Law practice demands are tough, especially in the digital age. Clients want more for less, and thus running an efficient law practice is more important than ever. Automating tasks can help you save time, reduce mistakes, enhance client service, and improve your bottom line (and maybe even give you time to take a break).

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Tips for Automating Your
Practice
Presented by Heidi Alexander, Esq.

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About Presenter
• Deputy Director, Lawyers Concerned for
Lawyers
• Former practicing attorney
• Expert in law practice management and
technology
• Author, Evernote as a Law Practice Tool (ABA
LP Publication)
• Vice Co-Chair, ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board
• Member, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Court’s Standing Committee on
Professionalism

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Joe Lawyer faces some challenges . . .

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His Daily Tasks Include . . .
• Administrative tasks
• Scheduling and intake
• Tracking time
• Preparing, sending, and following up on
invoices
• Creating documents
• Managing clients
• Obtaining clients

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If not managed properly . . .
• Too much time spent on administration
• Inadequate intake data collected
• Lost of time = loss of $
• Lower billable hours
• Poor realization rates
• Search and recreation of documents
• Inconsistencies and mistakes

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POLL 1
• What percentage of your time is spent on
administrative tasks?
o Too much!
o 25% to 50%
o Less than 25%

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POLL 2
• Approximately how many hours do you bill
per day?
o 6-8
o 4-6
o 1-4
o Not enough!

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Automation: “the technique, method, or system
of operating or controlling a process by highly
automatic means, as by electronic devices,
reducing human intervention to a minimum.”

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May vary by practice . . .

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Documents

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Documents
• Response to potential client
• Common contract provisions
• Your biography
• Common phrases and words (Ex.
“Commonwealth of Massachusetts”)
• Mailing address
Repetitive Text and Phrases

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POLL SLIDE 3
• Do you use Microsoft Word and/or Outlook?
• Do you use Microsoft Quickparts?

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Documents
• Form with fill-in the blanks
• Creates copy as new document
• Reduces mistakes
• Helps maintain client confidentiality
• Easy to build
Document Templates

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MyCase Document Writer

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Scheduling
• “When are you available?
• “I can meet on Monday at 1, Tuesday from 5-
6, or Thursday from 2-4”
• ”Sorry, I’m not available then. What about
Tuesday at 12-3 or 6-7”
• “AM or PM?
• And so on and so on . . .

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Intake to
Engagement

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Potential
Client
Conflict
Check
Tasks
Assigned
Fee
Agreement

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Failure to communication is one of the top bar
complaints against lawyers by their clients!
Communication is key!

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Marketing

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Going Beyond

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Every Case Detail in
One Place
With MyCase, you never have to think twice about
where to find important case documents, messages,
and contacts — everything is organized and easily
accessible from any web browser or device.

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Heidi Alexander
heidi@masslomap.org
@heidialexander
Questions?

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