5 Things to Do Before You Leave the Office
By Robyn Hagan Cain on April 3, 2013 11:22 AM
For some lawyers, the work day never ends.
Twenty years ago, lawyers left their phones and computers at work. Thanks to increased mobility, lawyers now send email from their phones, read briefs and cases on tablets, and are rarely seen without a laptop. Unfortunately, the never-stop-working work ethic means that more attorneys are burning out.
So how do you stop the vicious cycle? Try actively disconnecting from the office at the end of the day.
Of course, that's easier said than done. If you're the type of person who can't rest until you've reached a proper stopping point, it may be helpful to start winding down your day approximately 30 minutes before you leave the office.
Last year, Forbes' Jacquelyn Smith outlined 14 things you should do at the end of every work day. If you have time for a 14-step end-of-day ritual, check out her tips. If you're looking for an abridged way to end your day, we've refined some of her tips and added a few of our own to create a handy checklist of five things to do before you leave the office.
1.Input Your Billing. If you have to enter your own billing, do it at the end of each day instead of the end of each month.
2.Check Your Calendar. Sometimes filing deadlines can slip your mind; don't spoil a client's claim because you overlooked a date on the calendar.
3.Respond to Email. If there are unanswered messages in your inbox that needs attention, take care of them before you leave. What's the point of going home to your family/friends/pets if you're going to ignore them while responding to email?
4.Create a To Do List. Smith says that you should plan and prioritize what you will do tomorrow before you leave today.
5.Say Goodnight. While Smith claims that saying goodbye to colleagues can make you feel happier and more fulfilled, it's also practical to bid your law firm colleagues adieu. If your firm has an unspoken don't-leave-until-the-boss leaves rules, saying goodbye notifies those who report you that they can also leave.
These, of course, are just a few suggestions. You should customize your end of day ritual with whatever steps help you disconnect. The important thing is that you find a way to leave the office at the office so you can avoid burnout.
Five Ways to Irritate Opposing Counsel
By William Peacock, Esq. on February 28, 2013 12:20 PM
Everyone who has ever practiced law has opposing counsel horror stories. This shouldn’t be surprising. After all, you remember some of the weirdos from your law school class. How many of them are practicing attorneys?
In hope that this will help you correct your bad behavior — or indulge in a misery-loves-company therapeutic rant — here are five ways attorneys irritate the other side.
1. Pass off case calls to a series of attorneys in the firm
The attorney of record doesn't answer his phone. The next attorney knows nothing about the case. The junior associate knows nothing about the case, and nothing about the law. At this point, the caller will have to fight the desire to drive to the firm and insert the phone in someone's naughty parts.
Is that really necessary?
2. Remind young attorneys of their relative lack of experience. Repeatedly.
Yes, we're not all seasoned barristers. How about you ask us what it was like to graduate in 2011 again?
You might also use age as a passive-aggressive way of intimidating less-experienced foes. "My goodness, you are young." "How old are you?"
Young attorneys get it - we're younger and less experienced.
3. Return documents, correspondence slowly
Get a stipulation in the mail? Why rush to respond? Sure, there isn't anything to do but sign-and-return. And it has been a freaking week. But why should lawyering be easy? Or quick?
Except there's no reason to waste time. You stip. We stip. We all stip. Get it together, man.
4. Skip procedural steps
Discovery? Nahhh. Case management conferences? Who needs 'em. Alternative dispute resolution and mediation? He'll be there, but he won't try.
There's a reason why certain steps are mandates by the court. Skipping steps not only makes you look incompetent, it's a pain in everyone's buttocks as well.
5. Be OCD about Procedural Steps, Mistakes
Then again, there's the converse of the step-skipper: The guy who makes a big deal because subsection 16 of Rule 57 wasn't followed. You forgot to discuss the cost of postage stamps! HOW DARE YOU!
There's meaningful participation and fulfillment of procedures. There's also obsessive-compulsive disorder. Try to find a happy medium.
