Introduction
If you’re a lawyer, you know how hard it can be to carve out time in your schedule to work. Between court appearances, client meetings and other appointments, there are just so many distractions that it’s hard to find a moment of peace. But what if I told you that there are ways to manage your workload in-office while also making more money? That’s right—remote work is here for lawyers! Whether you’re looking for something new or just want some extra cash on the side, remote legal work is an excellent way for attorneys everywhere to make money and have time off at the same time. Plus, with this guide at hand when setting up your workstation, there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t try working remotely as a lawyer.
What is Remote Work?
Remote work is a term that describes working from a location that is away from your primary workplace. Remote workers can be found anywhere, including their homes and coffee shops. This flexibility allows them to balance their personal and professional lives while still earning an income.
Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years due to advancements in technology that make it easier than ever to stay connected with colleagues around the world.
Benefits of Working Remotely
The benefits of working remotely as a lawyer are numerous:
1. Work at Your Own Pace
You can work at your own pace, in your own time, and on the go. This gives you flexibility to balance work with family life or other commitments that you may have in your personal life.
2. More Savings
Another benefit is that it reduces commute costs which means less money spent on transportation each month! The environmental impact of commuting has also been shown to be significant.
3. More Efficiency
Working from home also increases productivity because there’s no need for long commutes every day; you can set aside more time for billable hours without sacrificing quality of life!
The Basics of Working Remotely as a Lawyer
Before you can work remotely, you need to find a job that offers it. You could try applying for positions at law firms or other companies that hire lawyers. You’ll also want to look for jobs with flexible hours so you can fit your work around other things in your life.
If you do get hired, make sure that the company has a good reputation and will treat you well. They should have policies in place for remote workers as well as provide resources like training materials or guides on how long projects should take (this way everyone knows what’s expected from them).
Working remotely requires being extremely disciplined with yourself–you won’t be able to slack off because no one is watching over your shoulder! Make sure that each day starts with an action plan so everything gets done by 5pm when work hours are over.
Get a Laptop
Your workstation should have several key qualities that you must double check before making a purchase:
Processing Power – The first thing you’ll want to do is get a laptop that can run the software you need. If you’re going to be working remotely, chances are good that this will include some sort of word processor, spreadsheet program or CRM Software.
Battery Life – You don’t want your computer dying halfway through an important project (or worse yet during an important meeting).
Screen Quality – It’s not just about having a big screen; it’s also about having one with great resolution so that everything looks crisp and clear even when viewed from far away (like across the conference table!).
Other things worth considering include portability (size,weight,ect), comfort level while using it (how easy is it for me to type on its keyboard?) and cost effectiveness over time (are there cheaper options out there?).
Use a VPN
A VPN, or virtual private network, is an essential tool for remote workers. A VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another country. This can be used to hide your location and access geo-restricted content. Most importantly, you’ll also want to consider using a VPN if you plan on working from public Wi-Fi hotspots since they provide safety against hackers who are looking to steal sensitive information like passwords or your clients’ sensitive information.
Read more: 6 Essential Tools that Every Lawyer Uses
Find Your Niche and Choose the Right Project
While finding your niche is important in any industry, it’s especially true for remote work. There are many ways to approach this process:
- Do some research and make sure you understand what types of projects are out there.
Finding the right opportunity is key. Look for a job that fits your skills and interests, pays well, offers flexible hours and a good work-life balance, has great benefits (including health insurance), and offers opportunities for growth. - Find a project that matches your skills and experience. If the project requires expertise that you don’t have yet, consider working on smaller parts until they become easier before taking on more complex tasks.
- Make sure that working remotely aligns with your personality. It can be difficult not having colleagues around all day! Consider whether or not being able to talk about work in real-time would make a difference for how happy and productive you feel at home versus being able to do everything via email or video chat (which may take longer).
Find a Team to Work With
The first step in finding a team to work with is to make sure you are compatible with them. You will be spending a lot of time working together, and it is important that you can rely on each other.
- Trust: You need to trust your team members, or else they won’t feel comfortable sharing information with you or helping out when needed.
- Communication: The ability to communicate well with each other is essential for any successful team member or business partner relationship, so make sure everyone knows what they’re doing before starting work together!
You will also need some means to easily connect with your team from long distances. Legal CRM software (like Runsensible and Clio) are specifically designed for lawyers so that they can observe and manage their staff’s progress on each project.
Plan Well
Planning is an essential part of any project. If you don’t plan, how will you know what to do? How can you make sure that everything gets done?
To create a plan for working remotely as a lawyer:
- Consider your options. Are there different ways for you to work remotely? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
- Create a list of tasks that need to be completed before starting work on your own projects (e.g. buying equipment). Be realistic about how long these tasks will take; don’t underestimate!
Work Hard, But also Work Smart
The first thing to remember is that there are no shortcuts when it comes to success in any field, including law. You have to work hard and be A Smart Lawyer if you want your career as a remote lawyer (or any other career) to succeed. If you’re willing and able, there are plenty of opportunities out there for people who want them; however, if you don’t put in the effort required by these jobs then nothing will come of them for very long at all!
That said, working remotely doesn’t mean that anyone can just show up at their desk every day with no preparation or planning beforehand. In fact, being able to plan ahead is even more important when working remotely since there aren’t always other people around who can help out when things go wrong or get difficult.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day life as a lawyer, especially when you’re working remotely. It can be hard to remember that there are other things in life besides work, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself by setting aside time for recreation or socializing with friends and family. You should also make sure that you have a good balance between work and play–you don’t want to burn out! If possible, try not working weekends or holidays.
Conclusion
You will need to set up a routine and find the right tools for the job. You’ll also have to find your team and be disciplined enough to stay on track. If you can do all that, being a remote lawyer won’t be so difficult after all!
If you can get past the initial hurdles of starting out, and if you have the right skills and mindset, remote work is a great way to make money as a lawyer. You’ll have more flexibility in your schedule, so that means less stress when it comes time to take care of yourself. You also won’t have to worry about finding childcare during those long days at court or in an office, your kids will be with their grandparents or other trusted caregivers while you’re away! In addition, working remotely means no commute time; just hop on whatever device suits your needs at any given moment (laptop, smartphone or tablet) and get started immediately because all information will be available wherever there’s internet access.
FAQ
1. What CRM Software is Suitable for Lawyers?
There are many client relationships management software out there, but when you look for a tool designed for lawyers, the numbers start to drop. Software such as Runsensible, Clio and Lawyaw are reputable tools that help lawyers with their day to day work.
2. How Can Lawyers Stay in Touch with their Colleagues if Working Remotely?
Some of the CRM tools available today offer the option to call, email or text your coworkers at a feasible cost.
3. Is Working Remotely Safe for a Lawyer’s Information?
Depending on your means for safety, remote work can range from quite dangerous to absolutely safe for you and your clients’ data. This is where Cloud-based Data Storage comes into play.
