Many of these systems require a time investment up front and some tweaking along the way, but you’ll be so happy you did it.
Of all the challenges solo law firms face, perhaps time management is the hardest to handle. After all, solo lawyers run their own show, from the actual practice of law, to marketing and constantly answering the phone. Wearing so many hats requires finesse and organizational skills which may not come naturally.
If you are able to run your practice efficiently, then you are essentially setting yourself up for success. Giving your practice the best odds to succeed. Follow this article to learn about four tips that will help keep overhead low and efficiency high.
Email Tips and Tools
We all know it, email can take up your entire day if you let it. Listed below are several tools that you can incorporate with your email to make sure your day isn’t consumed by the almighty Gmail.
Set up filters: Create email filters that will automatically sort your incoming emails into predetermined folders that you set up. This will declutter your email and help to ensure that nothing gets overlooked as well.
Canned responses: Stop wasting time by sending the same exact email over and over again. There is a Gmail application called Canned Responses that allows you to create those responses in advance and plug them in when you need them. Then, you can quickly customize them as necessary instead of starting from scratch each time.
Unroll.me: This tool will compile all of the emails subscription lists that you’re currently on and will allow you to unsubscribe from each list. Helping to cut down on the junk mail that always seems to clutter your inbox.
Appointment Scheduling
Stop the “when are you free?” back and forth madness of scheduling appointments. Whether it is with your team or clients, this is one of the most frustrating and least time-efficient processes ever.
Instead, did you know that you can just send your team or clients a link that will let them pick a time on your calendar to meet or speak?
There are several tools that let you do this. Some of these tools include Calendly and Doodle. Both people to put themselves on your calendar directly. Plus they merge directly with many calendar systems, such as Google or Outline, to automatically show your availability.
Social Media
Social media. Attorneys either love it or hate it.
But did you know that solo and small firms attorneys who embrace social media reach a more diverse market and increase their earning potential?
According to a recent HubSpot study, at least 95% of millennials believe a brand should have at least a Facebook presence; 87% of Gen X believes the same thing.
This is where the need for an efficient social media management system comes into play. Many exist, but Hootsuite is one of the most popular.
The Hootsuite app simplifies and reduces the time needed to manage your social media accounts. The main benefit of Hootsuite you can post to every social platform from one convenient location.
You can also schedule your posts to be published at a later date, allowing you to schedule all your post for a week, or the month, in one sitting. This helps busy lawyers maintain an active social presence even when they are busy practicing.
CRM’s
The right CRM program can make all the difference for your firm. It will improve your sales process and overall relationship with both existing and potential clients. In addition to that, it will make you more efficient when reaching out to clients, as well as organizing your leads and clients.
There are several tools built specifically for lawyers and their CRM needs. Some of the most popular tools include MyCase and Contactually. The organizational, automation and tracking components of these tools help lawyers to save time and earn more by creating a more strategic approach to closing new deals and cultivating referral sources.
Many of these systems require a time investment up front and some tweaking along the way. So, try not to get frustrated and give up. Trust me, your practice will thank you for it in the long run!
