Time Management
Time is what we want most but what we use worst. —William Penn
To be successful in your legal career, you must be organized and efficient. Juggling various projects and deadlines and prioritizing professional development is not easy. Law is not a career that brings a stable or predictable schedule. But there are ways to stay on track.
Use Your Online Calendar
First, use your online calendar. We all have an Outlook or Google calendar (or something similar). Don’t just use it for court deadlines or meetings. Set reminders for yourself that deadlines are approaching (e.g., calendar an entry two months before discovery closes so you can plan accordingly and think through anything you might need without the pressure of a looming deadline; set a reminder one month before that presentation you agreed to give so it doesn’t sneak up on you). Block 15–30 minutes each week to review your professional goals. Are you on track? Great. If not, what can you do to get on track?
Hold Yourself Accountable to Your Online Calendar
Second, hold yourself accountable to those calendar entries. While canceling on yourself can be easy to do, it’s a tough habit to break. Don’t start. You wouldn’t miss a client meeting; give yourself the same respect and attention. If you find that too challenging, engage a peer or mentor to keep you honest. Schedule monthly or quarterly meetings with them to check-in.
Reevaluate and Reorganize Where Necessary
Finally, be flexible. Every so often, some of those reminders may get snoozed a few times. That’s OK. At the beginning of each week, take a look at your calendar. Reevaluate priorities based on current deadlines, client expectations, and unexpected projects or distractions that can derail the best-laid plans. Reorganize as necessary and communicate any changes to those affected. The point is to think about what needs to be done, set reasonable deadlines to keep yourself organized, and update those relying on you.
Satisfying Obligations
Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead. —Harry Potter
Providing consistently excellent work product is among the keys to a successful law practice. But it is not the only differentiator. Here are a few others.
Be Efficient in Your Work
First, be efficient. Efficiency in your work (i.e., the value you provide to your client or supervisor) matters. While a meticulously researched and well-written motion to dismiss is great, do the economics of the case necessitate it? Consider the value of your work product to the client paying for it.
Be Respectful of Others’ Time
Second, be respectful of others’ time. Questions are welcome, but be thoughtful about when and how you raise them. Popping into someone’s office every time it’s convenient for you with “a quick question” can be viewed as inconsiderate. Think through the questions you have, make a list, and ask to schedule a mutually convenient time to discuss.
The same goes for emails and other written communications. Use helpful subject lines. We all use some form of a document management system. Searching for a particular email or memo when every subject line is “Smith matter” does us no favors. “Smith: Analysis of Ohio Law re Contract Damages” or “Smith: Summary of Dr. William’s Witness Interview” is much better.
Similarly, if you’re simply sending an “FYI” email, note it: “Smith: As-Filed Copy of Summary Judgment Motion–FYI ONLY.” Of course, if the email is important or requires an immediate response, flag it: “Smith: Draft Response to Settlement Offer—Need Response by Tomorrow (11/5).” That said, be discriminating when flagging an email as important with the red “!”—we all know those attorneys who flag every email with that irritating icon. It’s like the boy who cried wolf: If everything is important, then nothing is.
Once you master the subject line, don’t blow it by sending a novella in the body of an email. Think about how to organize, synthesize, and present your email to the reader. What will help them quickly understand the communication and provide you with the desired response?
If you’re answering a question, answer it up front—then explain as necessary. If you require a response or action by a certain deadline, bold or underline the request or action item so it stands out. Nothing is worse than getting an email (especially if you’re reading emails on your phone) that takes multiple swipes of your thumb to scroll through. Often, we see those emails, get overwhelmed, and put off reviewing and responding to them. That is never the desired response when communicating with someone—especially your client or supervisor.
Be Reliable
Finally, be reliable. Be responsive, on time, and meet deadlines. Failing to communicate, showing up late to meetings, and blowing deadlines are fatal. Be reliable. Period.
Finding Time for You
“Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. —Timothy Ferriss
Balance is an unattainable goal, yet we feel like failures when we cannot attain it. The truth is, you can have a satisfying legal career and a fulfilling life regardless of whether that life includes children, a significant other, travel, or time for yourself to do whatever it is that you enjoy. Just don’t expect it to be pretty all the time. Redefining expectations is essential.
Take Ownership of Your Career and Personal Life
First, figure out what is important to you, prioritize, and execute. Once you figure out what you want, ask for it. Having it “all” (whatever that may mean to you) requires you to take action—at work and home. You must take ownership of your career and your personal life because no one else will.
Learn How to Set Boundaries
Second, “no” is a complete sentence. Learning to set boundaries is important. As a young lawyer, this may be more difficult. But as you develop and progress in your career, you can gain the trust and confidence of your partners, executives, and other superiors, allowing you to gain more control over your time and choices. It never gets easy to say no, but it does become a more viable option. And as you gain experience, you will find that you are better equipped to evaluate which opportunities to decline and which opportunities are worth the extra hours.
Practice Gratitude
Finally, practice gratitude. Stop beating yourself up over what you don’t have, failed to achieve, or can’t attain. Set aside a few moments every day to take a breath and focus on what went right. We are all so hyperfocused on the negative that we forget to take a second and be grateful for all the positive things in our lives. That’s time well spent.
