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Last Updated on September 4, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas
Running your own legal business can be very rewarding. However, it also comes with numerous important tasks that in a larger business would normally be the responsibility of another person. Many of these tasks will revolve around administration duties. While these tasks are undoubtedly very important, they can also be very time consuming as well as distracting you from doing what you love – practicing law. Every now and again, it’s important to take stock of what is happening in your business and decide whether some of your responsibilities can be delegated. Another option is to automate some of your processes. A good time to do this is at the beginning of the year. However, if you’re wondering how to get started with such analysis, below are three tips to help.
Look at a Regular Working Day
For a few days, possibly as long as a week, make a list of the things you do every day. Once you’ve made a list, ask yourself the following questions:
- Of all your tasks, which ones take up most of your time?
- Are there any tasks on the list you don’t enjoy doing?
- Are any of the tasks more admin oriented than others?
There may be some tasks in the list that you can outsource to someone else. You might also want to consider hiring someone to work with you in your office if you currently work alone. Both these options will free up some of your time and allow you to get on with what you enjoy doing most.
Make Use of Technology
There are a vast array of apps and software programs that can help you with your legal business. Redbricksolutions.co.uk, for example, can help with a range of different tasks. Many of the tasks currently being manually completed can be automated, freeing up a person to do other things. Do you have a long list of clients, for example? Much of their personal information could be filed using a content management system, making it much easier to retrieve their files. Aim for a paperless office and a considerable amount of your employee’s time will be freed up. Look at the following areas first:
- Speech recognition software
- Document creation and formatting
- Client engagement
- Lead follow up
- Digital dictation
- Mobility apps
Introduce Systems and Processes
You’ll be amazed how much time can be saved by introducing processes for some of the simplest systems in your business. As well as saving time, you’ll also ensure more consistent results. Look at the way your business is run, with a view to systemizing or standardizing some of the processes. Engaging new clients and what information you provide them with are areas you might want to look at first.
There are a number of different ways to make your legal business more efficient and productive. The three mentioned above are the most popular ways to do it. If you make any changes, it’s vital you evaluate whether there has been any success and if further changes need to be made.
