Small Firm Lawyers: Delegate Your Administrative Tasks!

It's natural for ambitious people to want to do everything themselves. However, be warned that control freaks will not expand because they will eventually get bogged down in administrative issues. Remember, you're a lawyer, not an administrator.

Fortunately, there are a number of third-person options available to today's modern lawyer. Consider getting the proper help so you can help yourself get back to the practice of law.

Meet the Players

In the old days, you had your paralegals, secretaries, and legal assistants. They all met in a single place, clocked in and clocked out.

In many ways, the old structure has remained the same, but distinctions between the different types have only grown more numerous, and more detailed. Lawyers now have a handful of different legal help professionals from which to choose:

• The virtual receptionist
• Virtual assistant
• Traditional paralegal or legal assistant
• Independent contractor
• fellow in-office lawyer

The plethora of options available today can be a little overwhelming. It's not just the people -- it's the services themselves. For example, did you know that you can hire outside receptionist services to handle all of your incoming calls so that you don't even have to pick up the phone? Most law firms I know still have a living, breathing person do that! Now, you can go and hire a virtual receptionist through a company like Call Ruby. With this type of service, your clients will never have the pleasure of catching you off guard in a sour mood.

Delegation Advantages

Think of it. Maybe you're great at accounting, writing basic motions, and scheduling. But you don't need a law license for those tasks. You should delegate those tasks to someone else who is equally proficient at getting things done and who will free up your time to practice. Additionally, it's now pretty much well established that multi-tasking is a bit of a myth. You think you can handle it all? Consider the risks to your health and your business.

The selection of individuals is all about helping you get work done. Since the advent of the virtual office, virtual everybody is now becoming widely the norm. Independent contractors are widely available to help in that case you're less familiar with. There is talent out there -- use it!

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Related Resources:

• Need a great hire? Post a job with Indeed. (Indeed)
• How to Outsource or Delegate Administrative Tasks (Lawyerist)
• Want to Keep Clients Happy? Set Clear Expectations Early On (FindLaw's Strategist)
• What to Look for When Hiring a Legal Assistant (FindLaw's Strategist)