The new year is upon us and with that comes new challenges, new laws and definitely a need for a new outlook. As a Paralegal, staying organized is an essential key to being efficient. We have so many tasks assigned to us on a daily. We have to be organized in order to know what was done and what needs to be done. Developing a method that keeps your workflow organized is one of the best ways to ensure Your tasks are completed accurately.

In most cases, firms opt out of putting money towards a CMS that will help it’s staff keep a better track of their workflow. As a result, it is up to the Paralegal to create his or her own way of keeping track of their work. The only way to do this is by being organized. From using excel spreadsheets, to scheduling daily team meetings and more. Being and utilizing Your organization skills is crucial.

S a side note, it’s pretty well known that keeping yourself organized in the workplace and at home can actually have a positive impact on your mental health by reducing depression and anxiety. Yes, realistically I know that scale is hard to balance and a very daunting task. But like anything worth having, including our sanity, it is worth striving for. Paralegals just have to work a little harder to maintain some form of organization. So where would a Paralegal start?

Cut down on the clutter and focus on space organization

First thing’s first—it’s time to purge your office of items that you no longer need and paper clutter. Cluttered desks can cause you to lose focus because your brain has to constantly evaluate what you need to focus on.

Start by filtering through items and tossing in the trash all the junk, piles of papers, and anything else you aren’t using. Doing this will free up space for your new organization system and give you the space to get things done.

Spreadsheets Are Your Friend

So what if Excel is a foreign tool to you. Try it. Your first, your second and maybe even your 100th draft may not be good. But I promise you will learn what works and what doesn’t. Just putting your data collectively into one spot is will help you see what needs to be done and that alone is a giant step for a Paralegal looking to getting organized.

Focus on desk organization even if you work from home

Some firms are still very paper dependent and with paper, sometimes comes confusion. It also means a Paralegal must find ways to differentiate certain tasks. For example, you might work for different attorneys. One attorney might like their printed documents a certain way. You need to figure out how to separate their work from the other attorneys. Maybe you will assign a specific color to that attorney by using color file folders, and bins to keep track of their work. Assigning a color will help keep you organized and save time because you will know exactly where to find specific items instead of wasting time digging through drawers.

What are some other ways for a Paralegal to stay organized? We want to hear from you! email us your suggestions at [email protected]