SpeechBee

Guide

Dictation for lawyers

Lawyers dictated long before computers did, and many still think better out loud. Modern dictation turns that into text as you talk. The questions that matter for legal work are accuracy on names and terms, and where your client's information goes. Here is a workflow that handles both.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Updated 12 October 2026

On this page
  1. Where dictation helps in legal work
  2. Set it up for legal vocabulary
  3. Where your client's words go
  4. A workflow that works
  5. SpeechBee
  6. Questions
  7. Keep reading
  8. Sources
  • First drafts of letters, memos, advice notes and briefs, where getting the argument down matters more than polish.
  • Email replies, which are long, frequent and conversational.
  • File notes straight after a call or meeting, while it is fresh.
  • Reviewing drafts by ear, to catch the sentence that runs on or the missing "not".

Editing, citations and formatting are usually still faster by keyboard. Most lawyers who dictate do both.

General speech recognition stumbles on party names, case names, Latin and firm-specific terms. Fix that once:

  1. Add names and terms to the dictionary. Client and matter names, opposing counsel, judges, and terms such as "estoppel" or "indemnification" if your app mishears them.
  2. Save snippets for standard text. A short spoken cue can insert a standard paragraph, a sign-off with your title, or your firm's address.
  3. Say the punctuation. "Comma", "period", "open quotes", "close quotes" and "new paragraph" keep drafts readable.

Apple Dictation on Mac has no custom dictionary, so its mistakes recur. Dedicated apps remember corrections.

Where your client's words go

This is the question to answer before you dictate anything privileged or confidential.

  • Cloud dictation apps send your audio to their servers. Many have strong security, certifications and settings to stop your data being used for training. Read their data policies and check them against your obligations.
  • Apple Dictation may run on your Mac or on Apple's servers, depending on your language and settings. Apple says you can check in System Settings, Keyboard, under Dictation.
  • Local dictation apps transcribe on your Mac, so the audio never leaves it.

Whatever you dictate still ends up in your email, document system or practice software, which have their own rules.

A workflow that works

  1. Outline the document in a few bullet points.
  2. Dictate one section at a time, without stopping to fix mistakes.
  3. Fix names and terms that came out wrong, and add any repeat offenders to the dictionary.
  4. Listen to the draft read aloud before you edit. Errors are easier to hear than see.
  5. Edit, cite and format by keyboard.

SpeechBee

SpeechBee is the app we make. Hold a key in Word, Outlook, Mail or your practice software, talk, and the text appears at your cursor. It transcribes on your Mac: audio is processed in memory, never uploaded and never recorded, and it works offline. It does not look at your screen. Its dictionary fixes names once, snippets insert standard text, and it reads selected text aloud with a local voice for review. It is $79 a year or $99 once, after 7 days free.

It is a dictation app, not a legal product. It does not integrate with document management systems, record meetings, or transcribe audio files.

Voice to text
New message

Hi Maya, I'll send the revised proposal tomorrow morning.

SpeechBee's listening indicator on Mac
Hold your key, talk, let go. The text lands at the cursor.
Text to speech
Article

Most people read faster than they speak. SpeechBee reads the sentence you selected out loud, while you keep working.

SpeechBee's Read Aloud player on Mac
Select text, press your reading key, listen.

Draft by voice, on your Mac. Free for 7 days.

Voice to text and Read Aloud on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. After the week, $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once. Every plan has every feature.

Download for MacGet it for iPhone & iPad

Questions

Is dictation software safe for client-confidential work?

It depends where the speech is processed and what your rules require. Local apps keep audio on your computer. Cloud apps send it to their servers under their own policies. Check your professional rules and firm policy.

What is the best dictation software for lawyers on a Mac?

It depends on your priorities. If confidentiality is first, look for an app that transcribes on your Mac and has a custom dictionary. If you need team management and work on Windows too, cloud apps with business plans may fit. Dragon's current professional edition is for Windows only. See Dragon alternatives for Mac.

Can I dictate legal terms accurately?

Mostly, once you add the terms your app mishears to its dictionary. Apple Dictation on Mac has no custom dictionary.

Can I transcribe recorded client meetings with SpeechBee?

No. SpeechBee turns your live speech into text. It does not record or transcribe audio files.

Keep reading

Sources

All checked on 12 October 2026.