
Likely because there was no “how to stay organized during the day-to-day grind” class in law school, many attorneys suffer from disorganized case files.
This means lots of last-minute scrambles to meet deadlines, twinges of mild panic when a client calls to request information that we can’t find quickly, and – most importantly – a lack of mental clarity regarding litigation strategy and status.
That used to describe me. As a new attorney straight out of law school at a big law firm in Boston, I had no idea how to keep my case files organized and important information accessible (in any one case, much less the numerous ones I had on my plate).
Over time, through experimentation, observation of some impressively organized attorneys, and research, I figured out systems to help me keep important documents handy, discovery and electronic files under control, and deadlines met without undue stress or scramble.
Given the lack of information on this front for new attorneys (and experienced attorneys, for that matter), I wanted to pass along my system in case it’s helpful to you.
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I'm a former big law attorney who got overwhelmed as a first year and slowly pieced together a time/task management system that actually reduced my stressed, helped me stay on top of it all (and know it), feel confident drawing boundaries, and soak in time with my family and friends. I'd love to get you there, too.