December marks the time of year when we close the books on the past 12 months and start anew.
All over America, small and medium-sized businesses, (also known as law firms) will be putting their year-end numbers together (also known as financial statements) to gauge what kind of year 2003 turned out to be.
No sooner do we put 2003 behind us, we begin thinking about 2004. Lawyers (also known as family bread winners) wonder how they can do better. Is there a way to increase productivity and keep up with inflation? Is cost-cutting the answer? Will clients understand an increase in the law firm’s hourly rates?
Strictly as a public service, here are some 2004 New Year’s resolutions for lawyers.
I resolve in 2004 to set aside more of my work time to provide pro bono services to those in need. In order to do this, I will not take lousy cases by fooling myself into thinking there is money here to be made when there is not.
All too often, the excitement and pride that comes with being asked by someone to represent him blinds me into thinking I can make legal chicken salad out of factual chicken poop.
I resolve in 2004 to be less of a white knight and more of a sound businessman.
I believe very strongly that it is better to do a few things very well than do many things adequately.
Therefore, I resolve in 2004 to be better at referring matters outside my expertise to other lawyers. I have to believe this will, in the long run, lead to greater profit on the cases I keep and more referrals from other lawyers adopting the same philosophy. I will let go.
Under the same theory, I resolve in 2004 to quit at least two of the volunteer boards I sit on. Sometimes, less is more.
I resolve in 2004 to keep my desk clean, or at least cleaner. While I’m sure there is no truth to the adage that cleanliness is next to Godliness. I do believe that cleanliness leads to greater productivity.
2004 also will be the year I take the time to learn all the things my computer can do to help me be a better lawyer. Having mastered the art of computer cutting and pasting, it’s time to spend some significant time with the help toolbar and learn all the wonderful time-saving tools of the modern age.
In 2004 I’d like to conduct my first paperless trial. Wouldn’t it be delightful not to be dragging banker’s boxes full of documents into the courthouse and instead use the computer to show evidence to the jury?
Could 2004 be the year I learn not to procrastinate? Is it asking too much to file pleadings early? I resolve in 2004 not to wait until the proverbial last minute to send out discovery. I’ll send out response letters quickly, even responses to silly letters that don t deserve any responses at all.
Finally, I just know that 2004 will be the year I stamp out spam from my e-mail. I’ve tried sending reply e-mail asking to be taken off lists, but I think that only gets me on more lists. Spam blockers don’t work well either and filters scare lawyers, thinking they’re going to filter out something very important by mistake. In 2004, Congress is going to come to my e-mail rescue and create the e-mail equivalent of the no-call list.
Free from the clutches of spam, I figure 2004 is going to be a record-breaking year.
— Mitch Margo is an attorney in St. Louis and a member of The Levison Group, which provides columns for this newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected].