Small law firms can be run more efficiently and with less potential errors, leading to more billable time (or productive time for value billers), and reducing risk of malpractice. Managing matters is similar to the highly developed field of Project Management. By borrowing some ideas popular with the software and manufacturing industries, attorneys can learn practical, simple techniques to employ right away.

1. Running an Efficient and Error-free Law Firm Larry Port Founding Partner and Chief Software Architect Rocket Matter, LLC FL CLE 1.0 Credits Course #9686 9

3. Billable work 30 Office administration 7 Client development or marketing 4 Keeping current on non-billable law 3 Non-billable bar association activities 1 Planned pro bono <1 Other legal matters 5 Average Weekly Hours 50 Source: Florida Bar 2006 Economics and Law Office Management Survey

4. Billable work 31 Office administration 6 Client development or marketing 4 Keeping current on non-billable law 3 Non-billable bar association activities 1 Planned pro bono <1 Other legal matters 5 Average Weekly Hours 50 Source: Florida Bar 2006 Economics and Law Office Management Survey Annual Increase in Revenue: $12,500

5. Source: Florida Bar 2006 Economics and Law Office Management Survey Billable work 32 Office administration 5 Client development or marketing 4 Keeping current on non-billable law 3 Non-billable bar association activities 1 Planned pro bono <1 Other legal matters 5 Average Weekly Hours 50 Annual Increase in Revenue: $25,000

6. errors?

7. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

8. matters = projects

9. AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

10. why does Agile work?

11. DAILY STANDUP

12. YESTERDAY TODAY IN MY WAY

13. RETROSPECTIVE

14. START STOP CONTINUE

15. REVIEW

20. CAPTURING

22. WELL-WRITTEN NEXT ACTIONS

23. capture the very next step...

24. WEEKLY REVIEW

25. close all open loops ...

26. STANDARDIZE REPEATABLE PROCESSES PROCESSES PROCESSES

27. reliability, efficiency, accountability

31. GO PAPERLESS PAPERLESS

32. tip: setup profiles rather than quick menu...

33. mozy + mac integration

34. SaaS alternatives

35. ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS QUESTIONS

36. For more information: Agile Techniques: “Lean Initiatives” http://www.jdsupra.com/profile/rocketmatter GTD For Legal Blog Series http://www.rocketmatter.com/blog/category/g td