Spring Cleaning Tips for Lawyers in the Digital Age
If you're like the grand majority of the rest of the populace, the very idea of spring cleaning is repugnant to you. You like a clean working environment, but thinking about cleaning places is a weight on your spirit.
Fortunately, spring cleaning is like many things: the hardest part is getting started. Once you begin, you'll find that you get a lot more done than you thought possible. To get you started, here's a list of tasks to accomplish this spring.
You're Not Digital Yet?
The good news is that the vast majority of your clients' files can be digitized and stored away. Ethics compels you to hold client files for a number of years and to make client files available upon request. But no one said it had to be in musty old paper. Paper is heavy, bulky, takes up unnecessary space, and attracts mites. There's a time and place for it, but you should digitize as much as you can.
Organization
Many attorneys these days are younger and more prone to take advantage of the benefits of digital technology. With that said, the process can be a little daunting. But with scanning technology, you can get the majority of files organized and stored using various proprietary software out there. A good scanner can cost many hundreds of dollars, but the expense can be worth it. Once the files are digitized, moving them around in data form can be a whole lot easier than having to physically move documents.
Use Your Coupons and Credits
Whenever a new season starts, online retailers oftentimes feature promos to help them move their old inventory -- inventory that could come to you cheap. We're talking new binders, folders and cabinets.
A reminder: if you're a solo, be sure to remember to deduct any of the expenses you use to run your office. In the hubbub of tax season, it's easy to overlook perfectly legal deductions to help lessen the pain of your tax liabilities.
Related Resources:
- 5 Ways I'm Spring Cleaning My Solo Law Practice (Law Firm Suites)
- Tips to Minimize Overhead When Starting a Solo Practice (FindLaw's Strategist)
- 10 Resources for Starting Your Own Nonprofit Firm (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Starting a Law Firm? You'll Need About $10,000 (FindLaw's Strategist)