Today's law firms and corporate legal departments are employing a variety of methods to enhance attorney productivity and billable hours. Some of the more effective strategies for maximizing the productivity of your attorneys as well as your legal team follow.

Conduct a Thorough Orientation for New Associates
On their first day of employment, provide associates/counsel with a complete overview of office operations, from computer and telephone systems to the location of supplies and copy machines. For the first few weeks you might consider assigning to new associates a legal secretary or support professional to provide an orientation on best practices and appropriate office policies and procedures.

Promote the Value of Time Management
As the pace of business accelerates, effective time management skills become critical, particularly when juggling multiple cases and meeting billable hour requirements. Impress upon all firm associates the importance of staying organized and continually prioritizing activities. You might consider sending staff members, and new attorneys in particular, to time management seminars that provide instruction on everything from creating manageable project lists and establishing goals to delegating administrative tasks and avoiding buildup of paper files on desks and in offices.

Capitalize on New Technologies
Equipping staff members with advanced technical tools can be one of the most effective means of enhancing productivity. Another strategy is to encourage more frequent communication with clients via e-mail. You might also consider equipping your attorneys with smartphones that can help them organize their schedules and concentrate on key tasks.

Finally, keep apprised of both current and emerging technologies to ensure that your firm makes full use of products available to enhance time management. One example is installing and maintaining a reliable database so that files, documents and other data can be accessed in the most efficient manner.

With these strategies in place, staff members will be better able to "work smarter," delivering results in a shorter time frame and leaving room in their day for more strategic thinking.

Special thanks to Renée Tetreault, development coordinator, Southwest, for Squires, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. in Phoenix, who contributed to this section.