In today's legal landscape, where time is of the essence, the need to maximize lawyer productivity has never been more critical. Lawyers are expected to juggle complex cases, navigate vast document repositories, and meet stringent deadlines—all while maintaining impeccable accuracy. Discover the seven key strategies that can elevate lawyer productivity, streamline workflow, and ensure that your legal practice remains both efficient and competitive. From the latest in legal technology to time-tested methodologies, these techniques are game-changers for the modern lawyer.
1. Keep an eye on the changing times
These past turbulent years have seen circumstances change rapidly and some countries now face the looming threat of recession. Yet such times also tend to produce novel solutions, and it is far easier to spend five-to-ten minutes reading up on the latest news in your field than to have to catch up on months of developments further down the line. This one little habit will keep you competitive and prevent productivity from sliding, even when business is seeing a downturn.
2. Block out the workday
While technology has been a boon for productivity, it has also allowed for more frequent intrusions through phone calls, emails and online meetings. This unwanted multi-tasking can leave lawyers feeling overwhelmed, resulting in simple yet costly mistakes such as forgotten follow-ups and missed appointments.
The time-tested method of to-do lists is an effective way to begin the day, allowing you to set your priorities and focus your attention where it is needed. Block off time to ensure that you are distraction free, and avoid an information deluge by creating windows throughout the day to answer correspondence. This will ensure that you are not constantly chasing the most urgent missives, and that your own work does not become unnecessarily 'urgent' due to delays further down the line.
3. Follow the natural flow of your energy
Our energy levels rise and fall throughout the day, and the afternoon hour following lunch is the most notorious trough. Plan your tasks to match your energy levels, keeping the most straight-forward tasks for this time.
And if you find that the energy that you are putting into the task is not producing an effective end result, the solution is simple: Take a break. The rule is that for every 50 minutes spent staring at a computer screen, 10 minutes should be spent away from it. A short burst of physical exercise can aid the mind as well as the body, so a walk around the block for some fresh air can indeed make a mundane task much easier upon your return.
4. Examine your agile working practices
Are the rules and regulations in your workplace stifling the decision-making process? Agile working practices aim for maximum flexibility when it comes to both people and technology, ensuring that multiple solutions are available to get the job done.
In recent years, hybrid working has come to the fore, and workers have benefitted from having complete control of their own environment for peace and comfort to focus on their tasks. This has been found to increase staff retention, reduce office costs and massively improve productivity.
5. Prioritise work-life balance
Scientific studies have proven time and again that working long hours is counter-productive for productivity; tiredness reduces effectiveness and mistakes creep in that would otherwise never happen. Not only do these slip-ups affect morale, they also increase stress, which can lead to more serious health complications over the years.
Setting boundaries between the office and out-of-work hours is important for effective rest and for being more grounded: It is impossible to truly exist in the 'here and now' when you are always anticipating a call at any moment from the office on the other side of the world.
'Switching off' is, of course, easier said than done, but making out-of-hours work more the exception than the rule will prevent burnout and lead to a more satisfying life.
6. Automate and streamline mundane tasks with Draftable
There are myriad ways to improve your productivity through technology, automating mundane tasks and streamlining the process. One such example is Draftable Legal, a legal technology solution capable of comparing documents in Redline PDFs and Tracked Changes.
Trusted by more than 750 global brands, Draftable Legal is competitively priced and has a proven reputation as one of the most powerful and effective tools for document(PDF, Word, Text, Excel, PowerPoint) comparison. A free trial is available at Draftable.com, and its responsive Product & Support Teams can assist with integrating seamlessly into your firm's current setup.
7. Tackle those unwanted tasks
Procrastination is the enemy of efficiency and productivity; however it can be all too easy to put aside less desirable duties until you have no choice. Knowing you have an unpleasant task to accomplish later can nag at your consciousness for days or even weeks if permitted, which may even drain your energy and affect concentration on other undertakings. Prevent turning that molehill into a mountain: Get it over and done with - preferably at the start of your day as one of your to-do list items – and let that sense of accomplishment sustain you through the following hours.
Disclaimer:
This article is NOT purporting to provide legal advice;
We are NOT responsible for any of the third-party resources mentioned in this article.
In using any resources, you should solely rely on your own judgement and do so at your own risk.
