'Smarter Not Harder' Holiday Tips for Solo Lawyers
For solo practitioners, the holiday slowdown can often be a challenge. If you just don't have anything going on around the end of the year, just trying to get yourself into the office could be an exercise in futility. After all, you don't have to go to the office to show up for holiday networking events.
However, you don't necessarily have to show up to your office to get some important stuff done either. Below, you can find a few tasks that are especially well suited for the unfortunately un-billable holiday slowdown that will help you work smarter, rather than harder, for the rest of the year.
Update Your Form Library and Process Checklists
One of the best examples of working smarter rather than harder is a lawyer's personal form library. If you've drafted a motion recently, make sure you save a copy in your personal form library. Periodically, or over the holidays, you should review your form library to make sure you have your most up-to-date canned language on the ready to re-use.
The same goes for process checklists for yourself and your staff. During the holiday lull, give them a once over and update as necessary for new tech or methods you may have picked up over the last year.
Create Website Content to Publish During the Year
Rather than spinning your wheels on casework, focus on some long-term marketing. Draft blog posts for your website that do not revolve around current events so that you can post them regularly during the course of the next year. And while you're at, review your website and those of your competitors.
Comfy Up Your Workspace
If you need to flee the family or are just going a bit stir crazy sitting around your not-so-humble abode, you can focus some time on making your workspace more comfortable and ergonomic. Doing so can actually help boost your productivity when you do decide to actually get back to work.
Have an open position at your law firm? Post the job for free on Indeed, or search local candidate resumes.
Related Resources:
- 5 Simple Ways Lawyers Can Improve Their Productivity (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Tax Bites: Is the Season of Giving Over? (FindLaw's Strategist)
- When Is It Time to Quit a Professional Organization? (FindLaw's Strategist)
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