If you work in a law firm, you know what it’s like when your workload exceeds the hours in your workday. These days, clients who grew up with email and instant messages expect lightning-fast responses and instant legal solutions. Instead of working from a position of overwhelm, enact a few positive changes that may boost the overall efficiency of your law firm.
Don’t work harder, work smarter
Make written lists. Before you dive headlong into your workday, take a few minutes to sit at your desk and make a physical note of your day’s top priorities. Jot your thoughts and to-do tasks on sticky notes or grab a pen and write a list on paper.
The act of writing is said to help your subconscious remember things, and it’s certainly worth a try, especially if it boosts your personal efficiency. As a bonus, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment every time you check a task off your list.
Automate tedious tasks
Mundane and repetitive tasks such as research, data entry, and document preparation can bore a human to the point of making mistakes. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not be everywhere yet, but when they are, law firms will be able to hand over a wide range of mundane tasks to a sort of super-human automated attorney who never gets tired.
Even if you can’t hire a robot lawyer today, you can still turn over tiresome tasks such as client billing and collections to an automated system.
Encourage innovation and offer tech training
Firm associates who get bogged down when trying to wrangle computers and other technology can grind company efficiency to a halt. Provide tech training to your lawyers and boost their ability to share ideas and collaborate on cases. Environments in which associates work efficiently and effectively are proven to attract and retain high-level players within the legal field.
Avoid attorney burn-out
Firms that are inflexible when it comes to billable hours are pretty much asking for lawyers to leave. Firms that eschew the idea of overtime as a virtue tend to retain happier lawyers who enjoy a healthy balance between work and their personal lives.
Consider mono-tasking
Everyone’s heard of multi-tasking, and many believe it’s the way to get more done. This may be true for some, but others find they are more productive when they focus on one task at a time.
The bottom line is that streamlining how your law firm operates is bound to improve efficiency significantly. Adapt to new technologies as they become available. Not only will your lawyers, paralegals, and other employees feel more productive and relaxed, your clients are bound to notice the difference, as well.