Maine Law Practice Management

Even at this late date, there are a number of law firms that continue to rely on paper-based time slips to track time.     If you’re one of those law firms, here’s why that’s bad: A paper slip can be easily lost or destroyed .  Using paper slips requires a second input, into another system, or separate document, either of which operations invites the potential for error .  It’s also highly inefficient: rather than adding time directly to a system that can produce invoices, there are multiple people and s teps involved, which adds time unnecessarily to your already busy practice life.   There is, of course, a better way, which is to adopt an electronic-based, single-entry system for timekeeping.   The question, of course, is: which system ?     Well, there are a number of options, and likely any would be better than a paper-based model.   Both standalone time & billing software and law practice management/case management software fea...

The best and highest use of an attorney’s time is focused on one of two things: (1) billing at the highest possible rate; (2) closing new business that can be billed at the highest possible rate .  I call that ‘practicing at the top of your law license ’.   And, pretty much everything else is window dressing, when it comes right down to it.     Of course, adopting this approach usually requires a change in process management for faw firms .  To accomplish th os e two main task s , lawyers need to delegate as many administrative and substantive tasks as they can.   And yet, this remains a difficult thing for law firms to do .  And, it often starts with individual lawyers .  Attorneys, highly competent and resourceful, usually feel like they can do everything better than anyone else can .  It might be true; but, that’s no way to run a business.     So, start by breaking down the tasks and roles you like to do least, and farm ...