Maximize Your Small Law Productivity With Expert Insights

I’m sure you and your small law firm can relate to the need for better productivity.  But small law productivity can feel elusive.  Especially when it comes to the constraints and demands that take you away from where you want to be and what you want to be doing.

Whether you'd rather be in growth mode, working on case strategy or strategic planning, or even spending time with loved ones, this article is going to help you bolster your small law productivity with tips from the experts.

The Story Behind Small Law Productivity

It’s been heads down in my world for awhile now.

So much so that I woke up to this nifty little badge the other day…

Apparently, little ol’ me with my little ol’ firm has hit the top 10% of ClickUp users.  

I'm sure all the activity related to the Small Law BIG PROFIT Summit has had a little something extra to do with it.

Planning.  Meeting.  Writing.  Strategizing.

(If you haven’t checked out the Summit yet, go do that here).

And while ClickUp has been my brain, there’s something else that’s driven my heart.  

Getting better outcomes for the small and solo law firms in my orbit in 2025.  

Outcomes that aren’t just about getting leads, leads, and more leads, but about building a business that supports them and a life, company culture, and client base they LOVE.

Small Law Productivity With A Momentum Boost

So to get us all ready for that momentum boost and to get you excited for all the Summit has to offer, I asked the experts of the Small Law BIG PROFIT Summit what they thought on the topic of small law productivity.  Because let's face it.  If you can't find (ahem... make) time to do what's top priority for growth, it'll be challenging to ever reach your goals.

I you’re a small or solo law firm and you have a big milestone to hit next year (maybe your first 7 figures… maybe your next…) and you want to do it with More Profit and Less Stress…

Join 500+ other small law firms, along with an incredible line up of experts and peers, for the Small Law BIG PROFIT Summit.

Get lifetime access to the full lineup at smalllawbigprofit.com.

Now on to the productivity tips...

Expert Insights On Small Law Productivity Strategies

Here’s the question I posed to our experts.

What's your #1 productivity tip for the busy small law firm owner?

And here’s what they had to say (with my take too!)

Create A Clear Path Forward

Rachel Steininger, Upward Acceleration

Sometimes a lack of productivity is simply a lack of decisiveness or even knowing a clear path forward exists.  In these instances, I love the process behind Design Thinking.  

First, write all the options down you can think of, preferably in a mode where you can shift them around.  Push yourself to get at least 10-12 ideas and add a few wild ones in the mix just to drop the barriers.  For example, if you’re thinking about what your next marketing channel should be, write down something crazy like a plane banner by the beach.  You aren’t going to do it, but it makes all else seem more reachable and reasonable.

Next, rank your ideas by how effective they will be at helping you reach your goal.  The clearer and more specific the goal, the easier this will be.  Arrange them physically in order top to bottom, most effective to least.

Finally, keeping the effectiveness rankings intact, shift your ideas again based on how accessible they are to implement, pushing the easiest and most palatable to the right and the ones you don’t have the resources, temperament or skillset to handle to the left.  

Now for a decision made easy… Choose from the top right quadrant which are the best ideas for YOU to move forward with based on your goals and situation.  

Actively Schedule Time To Grow Your Practice (and Stick To It)

Steve Fretzin, BE THAT LAWYER with FRETZIN

My top productivity tip is to block your calendar for business development and stick to it as you would for client work. It’s easy to get caught up in billable hours and case management, but if you don’t actively schedule time to grow your practice, it won’t happen. Set aside an hour a day—or at least a few hours each week—for tasks like networking, following up with leads, or refining your marketing strategy.

Use Mindfulness as a pathway to purpose and productivity

Laura Sauter, Agency Bel

Mindfulness isn't just a practice! it’s a pathway to purpose and productivity. Starting the week with a clear mind lets you approach each task with intention and positivity. Take a few moments each day to breathe deeply, reflect on your goals, and focus on what truly matters. Each mindful step brings you closer to meaningful progress. 

Get clear on your plan to create productivity and control the outcome

Evan Polin, Polin Performance Group

Define your business development goals (# of clients or amount of revenue) and put together an actionable plan to allow you to achieve your goals. 

When it comes to sales and business development, you can control the outcome by proactively planning on promoting yourself and your practice, time blocking to ensure that you have the ability to execute the plan and tracking results to determine what activities are working and what activities need to be changed.

