Do you ever feel like no matter how much time and effort you pour into clearing the backlog, there’s always more to do? Do you feel that as soon as you’ve conquered one mountain, the next is overdue? Would you love to plan, but you’re too busy firefighting?

It’s time to work smarter, not harder. 

But how do we achieve it? 

At Yaeger Legal Consulting, we want to help you on your journey to becoming a successful law firm. So we’re sharing some tips on how to maximize your efficiency without working yourself into the ground.

  1. Track your time

What’s a typical day like for you? It’s important to track how you spend your time so you can reflect on where to make improvements. For example, do you spend more time on administration, or chasing invoices rather than working on a case for your client? Many time management experts say that tracking your time will all you to see where you can delegate, thus elevating your game. Taking the opportunity to improve your time management skills will pay off long-term. 

  1. Outsource and delegate

As lawyers, we have specialist knowledge of the law, yet we can fall into the trap of being the person who does everything. Learning to delegate or outsource tasks is an important skill that allows you to focus on your caseload.  After you track your time for a week, look at it closely and ask yourself – what can I outsource or what can delegate?  You are probably saying – “I can’t delegate the work I do, because I am the only one who can get it done right and quickly.”  This is a typical reaction.  Lawyers like to have control.  However, if you have surrounded yourself with a strong team you can delegate. You just have to give your team permission and build their confidence to accomplish the tasks you delegate.   

  1. Technology

Technology can help us to do our work more efficiently. Investing in software can help us to automate tasks or eliminate repetition and human error. Taking the time to train in new or existing software can also make us more productive. For example, we can learn how to use our Microsoft packages to their full potential.

  1. Prioritize

After planning, prioritizing is next.  When the workload is heavy, especially in the day-to-day or week-to-week, it’s helpful to identify what’s essential and time-sensitive and tackle this task first, rather than trying to spin all the plates at once.  Pick your top three, set a time when you will get them done, and then get to work.  

  1. Planning

Planning ahead, whether that’s day-to-day or a more strategic 5-year plan, can mean less firefighting. The trick is to name what’s a priority for your firm, achieve this, and then evaluate what’s next. This is where gathering information is key. Then being insightful and curious about the data will provide clarity on the path forward.  This will resonate with those who feel like no matter how hard they work they go from one crisis to the next. 

  1. Avoid burnout

Workplace stress can leave us overwhelmed, demotivated, less productive, and less able to strategically plan. Regular breaks from our screens and desks make us more productive. 

  1. Style

Some prefer to multi-task, typing e-mails and talking on the phone at the same time. Others favor the monorail style, tackling one task before moving on to the next. Discover your style and adapt.

Reaching new heights

Let’s make your practice the law firm you’ve always wanted it to be.

We’re excited to get to know you and discover what hopes and dreams you’ve got for your firm. Let’s take those seeds and watch them grow. With the right guidance, your firm can flourish.

At Yaeger Legal Consulting we specialize in helping lawyers and firms reach their goals. We can achieve this with personal support, evaluating your unique situation, developing custom strategies to cultivate efficiency and growth, and streamlining your practice.

When you set up a consultation, you take your first step on this exciting journey.