By Julie Bays

I will confess something right up front: most of my technology tips tend to focus on Microsoft 365. That is simply the platform I use every day, so it is the environment I know best.

But not every law firm operates in Microsoft’s world. Many firms use Google Workspace as their core technology platform, and over the past few years the system has evolved far beyond the free Gmail accounts many lawyers first encountered.

I was pleased to see my colleague Catherine Sanders Reach take a deeper dive into the topic on the North Carolina Bar Association’s practice management blog. Her article, Google Workspace for Business in 2026, provides a helpful overview of how the platform works for law firms and what has changed recently.

Google Workspace includes familiar tools such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Meet, all designed to work together in a cloud-based environment. One of the biggest recent developments is the addition of Google’s AI assistant (Gemini) directly into many of these tools, allowing users to draft documents, summarize information and assist with everyday tasks inside the workspace.

For lawyers considering the platform, Catherine discusses several practical issues firms should evaluate, including pricing tiers, storage limits, collaboration features and the differences between free consumer Google accounts and the paid business versions designed for professional use.

If your firm already uses Google Workspace, or if you are thinking about moving away from traditional desktop software to a cloud-based environment, her article provides a clear and practical overview of what the platform offers today.

You can read Catherine’s full article here:
Google Workspace for Business in 2026
https://www.ncbar.org/2026/03/03/google-workspace-for-business-in-2026/

Even if you ultimately decide to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem, it is always helpful to understand the tools your colleagues and clients may be using.