We’ve heard from litigators that companies’ legal budgets have disappeared, from labor & employment lawyers that their phones are ringing off the hook, and from bankruptcy lawyers that they are gearing up for an influx of work. Whatever your workflow may be right now, it’s important to think about what is coming around the corner and ask yourself what’s next?
If you’re slow – Even though you can see the light and know things will be picking up, when you are not billing, it can be difficult to prioritize what you should be working on. You have time on your hands, but you may feel stilted or worried that you’re not putting your time in the right place. Here’s our suggestion: pick 3 things you have been meaning to do over the last year or so. Then, divide your day into quarters–spend a quarter of each day working on those three projects and the other quarter tending to clients, urgent requests, and other items that need to get done. This method helps you stay focused and not get burnt out from spending too many hours on a given task.
Pro Tip: The single best thing you can do at this moment is work on your contact list. Don’t have one? Start by downloading your LinkedIn contacts. And if you don’t know how, request a free tutorial.
If you’re slammed – You are billing left and right and are guiding your clients through a very tough time. You are being seen as a leader in a time that people are craving it. Even though you may feel like you have no extra time, it is essential to set aside at 1-2 hours a week to strategize about what’s next. Take a few minutes to do a little something extra for your clients or anticipate what they will need next and prepare an emailer to send out when you feel things slowing down.
Pro Tip: Think about a consistent question you are getting from your clients. Write a quick blurb about it and send out an email blast to your clients. They will value that you are taking time to give them a little something extra.
If you know the work is coming – While you are waiting for what you know is about to hit, send a few email blasts out to your contact list or do a webinar on a topic you know will be valuable to people you hope to become your clients. And don’t forget to make a plan to continue your marketing efforts even when things get busy. If you are able to provide extra resources during a time your clients need it most, you will stand out from the crowd.
Pro Tip: While you still have some down time, prepare content for several email blasts and social media posts that you can send once things get busy.
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