Dictation and client-call notes that never leave your Mac.

Obiter turns dictations, client calls, and imported recordings into structured, timestamp-cited matter notes — file memos, call summaries, chronologies, time entries — using AI that runs entirely on your Mac. No cloud. No account. No subscription.

macOS 14.4 or later, Apple silicon. 7-day full trial, no email required.

Runs 100% on-device Works with Wi-Fi off One-time purchase
Client call memo — Okafor v. Lindell draft for review

Key statements

Client confirmed the lease renewal was signed on March 12 ▸ 04:32 and that no written notice was received before April 1 ▸ 11:08.

Follow-ups

Request the certified mail log from the property manager ▸ 17:45.

Time entry

0.4h — client call re: lease renewal dispute.

Every statement cites the recording⌘E export

Privacy you can verify, not just trust.

Bar guidance such as ABA Formal Opinion 512 urges lawyers to weigh confidentiality before putting client information into AI tools. Obiter's answer is architectural: there is no cloud service, so there is nothing to weigh.

  • A live network monitor, in the appSee every connection Obiter makes. During a session, the expected number is zero.
  • Works with Wi-Fi turned offRecord, transcribe, draft, and search fully offline. Models download once, then the network is optional.
  • Audio is encrypted at rest; transcripts and notes are protected by macOS FileVaultYou control retention — audio is deleted after drafting by default.
  • No vendor to subpoenaYour client conversations are on your Mac, and only your Mac. We never have them.

Built for the way lawyers actually work.

Not a meeting bot. A documentation tool: dictate, capture, review, file.

D

Dictation to structured memos

Speak; get a file memo, letter draft, or chronology with legal vocabulary and your own per-matter terms. Voice commands like "new paragraph" and "scratch that" work as you'd expect.

C

Client-call capture

Record Zoom, Meet, or phone-bridge calls system-wide, with a built-in consent script and a per-matter consent log. Speakers are separated and role-labeled for your review.

Citations to the second

Every drafted statement links to the moment in the recording that supports it. Anything the AI cannot support is flagged, never invented — you review before anything is exported.

S

Matter-wide search

Find where the client mentioned the lease date — keyword and meaning-based search across every conversation in a matter, entirely on-device.

E

Exports that land in your file

Word, PDF, Markdown, or straight to the clipboard for your practice-management system. Deposition transcripts import and summarize with page:line citations preserved.

T

Time entries, recovered

Each dictation and call can draft a billing entry in 0.1h increments. One recovered entry covers a meaningful part of the purchase price.

How it works

First run downloads the AI models (about 2–5 GB, one time). After that, everything happens locally.

Capture

Dictate from the menu bar, record a call with consent, or drop in existing audio, video, or transcripts.

Review the draft

Obiter transcribes, separates speakers, and drafts the document you chose — every statement cited, gaps flagged. You edit; you are the author.

File it

Export to Word or PDF, copy into your practice-management system, and draft the time entry while you're at it.

One price. No subscription.

Cloud dictation tools charge every month, forever. Obiter runs on hardware you already own.

$199 one-time
  • Dictation, call capture, drafting, search — everything, forever
  • 7-day full trial before you pay, no email required
  • License key delivered instantly after checkout
  • Free updates for the 1.x series
Buy Obiter — $199

Requires macOS 14.4 or later on Apple silicon (M1 or newer, 16 GB RAM recommended).

Questions lawyers ask

How do I know nothing leaves my Mac?

Three ways. Obiter's Privacy Center shows a live table of every network connection the app makes — during a session, that table is empty. Second, turn Wi-Fi off: recording, transcription, drafting, and search all still work. Third, the only connections the app ever makes — model downloads, your one-time license activation — are user-initiated and listed in the same log.

Does Obiter give legal advice or file anything for me?

No. Obiter drafts documents for your review. Every statement is cited to the recording, unsupported text is flagged, and nothing is exported until you have reviewed it. You are the author of your work product.

What about recording-consent laws?

Recording laws vary by state, and obtaining consent is your responsibility. Obiter helps you document it: a consent script to read, per-participant consent records with timestamps, and a per-matter consent log you can export.

What happens to the audio?

By default, audio is deleted after your note is drafted; you can keep it for a set number of days, or indefinitely, per matter. While it exists, audio is encrypted at rest; transcripts and notes are protected by macOS FileVault. A one-click purge removes everything for a matter, permanently.

What hardware do I need?

A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or newer) running macOS 14.4 or later; 16 GB of RAM is recommended. The AI models download on first run — roughly 2–5 GB depending on the tiers you choose.

How does the trial work?

Download the app and use everything for 7 days — no email, no account, no card. If it earns a place in your practice, buy a license key and paste it into Settings.

Where do I get help?

Open an issue on the support tracker — it goes straight to the developer.