If you're interested in adding more billable hours to your day, you certainly aren't alone. Many attorneys are working toward (and achieving) the very same goal. Keep reading, to learn more about eliminating un-billable hours and, in turn, generating more profit for your firm.
Work on One Task at a Time
Interruptions prove to be a major "time suck," when it comes to billable hours. Concentrating on one task at a time is a great way to get things done faster and more efficiently.
Don't let the temptation of checking your email or responding to instant messages get to you. Finish what you're doing, take a break and then make time to read your mail and messages that await you.
Hire an Answering Service
Hiring a reliable answering service is another excellent, not to mention affordable, way to increase your billable hours. Pay someone else to screen calls, handle simple requests, filter solicitors, etc. The cost involved is well worth the time you'll save to devote to more important issues.
Record Your Time on an Ongoing Basis
If you aren't already doing this, make a habit of recording your time on an ongoing basis. Yes, everybody gets busy. But, the longer you wait to record your time, the more difficult it becomes to remember exactly what you've accomplished. At bare minimum, jot down notes as you work and finish them up before the end of the day.
Set a Goal
Set a realistic goal and stick to it. For example, if you set a goal of six to eight billable hours per day, you automatically have a weekly and monthly goal in place, as well. During slower periods, concentrate more on finding additional clients to make up some of the hours needed to reach your goal.
These are just a few ideas for getting more billable hours in your day. The good news is, the task is probably easier than you think. If one idea doesn't work for you, simply focus on the next one. With a little luck, you'll find yourself billing extra hours before you know it!