Why lawyers need a personal CRM
Most lawyers get their best work from referrals: other attorneys, accountants, advisors and former clients who trust them. Those relationships fade when nobody follows up. A quick thank-you after a referral, a check-in with a former client a year later, a note after a bar event: the lawyers who do this consistently are the ones people think of first. A personal CRM keeps the people and the follow-ups in one place.
What lawyers keep in BlackBook
- Referral sources such as other attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors and realtors, and a reminder to thank them
- Former clients and when to check in after a matter closes
- People you met at bar association events, CLEs and community boards and meant to follow up with
- Small personal details, like a colleague’s new role or a client’s growing business, so the next conversation picks up where the last one left off
- Birthdays and anniversaries, so a quick note goes out on the right day
- Pulse, which suggests who to reach out to next from your notes, history and reminders
Next to your practice tools, not instead of them
BlackBook isn’t built for matters, conflicts checks, deadlines, billing or documents. Keep those in your practice management system, and keep privileged and confidential client information where your firm and your bar’s rules require. Use BlackBook for the relationship notes that bring the next referral.
Private by design
There’s no account or login. Your notes stay on your iPhone, there are no ad SDKs, and your data is never sold. Start free with the 25 referral sources and contacts you most want to stay in touch with.
More on this: a personal CRM for consultants, a personal CRM for financial advisors, and how to keep in touch with people.
BlackBook facts
- Platform: iPhone, iOS 17.6 or later
- Price: free download; optional BlackBook Pro subscription (prices shown in the app)
- Free plan: 25 people, 2 notes per person, 30 days of interaction history
- Pro: optional subscription with VIP reminders and insights, relationship notes with tags, duplicate detection, BlackBook AI
- AI: on-device via Apple Intelligence (Pro, iOS 26, compatible iPhone)
- Privacy: data stays on your iPhone, no account, no ad SDKs, data never sold
- Developer: Preston Earnest / Earnestly Studios LLC
Frequently asked questions
Does BlackBook replace my practice management software?
No. BlackBook doesn’t track matters, deadlines, conflicts, time, billing or documents. Keep your practice management and document systems for that. BlackBook is your own book of relationships: referral sources, colleagues, former clients and the reminders to reach out.
What should I keep out of BlackBook?
Keep privileged and confidential client information, case details and anything covered by your confidentiality duties in the systems your firm approves, and follow your firm’s and your bar’s rules. BlackBook works best for relationship notes like how you met, who referred whom and when to check in.
What do lawyers use a personal CRM for?
Thanking and keeping up with referral sources such as other attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors and realtors; checking in with former clients; following up with people met at bar events, CLEs and community boards; and remembering birthdays so a note goes out on the right day.
Is my data private?
BlackBook needs no account. Your people and notes stay on your iPhone. There are no ad SDKs, and your data is never sold.
Is BlackBook free?
BlackBook is free to download with a free plan of 25 people, two notes per person and 30 days of interaction history. BlackBook Pro is an optional subscription: in the US it’s $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, and the annual plan includes a 1-week free trial. Prices are shown in the app.
What iPhones does it run on?
BlackBook requires iOS 17.6 or later. On iOS 26 with a compatible iPhone, BlackBook Pro adds on-device Apple Intelligence features.
Stay top of mind with the people who send you work.
BlackBook is free to download for iPhone (iOS 17.6+). Start with 25 people, no account needed.
Get BlackBook – Personal CRM