5 Things to Do Before You Leave the Office
By Robyn Hagan Cain on April 3, 2013 11:22 AM
For some lawyers, the work day never ends.
Twenty years ago, lawyers left their phones and computers at work. Thanks to increased mobility, lawyers now send email from their phones, read briefs and cases on tablets, and are rarely seen without a laptop. Unfortunately, the never-stop-working work ethic means that more attorneys are burning out.
So how do you stop the vicious cycle? Try actively disconnecting from the office at the end of the day.
Of course, that's easier said than done. If you're the type of person who can't rest until you've reached a proper stopping point, it may be helpful to start winding down your day approximately 30 minutes before you leave the office.
Last year, Forbes' Jacquelyn Smith outlined 14 things you should do at the end of every work day. If you have time for a 14-step end-of-day ritual, check out her tips. If you're looking for an abridged way to end your day, we've refined some of her tips and added a few of our own to create a handy checklist of five things to do before you leave the office.
1.Input Your Billing. If you have to enter your own billing, do it at the end of each day instead of the end of each month.
2.Check Your Calendar. Sometimes filing deadlines can slip your mind; don't spoil a client's claim because you overlooked a date on the calendar.
3.Respond to Email. If there are unanswered messages in your inbox that needs attention, take care of them before you leave. What's the point of going home to your family/friends/pets if you're going to ignore them while responding to email?
4.Create a To Do List. Smith says that you should plan and prioritize what you will do tomorrow before you leave today.
5.Say Goodnight. While Smith claims that saying goodbye to colleagues can make you feel happier and more fulfilled, it's also practical to bid your law firm colleagues adieu. If your firm has an unspoken don't-leave-until-the-boss leaves rules, saying goodbye notifies those who report you that they can also leave.
These, of course, are just a few suggestions. You should customize your end of day ritual with whatever steps help you disconnect. The important thing is that you find a way to leave the office at the office so you can avoid burnout.
Five Ways to Irritate Opposing Counsel
By William Peacock, Esq. on February 28, 2013 12:20 PM
Everyone who has ever practiced law has opposing counsel horror stories. This shouldn’t be surprising. After all, you remember some of the weirdos from your law school class. How many of them are practicing attorneys?
In hope that this will help you correct your bad behavior — or indulge in a misery-loves-company therapeutic rant — here are five ways attorneys irritate the other side.
1. Pass off case calls to a series of attorneys in the firm
The attorney of record doesn't answer his phone. The next attorney knows nothing about the case. The junior associate knows nothing about the case, and nothing about the law. At this point, the caller will have to fight the desire to drive to the firm and insert the phone in someone's naughty parts.
Is that really necessary?
2. Remind young attorneys of their relative lack of experience. Repeatedly.
Yes, we're not all seasoned barristers. How about you ask us what it was like to graduate in 2011 again?
You might also use age as a passive-aggressive way of intimidating less-experienced foes. "My goodness, you are young." "How old are you?"
Young attorneys get it - we're younger and less experienced.
3. Return documents, correspondence slowly
Get a stipulation in the mail? Why rush to respond? Sure, there isn't anything to do but sign-and-return. And it has been a freaking week. But why should lawyering be easy? Or quick?
Except there's no reason to waste time. You stip. We stip. We all stip. Get it together, man.
4. Skip procedural steps
Discovery? Nahhh. Case management conferences? Who needs 'em. Alternative dispute resolution and mediation? He'll be there, but he won't try.
There's a reason why certain steps are mandates by the court. Skipping steps not only makes you look incompetent, it's a pain in everyone's buttocks as well.
5. Be OCD about Procedural Steps, Mistakes
Then again, there's the converse of the step-skipper: The guy who makes a big deal because subsection 16 of Rule 57 wasn't followed. You forgot to discuss the cost of postage stamps! HOW DARE YOU!
There's meaningful participation and fulfillment of procedures. There's also obsessive-compulsive disorder. Try to find a happy medium.
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