Total Expert Radio Recap: Out-of-Office Management Tips
Last week, Chelsey Lambert hosted another edition of Total Expert Radio that featured Alan Klevan, attorney and law practice management expert. During this show, they discussed a topic that is very relevant to attorneys during the holiday season: Out-of-Office Management Tips. Alan decided to change the way he worked after a legal practice management consultant told him, “The law is going to be there forever, but your family is only going to be there once.” Instead of chaining yourself to the office and desk, Alan and Chelsey shared tools and systems that will help you practice law from virtually anywhere in the world.
The Tools:
- Laptop or iPad
- Portable scanner and printer
- iPhone or other smartphone
- Web-based storage (such as Dropbox) or a virtual private network
- Call-forwarding, GrandCentral (now Google Voice) or a virtual receptionist
The System:
- For lawyers who want more flexibility, don’t try to take 6 weeks off in the beginning. Start slow, set goals and test what works best for you. Maybe your first goal can be to leave work by noon on Fridays.
- Set aside uninterrupted time to do work. That means you may need to send your kids and spouse to Space Mountain while you take advantage of a quiet hotel room.
- Plan ahead. Schedule court appearances and client meetings around vacation and determine what ways you will be available to clients and opposing counsel while you are out of the office.
- Set boundaries. Block off time to make phone calls and let your clients know what time they can expect responses to messages and voicemail.
- Set your clients at ease by keeping them informed about the tools you use to work and communicate while out of the office.
For other great tips and details on how to use the tools above, listen to the entire show here, and join us for our next show on January 7, 2011—New Year’s Resolutions for Your Law Firm!
