Strategies for Getting Organized

Makeovers can help you and your firm improve your image and modernize your practice. Click here for an article with quick and easy steps  to improve your firm and your image.

Happy clients pay bills timely, bring new cases, and refer prospects. See below for tips on keeping clients happy. Learn more by reading books about customer relationships  and customer service . TIPS FOR  1. Call clients regularly 2. Reply promptly to emails and voicemails 3. Alert clients to planning opportunities 4. Consider offering fixed fees (instead of hourly rates) 5. Send a monthly e-mail or newsletter with news and planning tips 6. Use client satisfaction surveys to identify areas for improvement 7. Set and maintain expectations for timing and results 8. Show appreciation and concern 9. Provide staff with training on customer satisfaction 10. Get to know your clients and keep notes in their profile

Sharing important information with your spouse and heirs will help them honor your wishes when you're gone. Avoid family squabbles by explaining your estate plan to your family.  Click here  for an article about how to create an Organizer for your family.

Smartphone and tablet apps can help organize your work and your life. Many popular apps are free and are available for both Apple and Android devices. Click here  for an article about organizational apps like Calendy, Evernote, and ToDoIst.

Lawyers and other professionals are susceptible to stressors like demanding clients, excessive workloads, and uncontrollable schedules. To help lawyers avoid stress, the ABA has produced several publications and videos, including a   Toolkit for Lawyer Well-Being . The Toolkit explains several strategies like limiting caseloads, practicing mindfulness, and staying connected to family and friends. Protect your health and your practice by using the Toolkit and other resources for stress avoidance. Mention the Toolkit to colleagues to help them avoid stress. 

Every year the ABA publishes an Annual Survey of Law Firm Technology.  The articles cover trends in Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Firm Culture, Management, Marketing,  Technology, Training, and Well-Being. Stay on top of trends by reading an article about trends in the legal profession . And  click here for a page with links to articles about technology trends. 

Companies like Nestle and Toyota have used an improvement strategy known as Kaizen to make better products and increase market share. Focus on improvement can also help individuals boost their careers and well-being. Click here for an article with strategies and tactics for self improvement.  

Technology is increasingly used by lawyers to automate legal tasks, improve client relations, and manage law practices. Affordable apps are available for for billing, calendaring, marketing, time keeping, and tracking. Inexpensive client portals can secure communications and sell services. Click here to learn about top technologies for lawyers and resources for implementing them at your firm. And click here for short questionnaire to assess areas where you can digitally improve your law firm.

Journaling can improve mindfulness, record events, and set reminders. Notes can be j ournalized on a daily, weekly or occasional basis.  Journaling can be done  on a digital device or on paper.  Following are resources to help you improve your well-being with a journal.    Apps   Apple Journal Evernote Microsoft Journal Articles Benefits of Journaling Enhancing We’ll-Being With a Journal How NFL Players Use Journaling Journaling Apps Books Effortless Journaling Journaling for Dummies The Art of Journaling Tools Notebooks Planners

A regular checkup of legal health can be just as important as your physical and dental examinations. Legal checkups remind you of your rights and duties, detect problems, and can result in your taking action before trouble starts. Click here for an article that provides tips and resources for conducting checkups for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations.