Spring Cleaning for Lawyers
In the spring, a young man's fancy might turn to thoughts of love, if you believe Tennyson, but for the rest of us, well, we'll content ourselves with a little extra sunshine and a healthy bout of cleaning. For lawyers and legal professionals, the season, which officially started last Monday, is a good time to take stock of your practice, straighten things up, and maybe finish up some housekeeping items you've put off over the past months.
So, to help you out, here is some of our best spring cleaning advice, from the FindLaw archives. For the thoughts of love, though, you're on your own.
1. How to Fix Your Inbox
Forget dusty shelves or old files piling up, if you're like most of us, the real mess is in your inbox. And a messy inbox can result in serious productivity losses, when finding an old message starts taking minutes, rather than seconds. But a tidy inbox isn't hard to achieve, if you follow these steps.
2. What to Do With Old Client Files?
Do you have a storage closet full of old client files just moldering away? Now might be the time to do something about them. And we're not talking about just throwing a match in and walking away -- though the thought of that seems terribly satisfying, though equally unethical. Instead, why not go digital, keeping old docs around without actually taking up office space?
3. Looking for New Clients? What About Your Old Ones?
With your winter hibernation coming to an end, now is a good time to reach back out to old clients. Put together a client mailing list, send a message, organize a newsletter, or even hand out some swag.
4. How to Legally Fire Staff and Protect Client Confidentiality
If your spring cleaning means cleaning out some staff, here are some tips on how to get it done, with as little pain as possible and while preserving clients' confidences.
5. Six 'Qs' to Look for When Hiring for Your Firm
Spring is a time of rebirth and, hopefully, some growth in your firm. If you're looking to bring on extra help, keep these six employee "quotients" in mind.
6. 10 Tips to Help a Solo Practitioner Go on Vacation
Speaking of cleaning, how about cleaning out some time for yourself this spring? If you've been grinding out billable hours for months, taking a quick break can be essential to preserving your sanity and helping you recharge. These 10 tips can help you get it done.
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Related Resources:
- Spring Cleaning Your Law Firm Before Summer Comes (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Are You Ready for the New Normal? Take This Quiz to Find Out (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Here's What Attorneys Should Earn in 2017 (FindLaw's Strategist)