Transactional Attorneys Listen Up: How To Survive Quarter End

If you're a transactional attorney, then you know the drill. Every three months your life is turned upside down as your clients bombard you with endless transactions that just have to be closed before quarter end.

You've got to meet revenue expectations, and you want to keep you clients happy, so here are some tips for surviving quarter end.

5 weeks out ... Get Your Passport Ready

If you deal with international transactions then make sure that your passport is in order. If it needs to be renewed, get that process started. If you have deals in countries that require visas such as India or China, make sure you have everything you need to obtain necessary visas.

4 weeks out ... Get On the Same Page

Meet with your business and finance counterparts to get on the same page. Align with business to find out which transactions are the bigger priorities, and meet with finance to make sure there are no revenue recognition issues.

3 weeks out ... Get Down to Business

As a general rule, it's a good idea not to take vacations within the last 3 weeks of the quarter -- unless you like working the whole time you're on vacation.

2 weeks out .... Get the Small Stuff Out of the Way

To the extent possible, push all non-revenue generating transactions to the next quarter so you are free to work on high priority, high revenue deals.

1 week out ... Get Ready for a Busy Week

Tell your family you love them and you'll see them in a week -- it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Quarter end is by nature stressful, but if you approach it methodically, and manage expectations, you can make it a much more livable experience. Let us know if these tips help you through your next quarter end on Twitter @FindLawLP.

Related Resources:

• How to Make the Most of Your Next Business Trip (FindLaw's In House Blog)
• Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went In-House (Part 1) (FindLaw's In House Blog)
• Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went In-House (Part 2) (FindLaw's In House Blog)