What is often not taught in law school are the expectations and responsibilities imposed upon young attorneys in addition to the practice of law. The demands of litigating a case in accordance with ethical boundaries and rules of procedure leave most attorneys with little time for nonbillable tasks. Nonetheless, attorneys are required to capture every six minutes of their time for billing purposes, manage accounts receivables, market new and existing clients, and keep current with the latest statutes and court opinions. The pressure can be overwhelming, often causing young attorneys to question why they voluntarily chose law as a career. As a young lawyer, I had my fair share of anxiety ridden nights when I worried about the work day ahead; and I can certainly relate to the overwhelming nature of a high volume caseload and demanding clients. It was not until I implemented basic but essential strategies into my everyday practice that I effectively and efficiently progressed toward managing a high-volume caseload.
The key principles are simple. The challenge, however, is changing one’s behavior to implement these principles.