The start of the law firm computer revolution in law began in the early 1970s when Wang introduced word processing computers, which became the center of law firms’ word processing departments.

Because a lawyer’s work is done in words, desktop word processing revolutionized legal work practices. The days of dictating letters, using dictation devices, or relying on clerks or typing pools have given way to an individual working alone at a computer. Programs such as WordPerfect (from 1980) gave way to Microsoft Word (introduced in 1983). And now Google Docs (available in 2007) with collaborative online editing tools is edging into the lawyer’s toolkit.