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5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Lawyers

By Aditi Mukherji, JD on March 17, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Spring is upon us. (Hooray!) That means spring cleaning is upon us, too. (Hooray?) If your long-and short-term goals have been in hibernation, now's a good time to rouse them from their slumber.

But where do you even start? Here are five areas every lawyer should add to their spring cleaning list:

  1. Desk. If your firm hasn't done such a hot job at going paperless, it's time to get cozy with color-coded hanging files or baskets to achieve a desk with organized chaos. Also, stop squirreling away orphaned office supplies into your desk's catch-all drawer. To resist the urge, add compartments to your drawer (like a silverware tray, but for office supplies).
  2. E-desk. If you can barely see your super cool galaxy desktop background because of the sheer number of icons floating around, it's time to eliminate the computer clutter. While you're at it, wade through (and delete) unread emails, especially those to-do emails you've written to yourself over the last year.
  3. Resume. As a first step, remove empty language from your resume. Instead, pepper in fact-specific information: numbers (such as numbers of depositions taken, amounts in controversy, and dollar amounts of deals), management experience (for example, peon associates can highlight interactions with paralegals and support staff), and unique or interesting skills (or in fancy terms, your "niche").
  4. Wardrobe. Spring is a natural time to take a look at your wardrobe and retire those items that make you look like a slob. After successfully paring your wardrobe down, you can replenish it with brand spankin' new items -- even on a modest budget.
  5. Home. We know you might not be spending much time at home. But that makes keeping your casa clean all the more important. Your home should be your sanctuary. If you're not a naturally tidy person, focus on little ways to make your space more calming and inviting. Two quick actions that will make an impact: Clean out your fridge and make your bed before you leave for work.

Have any other spring cleaning ideas for lawyers? Let us know about them @FindLawLP on Twitter.

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