1. Strategic Scheduling:
Structure your calendar so you have focused time for everything you need to do each day, week and month. For instance, use one day to schedule in office meetings and another for out-of-office meetings. Block off prep and drafting time on your calendar. If you travel outside your home county, try to schedule multiple hearings on the same day to consolidate travel time.
Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself and your family. This could include making a goal to leave the office by a certain time each night or refusing to check work email in the evenings or on weekends.
***If you’re delegating scheduling to staff (see #2) inform them of your strategic scheduling plan so that everything will be done consistently (see #3).
2. Delegate!
There are likely many tasks that can be delegated to your staff. You may need to provide final approval, but others in your firm can help with drafting correspondence and pleadings, etc., following up on the status of matters, and scheduling, among other tasks.
3. Do everything consistently!
Too often the tasks that support the growth of your law practice slip to the bottom of the to do list as “urgent” client tasks rise to the top. Find a way to create consistency in everything you do, including communicating with clients, intake of information and documents, etc. Creating checklists for yourself and staff in response to various events can build consistency and will encourage delegation of tasks so that nothing slips through the cracks.
Source: LawMarketing
Click here to view the January 2014 Family Times Newsletter
