By MATT CHANDLER
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

Since moving to the Avant in 2009, Damon Morey has billed itself as a forward-thinking law firm. And on Oct. 19, leaders put their money where their mouths are.

The firm invested more than $60,000 to equip every attorney on staff with a loaded iPad2, a concept that sprung from the purchase of one a year ago by Managing Partner Peter Marlette.

"It goes everywhere with me," he said. "I don't take big files with me anymore."

While in New Hampshire for a recent deposition, for example, Marlette received more than 800 pages of documents from a plaintiff's attorney the night before. Thanks to the iPad, he was able to open and read them from his hotel.

"Then, during the deposition, I was able to receive emails from our general counsel in Atlanta who was listening in on the phone," he said.

It convinced him that buying tablets for all the attorneys at his firm would be a worthwhile investment.

"I took the idea to our management committee and there was unanimous support for it," he said.

Each one is loaded with attorney-friendly apps and a 3G connection that offers online access from anywhere. Aside from the "cool factor," Marlette said, the iPads will help the firm better serve clients.

"We were on the cutting edge of cell phones to every attorney, on the cutting edge of digital dictation - we have been very conscious of trying to put the best technology in the hands of our people," he said. "All of that is with the intention of having better, faster access to information, being able to be more productive and ultimately being able to serve our clients in the best, most-efficient ways possible."

Does Damon Morey see a security risk in handing out 100 take-home tablets or worry about possible misuse?

"We really don't," Marlette said. "Every attorney will have to go through training before they receive the device. And they will have to sign an agreement outlining proper use of the iPad."

Given the nature of the documents and information the attorneys can access, each will be password-protected as another safety step in the event an iPad is lost or stolen.

He also said the firm isn't restricting the devices to work-only use. Management is aware that employees will want to use them personally, as well.

"I can tell you I read The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal on mine every night," he said. "When I travel, I watch movies and I keep all of my books on it, so we understand people will use it for those types of things."

Among those to surprised by a brand-new iPad was senior partner Carol Snider.

"When I got the Blackberry several years ago and started using that, it moved us forward by leaps and bounds, but it has its limitations," Snider said. "I see myself using this device every day, both from home and on the road, as a litigator in the courtroom and to be able to readily have access to documents. And the Internet will make me a much better lawyer."

Marlette, meanwhile, said he sees technology as a powerful recruitment tool, as well.

"Every new attorney joining the firm will get one on their first day, and we have had six attorneys join the firm in the last six weeks," he said. "When the law students and others see our commitment to giving the attorneys all the tools they need and all of the technology, we think that will make a difference."

The attorneys were kept in the dark about the iPads until they walked into a conference room (as a teaser, there was an apple on each desk when they arrived at work) as a way to build excitement for the new program, but Marlette said this is all business.

"We just finished our fiscal year on Oct. 1 and we had another great year," he said. "This is not a gift or a thank you; we are giving them another tool to be better lawyers."