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Five Simple Steps toE-Discovery Success
Steven B. LevyAuthor, Legal Project Management
The Off SwitchLegal Project Management Field Guide
Copyright © 2010-2015 by Steven B. Levy. All rights reserved.
that have nothing to do
with e-discovery!
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Author
The Off Switch: Discovering Your Work-Work Balance
CEO
Lexician – training, coaching and consulting to law firms
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50%of what you’ve heard
about productivityis wrong!
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5 tToolsTipsTechniques
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5 LBS
10LBS
Things You Do Today
The “Do More
With Less” Box
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5 Lbs
10Lbs
Things You Don’t Have to Do
8Lbs
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Things You Can Do Better
5 Lbs
8Lbs
6Lbs
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1. Take Back Your Time
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with two clicks?How do you save 20 minutes
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The Myth of Multitasking
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A Typical Lawyer Billable Hour
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A Typical Lawyer Reality Hour
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A More Organized Lawyer Hour
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A More Effective Lawyer Hour
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28%of day =
interruptions
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15Getting back
on-taskm
inut
es
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interrupt us?Why do we let email
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Playing “D” to Email
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Playing “D” to Email
Delete
Delegate
Deflect
Defer
Do
D
Animate
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2. Control Your Office Environment
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You Can…
BlockOut
Time
CloseYourDoor
WorkOff-
Hours
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“Focus” Risk
90%
5%
5%
0%
YesN
oSo
lvab
le?
Important?
NoY
esNo
Yes
No
Yes No
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“Focus” Risk
90%
5%
5%
0%
YesN
oSo
lvab
le?
Important?
NoY
esNo
Yes
No
Yes NoU
rgent
95%
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What’s Your Style?
Piler?
Filer?
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The Empty Inbox
Piler Rules Filer Rules
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Follow-Up
Pilers May Prefer Filers May Prefer
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,or you need to succeed
Time Isn’t Fully Fungible
At your best
At your worst
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Time Isn’t Fully Fungible Tough TasksTough TasksEasy TasksNeed to Succeed
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Time Isn’t Fully FungibleTough Tasks
Tough Tasks
Easy TasksNeed to Succeed
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Time Isn’t Fully Fungible
Ego Depletion(Decision Fatigue)
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Low Control = High Stress
Own YourSchedule
ThingsTakeTime
Don’tOverbook
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3. Strengthen Client Communication
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Communicating With the Client(s)
When How
AboutWhat
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Communication Preferences
Communication Type RankingNormal Urgent
Scheduled Meeting Drop-By / ImpromptuSnail MailPhoneVoicemailEmailInstant MessageTexting
1
23
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communications preferencesList your own
Scheduled
Drop-by
Phone
Voicemail
Email
Text/IM
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The 3x3
3 A
reas
of P
rogr
ess 3 A
reas of Concern
3 Near-Term Will-Dos
3
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This Period:
Custodians narrowed: execs, 4 others
Forensic specialist engaged Settlement counteroffer (pending)
Next Period:
Rule 26(f) conference Prepare interrogatories
Concerns and Notes:
Judge Facciola may require backup-tape search
Reminder: John Fredrick vacation through 7/7 (reachable via cell)
Spend: To date: Approx. $23K (8% of budget, as planned)
3x3 Status Report: June 17 – July 1
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Laryssa’s Law:Tracking Progress
is not the same as
Making Progress
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Communication Paths Take Time
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Who Might Need to Know About This?
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clarify, prioritize, confirm.Don’t just respond, but:
When the client calls….
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4. Stop Guessing at Client Critical Success Factors
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Client View: Critical Success Factors
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Defining Success MetricsCriticalFactorsNegotiating
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Negotiating Critical Success Factors
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5. Kill Write-Offs and Billing Leaks
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unplanned write-offs?What are the biggest causes of
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Timing
Deadline Check-Ins
Target Hours/ Budget
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ClientMatter
NumberRelevant
Laws
SourcesDocuments
Basics
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Basics: Legal Project Management Info
Charter Budget
ScheduleOther
SharedInfo
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Intent
Nature of Matter
(Charter)
Why Is WorkNeeded
Why Now?
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Deliverable/Format
Memo? Letter?Brief?Etc.
Draft orFinal?
Any OralReports?
FinalStep
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Hypothesis
Senior LawyerBest Guess onWhere to Start
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Access
Sr. LawyerAvailability
Who Else?
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Confirmations
DoesDelegate
Have Time?Ownership
Readback
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Requesting Readback: Condescending?
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Minimizing “Write-Offs”: Three Secrets
Budget Check-in
Readback
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My Favorite Organizing Tool
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On Every Team…
…someoneis having the most fun!