Making Every Six Minutes Count

By (author) Catrin Mills

Publication date:

16 November 2016

Length of book:

98 pages

Publisher

Ark Group

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781906355777

Time is a lawyer's commodity. Or rather, it is how most lawyers quantify their expertise. How successful you are as a lawyer depends fundamentally on how you use your time and there is a direct correlation between how much value you can extract from your time and your profitability. Most lawyers must record how they spend their time on a daily basis and regularly have to justify their use of time to clients, the court, or their employers. Managing Partner's new report entitled Making Every Six Minutes Count explains why lawyers should look more objectively at how they spend their time and how principles of time management can make an enormous difference in a profession which is now at its most stressful and intensive. The more efficiently and effectively you use your time, the more successful your practice will be.Topics Covered in this report include: - Defining time management and in turn self-management; - Why time management is a small investment for a big return; - Effective working environments and how they are conducive to better time management; - Streamlining office functions to enable more focus on critical work; - Efficient planning of working hours; - The differences between 'time management' and 'time leadership;' - Prioritizing tasks and dealing with overwhelm; - Delegation as the single most effective way to instantly get more time; - Practical tips on how to recognize and overcome procrastination habits; - The impact of communication and managing interruptions; - Work life balance and why it is so elusive for lawyers; - Managing clients more proactively to provide a more efficient and effective service; - Finding time for business development and networking; - Stress Management for Lawyers; and - The impact of time management on personal development and career planning. The report also features real- life accounts of the key challenges faced by a range of lawyers - from trainees to managing partners, and from sole practitioners to in-house legal advisors - providing you with insight into the common pitfalls and successes of those who have mastered time management and are currently using it to their advantage.

Chapter 1: Time management - Why bother? Managing time is managing yourself; A busy lawyer is not necessarily a successful lawyer; Avoiding the vicious circle; How this report can help you. Chapter 2: Start with your environment; Get some clarity; Clear up; Clinging on to files; Ditch the paperwork; A word on filing; The single-file rule; Using diaries and schedules; Contact information; Business cards; Journals and know-how. Chapter 3: Planning; It's not real work; It's about time leadership; Control time, don't let it control you; Your daily template; Some quick planning tips. Chapter 4: How to prioritise; Dealing with overwhelm; Turn your 'to-do' list into a 'to-day' list; Where do I start? Maximum results for minimum effort. Chapter 5: The art of delegation; Easier said than done; How to delegate properly. Chapter 6: Procrastination - The thief of time; Why do we procrastinate? Beating procrastination. Chapter 7: Managing communications and interruptions; Checking e-mail; E-mail notifications; Some e-mail tips; The internet; Telephones; Exit strategies; Colleagues and visitors; Working from home; Mental distractions; Rewards. Chapter 8: Proactivity versus reactivity; What do we mean by proactivity? Identifying reactive behaviour; Setting boundaries. Chapter 9: Managing clients; It's acceptable to have more than one client; There's still room for quality; Managing expectations; Keeping phone calls in check. Chapter 10: Networking and business development quick wins; Have a plan; Marketing - you're already doing it; Use client feedback; Updating your website; Online networking; 'Re-purposing. ' Chapter 11: Managing pressure and stress; Alcohol and drugs; What can firms do about stress? The economics of stress; Individual or cultural change? Chapter 12: Personal development and career planning; The importance of life planning; Your values; Not just a lawyer. Chapter 13: Practical examples; Example one - The managing partner; Example two - The City partner; Example three - The new partner; Example four - The assistant solicitor; Example five - The trainees; Index.

"Making Every Six Minutes Count" by Catrin Mills Easily digestible guide to improving your time management using fast and effective techniques. Reviews for Making Every Six Minutes Count: "Your book is BRILLIANT! I have taken loads of tips from your book and today gained 2 hours more billable time in the same working day. Amazing! I'm making my juniors read it when I've finished. I have also been able to delegate more which is definitely working. It is kind of common sense but the problem is that as a lawyer you get so immersed in law and cases that you need reminding of the basics. I think the book is inspirational and in a way empowering. Every morning the first thing I do is put on my email and it stays on. I have never thought "why do I do this" and it honestly never occurred to me to turn it off. All lawyers are the same and you need to go back to basics now and again and your book does just that." - Clinical negligence partner, Hertfordshire.