Originally published on February 22, 2011 in our free SmallLaw newsletter. Instead of reading SmallLaw here after the fact, sign up now to receive future issues in realtime.
I am on a mission. I just passed my fifteenth anniversary of being sworn in as an attorney in New Jersey. "The Law" was not my first career (I was that one guy in your law school class in his mid-thirties). Nevertheless, after fifteen years my legal career has lasted longer than anything else. Most days, I look forward to going to work. I know, however, that I could be more satisfied with my work, more productive, a better attorney — and happier. So my mission is to rediscover the contentment and excitement of my early years of law practice through new techniques and technologies. And I'm going to take you along for the ride.
Keep It Simple Stupid Is Not Just Trite, It's Right
To practice law right, you have to keep it simple — really simple. I know, the KISS acronym is trite and overused. It is not, however, wrong.
I have never worked as a "biglaw" attorney. In the 14 years since my judicial clerkship concluded, I have been self-employed, either as a solo or in a two-person partnership. It's not always easy — like the famous desk ornament on President Truman's desk, the buck really does stop here. It can also be intensely rewarding. I have found that the more I successfully free my mind to concentrate on the substantive work of being a lawyer, the better lawyer I become.
Many of my past TechnoLawyer contributions have circled around two themes: do it yourself, and keep it simple. I have ranted about too much technology, discussed roll-your-own practice management, and taught the basics of self-built computers. I have discussed right here in SmallLaw why I gave up a smartphone.
I have carefully read books and blogs on these subjects, and have tried to implement the substance of these readings and simplify my work and home life.
Zen and the Art of Small Law Firm Practice
I am certainly not the first person to think of "simplification." Self-help books and blogs about this topic are ubiquitous. The term "Zen" has become an adjective to many nouns. I believe, however, that too many attorneys — myself included — have accepted chaos and stress as a way of life for far too long.
But where to start? Should you seek first to reduce your clutter (email, computer desktop, physical desktop), simplify your practice management tasks, simplify your billing, simplify your network management tasks, purchase hardware that under-complicates rather than over-complicates your life, or purchase simple, effective, and easy to learn software?
Initially, none of the above.
I suggest that you first step back, take a few minutes off, close your door, turn off your computer screen, shut out the noise, stop the phone calls, and ask:
Is your current workflow working?
Be objective. Are you pleased with your work? Are your clients, employees, supervisors, etc. pleased with your work? Do you take too much of your stress home? Do you over-consume anything, including alcohol, caffeine, and food? Do you ingest other chemicals, legal or illegal? Do you earn enough money? Do you have financial problems?
If you can answer the preceding questions in the "correct" manner, then skip the rest of this column, call me immediately, and tell me your secret. Seriously, I doubt anyone has all the correct answers to these questions. I certainly do not.
In the relatively brief time I have paid attention to these subjects, however, I have come to understand one inescapable truth, which is that the next client, the next case, the next software or hardware product, the next boss or employee, etc. will not fix these problems for you. Most small law firms use techniques that resemble antihistamines — they only ameliorate the symptoms, but don't cure the problem.
So I suggest you start by reading some information that has nothing to do with the law. The beginning of my journey to simplify my life began with reading some books written by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. I suggest starting with the following titles:
His books are accessible and enjoyable, even for folks who observe different religions or no religion at all. Read the books slowly, a few pages at at time. You can also read Leo Babauta's popular blog, zenhabits.
For a more "practical" approach, check out Nozbe's Productive Magazine. Nozbe is not just a publisher, but the creator of a task manager that TechnoLawyer covered in 2007.
A Simple First Step to Getting Things Done
There is a family joke about me, which began with my wife's keen understanding of my moods. Whenever I have been too stressed for long periods, days or weeks, or whenever I try to make big changes, I always begin by selling a bunch of my possessions in eBay. It rids my mind and consciousness of things that I neither need nor want. Only then can I move forward.
If you want to start now with a concrete activity, take this simple five-minute step. Remove everything off your desk and other work surfaces except for the few electrical items (lamps, keyboard/monitor/mouse, and phone). After wiping the dust and dirt away, restore only what you need to complete the next item on your task list. Replace nothing else. If you are left with files or other work-in-process, place it in a drawer or on a shelf. Doesn't your next task look a little more manageable when everything you need to do isn't staring you in the face?
Written by Edward Zohn of Zohn & Zohn LLP.
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