to worry about losing your files. Along with that, it has a 14-inch screen. You can either buy it with integrated graphics or you can buy it with a dedicated graphics card with up to 2 GB of V-Ram. Any way you choose, the screen will look great!
What We Like:
- Has a thermal scanner.
- The battery is durable.
- Thunderbolt USB ports available and WiFi 6.
What We Don’t Like:
- This laptop doesn’t have a fingerprint reader for securing some private information and passwords on the computer.
- No backlit keyboard which can be an issue for people who type in the dark or dimly lit areas such as libraries and cafes.
7. LG Gram 15
The LG Gram 15 is a great laptop for law students and professionals. The fast processor and 15.6″ display make this laptop the one to buy.
Platinum-designed 15.6″ LG Gram measures 21.9 mm (0.86 inches) at its thinnest point. It’s one of the most mobile laptops without sacrificing performance. A Full HD IPS display showcases the most vivid visuals in all types of lighting, while the USB-C ports offer fast, efficient data transfers.
The case of the laptop is made from a magnesium alloy, making it much lighter than a traditional laptop. It features a 13.3″ touchscreen display and a fairly long-lasting battery. It also has a backlit keyboard, which is a nice touch for those late-night work sessions.
The LG Gram weighs roughly 3 pounds, making it a fairly light laptop. To make it even more convenient, it comes with a built-in fingerprint scanner, as well as a dual-format card reader, allowing you to use both SD and microSD cards.
What We Like:
- Long-lasting battery.
- Fingerprint scanner and WiFi 6 support.
- Wide-angle view stellar display
What We Don’t Like:
- Doesn’t come with the Thunderbolt 3 port option.
Factors To Consider Before Choosing Laptop For Law School Students 2021
i. Battery Life
Battery life is a major factor to consider before choosing a laptop for law school. A laptop with a longer battery life can last all day long, even with heavy use. Laptops with shorter battery lives will likely need to be recharged in the middle of the day.
Though there are also battery packs that can be bought to extend battery life, they may add significant weight and bulk to the laptop.
So we advise that you look for a laptop that has at least five hours – 10 hours of battery life. This will allow you to focus on your studies without having to worry about charging your laptop.
ii. Weight
The weight of the laptop is also one of the major factors to consider when choosing a laptop for law school. Your choice of laptop should not be too heavy to carry to and from class every day.
You should also recall that you probably would be carrying other things such as textbooks etc in your backpack, so the lighter your laptop is easier to carry.
iii. Ram and Storage
The RAM memory you get with your laptop is important for holding files and programs. You’ll need at least 8 GB to handle basic programs like word processors and spreadsheets. If you’ll use your laptop for gaming or special programs like video editing, you’ll need at least 16 GB.
The amount of storage also impacts the laptop’s ability to hold files. The more memory it has, the more you can store it. A laptop with at least 256 GB of storage is ideal for holding more files.
iv. Display Quality
As a law student, display quality is an important factor to consider when looking to acquire a new laptop. Display quality is part of screen size, screen resolution, screen refresh rate, screen brightness, screen size, screen legibility, screen readability, screen quality.
All these factors play an important role in the quality of the display. A laptop with a rating of 300 nits and above is great. This rating shows that the display will be crisp and clear and you can easily see everything on your screen.
v. Processing Power
Processor speed is measured in gigahertz or GHz. This measurement determines your laptop’s speed. As a law student, you need a laptop with 3.5 – 4.2 GHz.
The exact speed can be found from looking at the product details and will usually be listed as a number value somewhere around there.
vi. Warranty
When choosing a laptop as a law student, there is one feature that you should never overlook: the warranty. Computer warranties exist for a reason and that reason is that your laptop can and will break at some point.
When that time comes, it’s the warranty that will help you get your laptop up and running again as good as new. When you’re studying for the LSAT and writing your dissertation, you don’t want to have to worry about your laptop freezing or crashing on you.
By purchasing a laptop with a long warranty, you can sidestep this stress. You can choose a longer warranty or you can choose a laptop that is more durable. Either way, you’re making the right choice. Buy a laptop that has at least a two-year warranty. The warranty should cover all the parts in the laptop and it should be easy to get them fixed or replaced.