Brands claim their products will make you “efficient,” but efficiency means different things to different people, depending on the industry and objective. Some people are moving away from spreadsheets and into software. Others may be using a riding mower instead of a traditional push lawnmower. It’s difficult to define “efficient” regarding tasks performed by humans rather than machines.

What does it mean to have an efficient lawyer?

You answer client questions quickly.

Customer service is essential, but the expectations of clients continue to rise. Clients expect faster answers than ever. Using the appropriate legal research technology, you can provide the required solutions. You can also avoid receiving frantic texts or emails if you don’t get the answer they expected yesterday.

Skip the (search results) sorting.

Do you have the time to search through hundreds of results when searching for secondary sources or case Law online? Does that source even apply to my case? This one is accurate. Can I trust this source?

You can skip the tedious sifting, vetting, and checking information using trusted legal research software. You can get the answers faster.

Your case strategy will be based on data.

Current and accurate data can be the most valuable resource when drafting a strategy for your case. Data is often the key to a successful outcome. It can be used to gain insight into the judge’s preferences in handling similar issues or even provide historical information about your opponent and their client. Build your case using data instead of relying on guesswork and the opinions of others.

Litigation analytics allows you to quickly gain insight into all parties involved in your case, such as:

Examples of motions that your judge has granted in a particular case type

Experience and approach of opposing counsel in similar cases

What kind and how much litigation has your opponent’s counsel been involved in?

Find out which law firms currently represent the company you hope to become a client of in the future.

Knowing what will strengthen your case initially saves you time and energy.

Your customers are well-informed.

You can use the same data to educate your clients. The more they know about the timing, cost, and outcome they can expect, the more confident they will feel. Setting expectations at the start can make them more confident in your leadership. This confidence and transparency will lead to fewer questions and difficult conversations, allowing you more time to focus on achieving a successful result.

Get up to speed quickly.

You say yes when a client who has been with you for a long time asks you to handle a matter that could be more familiar. You don’t have to be an expert in the field, even if you do not want to. Practical Law gives you the legal expertise of hundreds of lawyers at your fingertips. This allows you to learn a new area of Law quickly. You can tap into their expertise which complements your own.

It’s okay to spend time looking for standard templates or documents. You will only spend hours or even days trying to get up to speed with something and then regret your decision to take the case.

You should say yes to clients and nurture that relationship.

Peace of mind is achieved through efficiency

These are some examples of how to be a reasonable attorney. How will efficiency affect your firm? Your life? What is it like?

It’s leaving the office at a reasonable hour. You don’t feel guilty about missing your child’s game of baseball. You can confidently turn in for the evening, knowing you have done all you can for your client.