Attract More of Your Best Clients

Bruce La Fetra, Eastwood Strategy

Focus on your Best Clients. These clients generate the bulk of your profits and none of your stress and headaches. Attract more of these clients and not only will your fortunes soar, but you will escape the trap of trying to be everything to everyone.

Let the Experts Help

Michael Schodrof, Alex Brown|Raymond James

Amidst all of the chaos in setting the path to your firm, take the time to find a good advisor that can develop your personal financial plan.  From there, let THEM worry about keeping you on plan and resetting your path as your priorities evolve.  Once the foundational plan is set, it can be easily modified for various what-if scenarios.

Delegate Whenever Possible… To People Or Tech

Walter Miller, Norman Professional Services

Don't do it all yourself.  Delegate whenever possible.  Leverage technology faster than you think you should.  Hire outside experts.  You probably are the smartest person in the room - just not the smartest business person.

Avoid Half-Hearted & Confused Delegation

Belle Walker, Belleview Consulting

Take the time to set clear expectations with team members - effective delegation is an incredible time saver but half-hearted and confused delegation can actually lead to even more pain!

Resist The Temptation to DIY

Ron Bockstahler, Amata Law Offices

Delegate! Resist the temptation to handle busy work and basic tasks such as answering calls and going through emails yourself. 

I've worked with thousands of attorneys over the past 22 years and there is a clearly defined pattern between those that go on to become extremely financially successful and those that get by year after year. Those that have gone on to become financially successful have learned how to delegate work to others more qualified to handle that work. 

I will use my younger self as an example here. For years, I thought I could handle IT issues that arose and would spend hours chasing down a solution. When I solved the problem, I felt a great sense of satisfaction.  The only problem, I wasted hours and the priority work (that which got me paid) went unattended. 

If you cannot directly relate an activity to making you money or bringing you happiness, delegate it to someone else.

Expect (and plan for) the Wildcards

Sarah Reiff-Heking, True Focus Coaching, Inc.

Plan for wildcards that come up in your day and week and cause you to get off your schedule.  To do this, spend a week or more tracking what unplanned things come up in your day and interrupt your work plan. 

Make sure to include what they are, how long each interruption takes, and who is involved.  Once you understand the specifics, set aside that amount of time during your day to handle those unplanned activities.  

Worst case scenario is that a wild card doesn't come up and you can use that time for another meaningful activity.

Even 3 Action Items = a Plan

Susan Gold, Susan Gold Coaching

It's important to have a plan, even if it includes only 3 action items. Taking some time to consider your most important goals and aligning the right activities to accomplish those goals is the key to making progress, and working efficiently. 

Program your CRM properly

Michael Buzinski, Buzzworthy Marketing

When it comes to marketing, the biggest productivity tool to have is a Client Relationship Management tool. But merely having a subscription to one of the 1000's in the market isn't enough. 

Your CRM needs to be programmed to properly gather your leads' information, categorize leads and clients as they move through the client value journey, and be automated to nurture everyone in your ecosystem at opportune times. 

This can take time to get set up, but when done correctly, it will save you time, increase your trust value with prospects and clients along with lifetime value.

Use Secure Automation Solutions

Dan DeFay, NorthStar Technology Group

Automate and streamline repetitive tasks, especially those related to cybersecurity and client data management. Using secure document management systems, automated backup solutions, and cybersecurity software reduces the time spent on administrative tasks and data protection, freeing up valuable hours to focus on client work and firm growth.

By investing in secure automation, you’re not only protecting sensitive data but also creating efficient workflows that minimize human error and reduce the chance of costly security breaches. This combination of security and efficiency allows you to prioritize high-value tasks and scale your practice with peace of mind.

Final Thoughts On Productivity In Small Law 

Too often, we’re going it alone.  Trying to be the superheroes.  

But as you’ve seen from the experts, it might just be time to trust others and some outside techniques to help you out.

Or maybe what you need is the perspective of boots-on-the-ground success stories.

The Small Law BIG PROFIT Summit was designed to deliver all that, for an outcome that means More Profit & Less Stress for your small law firm. 

Click here access the full set of recordings, workbooks, and more.