Work Life Balance for Lawyers: Technology Aids Working Smart, Not Long

April 13, 2012 - PRLog -- A large number of qualified solicitors resort to leaving the profession because their expectations and assumptions of the career have been quashed.

Thankfully, technology offers a solace for solicitors wanting to ease their workload.  It has been estimated that professionals spend 25 per cent of their working time sending, retrieving and archiving documents with outdated processes, costing approximately £11,000 per annum in stationery, postage and printing costs.

Paper chasing is one of the most arduous tasks as it is estimated that the average office worker spends 400 hours per year searching for files.  Yet, searching for electronic documents is instantaneous with the use of a search engine or indexer.  A solicitor can easily waste a minimum of 15 minutes a day looking for paper files, when they could recover valuable billing time by locating an electronic file with a few taps of the keypad.

The Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) and King's College London conducted a survey of 800 female solicitors in 2009 and discovered some alarming findings.  Half of all women solicitors believed that they worked too many hours a week and were expected to work long hours if they wished to progress their career.

46 per cent of those surveyed believed they constantly had to prioritise their work over families and personal lives for fear of negative career consequences associated with using work-family/life policies. Those who did work flexibly (part time or flexitime) were less stressed from their work but were eligible for fewer promotional opportunities which meant they were less satisfied with their careers than other women solicitors.

Whilst many solicitors resort to taking their casework home at the weekends, the adoption of electronic document transfer software can ease the flow of paper chasing during work hours - to utilise that time for casework so that there is less of a need to take it home – enabling legal professionals to free up that time to relax and generally enjoy their personal time.

It’s not surprising that on average 15-24% of lawyers suffer from alcoholism at some point in their careers. LawCare, a charity that helps legal professionals cope with stress-related problems have identified some of the issues that solicitors are likely to face; like having too much work, impossible targets, long, antisocial hours, full diaries and to top it off, too few social commitments, hobbies or interests outside work, feeling guilty at neglecting friends due to the increasing pressures at the office.

There are a few pointers that can help legal professionals take personal responsibility for their work-life balance. Speaking up when work expectations and demands are too much would mean that employers are aware that staff members are under pressure so that they can work to address the problems.  Utilising technologies can also speed up productivity during work hours; reducing the need for ‘homework’.

‘Working smart, not long' is a turn of phrase that can help workers under pressure. Prioritising workloads and avoiding being caught up in less productive activities, such as filing and archiving.  Ensuring a line is drawn between work and leisure; avoiding homework. If you do need to bring work home try to ensure that you only work in a certain area of your home - and can close the door on it – e.g. replacing paperwork with tablets can have a surprising sense of organisation and psychological relief.  

The efficiencies of converting to electronic working beholds a variety of cost saving advantages, including a significant reduction in archiving and courier costs, stationery, printing and allows for the deployment of staff to help with other, more productive tasks.  

Reducing overheads can be achieved with EDT (Electronic Document Transfer) which has been specifically designed for the use of professionals working within the family division.
EDT which is pioneered by Atkinson Lewis, case management specialists and enables its users to access court bundles and reports wherever they are; at home, work, on the move; as long as Internet access is available.

To enquire about a free trial for EDT by Atkinson Lewis, please contact us on 0330 1002 555, email enquiries@atkinsonlewis.co.uk or visit www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com for a free trial of Electronic Document Transfer (http://www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com/join-now.html)
ENDS   

For Media Enquiries:
For interview or further information about this topic, please contact Miss. Kathryn Powell, PR Officer for Atkinson Lewis Ltd.
Email:       Kathryn@atkinsonlewis.co.uk   Telephone:    01792 578623 ext 148
Twitter:   @AtkinsonLewis         Website:   www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com
Address:    Atkinson Lewis Ltd., 1st Floor, Unit 1, Ystrad Road, Swansea, SA5 4HJ
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Notes to Editors:
Atkinson Lewis
Atkinson Lewis is an organisation that specialises in case management services and software.  We’re a team of specialists, pooled from all the medical and scientific fields that play a role in childcare cases.  
Our clinical experts have spent over 15 years helping to establish patterns of substance abuse among parents and potential carers.   And all the while, our admin team has been supporting casework, managing the needs of Courts, Local Authorities, Solicitors and Social Services.
We’re here to save you time and effort – providing all the medical and scientific expertise you need, as well as removing the admin burden. Our complete service includes psychiatric and psychological reports, collection and testing of hair and blood samples, interpretation of lab results and more.  We’ll even provide an expert witness to support your case in Court.
EDT
EDT is a brand new Electronic Document Transfer system by Atkinson Lewis.  With EDT, every file from your client’s case is scanned, encrypted and uploaded to a secure server - then you (only you) control distribution. Confidentiality assured.  Whether you’re sharing legal documents, lab results, Expert Witness reports or entire Court Bundles, it’s a smart, efficient solution that will transform the way you work.
Every Solicitor and Case Manager seems to have the same problem. There’s just not enough space for all those lever arch files that document previous cases. Whether you archive on site or use a document storage facility, there’s a cost to keeping your records intact for the statutory 6-year period.
If you’re over-run with case notes, or running up hefty storage bills, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an alternative.
Our new EDT system is a highly encrypted platform for archiving and sharing confidential documents online. Once a document is uploaded, you can share it with people you nominate – safe in the knowledge that no-one else can gain access without your permission.
Of course there’s nothing new about electronic document storage.  But with an EV SSL certificate, and strict document transfer protocols, EDT is the safest way we know to archive and share sensitive information.
It will help you in all kinds of ways:
•   Security – Keep tighter controls, with no risk that documents will fall into the wrong hands.
•   Efficiency – Access current case notes instantly and choose a service level for retrieving archived documents...it’s easier than travelling back and fore to your DX collection point.
•   Cost control – Electronic storage will cost you a fraction of your physical storage costs.
•   Space sharing – A chance to make better use of valuable storage space.
•   Eco-friendly – A more responsible way of working – which could be important for future contracts with your Local Authority.

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