I was thinking the other day about smartphones and how things have evolved from the Game Boy to the iPhone. But if you think about it, those kids that sat there with their mobile Zelda are now adults with their mobile MSN News. Technology has grown with its users, and the legal profession is not an exception.

The American Board Association calls them “mobile lawyers.” They are the attorneys on the go, barely at their desk, and running from one appointment to the other. But that shouldn’t be at the expense of their administrative obligations. You know that old debate about a tree falling and no one to hear it? Well, it’s an inarguable fact that if a lawyer worked and that hour was not accounted for, no one is going to pay for it.

The solution lies in your cell phone holster or your PDA pouch. What accompanies the mobile lawyer is the mobile legal billing software. If you can send a text message, you can bill your time. One of the most convenient things about a mobile legal billing system is the fact that it’s a system – not a device. In the not-too-distant past, professionals were walking around with a cell phone, a palm pilot, and a little pager attached to their belt. With technology today, attorneys can consolidate their applications to one device. As the years progress, there is this growing trend of mobile lawyers using their PDA/Smartphone for office purposes. According to the ABA, there has been a steady growth from 53% in 2007 to 82% in 2009.

Who would have thought that a legal billing system could start with a ledger, advance to an electronic file, and end up on your phone? And it all started with video games. Technology may be taking us places, but it’s good to know that it can keep up with us as well.

Jessica Eballar is a writer and time-enthusiast at www.Bill4Time.com – a time billing software company.