I’ve heard the phrase “It’s just part of the job” quite a bit lately when describing some piece of work that an attorney particularly hates to do. My question in return then becomes, “But does it really have to be?”
I think it’s valuable to take a look at your practice and identify the tasks and items that are particularly draining for you and look at it’s really something that you have to do yourself. These types of tasks, whether it be billing clients or summarizing records or dealing with insurance and vendors, can effectively drain your energy and often times end up getting pushed to the back burner in perpetuity. As an owner/manager of a law firm you have the understanding that management tasks need to be completed, but is it really in your best interest to them yourself?
One of the biggest hurdles I see in overcoming the mindset of “my firm, my responsibility” is that the attorney feels like taking management tasks off his or her plate and letting someone else handle them is essentially a loss of control of the law firm. What you really need to look at is what is it that really brings value into your practice?
The answer to that question of course is you as the attorney and the legal services you provide. As a result, when you are spending your time and energy on management aspects you are losing opportunity to create more value for yourself. This continues to get more complex and draining when you try to grow and manage additional employees. The time and missed opportunities for revenue and value can easily continue to pile to up.
Might it be worthwhile to stop trying to wear all the hats at once and focus on the only aspect that puts money in your pocket?