There is no free lunch

If you have been reading my posts, you know that I have recently started exercising in a meaningful way to improve my fitness as well as my productivity.  As part of my daily routine, I read through a few web sites to help me design a workout plan and to find psychological guidance in my new endeavor.  There is one point that I have been dwelling on recently that applies to the practice of law (and probably most lines of work) that I discuss today.

In the fitness arena, there have been numerous fad exercises that claim to create a shortcut to fitness.  I could list off a number of gadgets and gizmos that are sold to help in this regard, but we can't forget about those "Six Minute Abs" videos and the like that market to the consumer by claiming that results can occur far quicker than a more traditional approach.  We flock to these devices because who wouldn't want a six pack with minimum effort?  Body gel that claims to melt fat off my body is far more appealing than running six miles to the same effect.  Only those with eyes open see these products for what they are.

This idea permeates our society:  how can I get rich quick, fall into a promotion, or land a job way out of my league?  Buy lotto tickets, sleep with the boss, etc.

What these questions fail to address is what one might do once their hopes and dreams are realized.  I see this every day practicing law with other attorneys.  Read this primer, and that's all you'll need to know about "x."  Really?  You mean I don't actually have to lay a foundation of legal knowledge with which to understand said primer?  Many lawyers take personal injury cases that shouldn't because they figure it's the best get rich quick scheme going.  They file crazy complaints and ask for ridiculous sums of money just because the numbers look good.  Never mind these lawyers have no idea how to evaluate a case, quantify damages, negotiate with insurance agencies, or actually try the case to a jury.  Why do they not know these things?  Because they do not study.  They do not put the hard work in to understand what it takes to handle a PI case properly.  They figure asking for $10 million, they might trick the adjustor into cutting a check for $500,000.  Never mind whether the case is actually worth that amount sitting on $500 in chiro care.  This wastes time and clogs the justice system.

I do not suggest that PI cases are typically over-quantified.  There are legitimate reasons why a case might be worth $10 million and juries should award accordingly, but not every case is worth that figure.  What I suggest is that many try to find the easy way to reach their goals.  Injury cases offer many the hope that they can make big money with minimal effort.  Unfortunately these cases become lotto tickets for lawyers.  The harsh reality is this:  if your goals are worth reaching, respect them enough to put in the work.  Call yourself a PI lawyer?  Put in the long hours to work a case properly.

As in fitness, true strength comes from hours of work and preparation.  There are no shortcuts to Olympic Gold, no easy path to the Super Bowl.  Just hard work.  If you want to be a good and competent lawyer, you must put in the effort to justify your hourly rate.  There is no free lunch at my firm, so don't ask.

JD

John D. Duncan is president of J.D. Duncan, PC, founding partner of Prater, Duncan & Craig, LLC in Newnan, Georgia, and is Esquire by Day.  You can find him at www.jdduncanlaw.com, or follow him on twitter and Facebook.

Take Time for Yourself

There never seems to be a day where a deadline is not staring back at me as I sit at my desk and begin work.  With the varied types of law my firm practices (personal injury, criminal, family, real estate closings, etc), it doesn't take much to decide working at my desk all day is the way to go.  How else will the work get done, I ask myself, and pound away at my keyboard furiously for eight to ten hours and then go home just to do it all again the next day.  That's how the past two years of my practice have been for me.  This year, the spare tire around my middle tells me perhaps I should change my routine.

Since I began practicing, I have probably put on a good 15 pounds from sitting all day and eating quick.  This has made me lethargic as the day passes by, especially after lunch time.  I began to notice that concentration in the afternoon was difficult, and I was simply not happy with myself as a result.

I decided enough was enough, and joined the gym near my office.  Now I am taking my lunch hour at the gym and eating smaller meals during the day to stay alert.  The change in my work product has been dramatic.  Before, my ten hour work day typically generated maybe two hours of quality.  With a workout routine, I can now get more work done without having to stay in the office to the wee hours.  My energy level is up, my billables are up, and my happiness has skyrocketed.

It's easy to work in a small firm and assume you just can't afford the luxury.  Let me tell you this:  you cannot afford NOT to take care of yourself.  Take a walk, go for a jog, lift some weights, do anything that clears your mind.  You will be amazed at how productive you become.

JD

John D. Duncan is president of J.D. Duncan, PC, founding partner of Prater, Duncan & Craig, LLC in Newnan, Georgia, and is Esquire by Day.  You can find him at www.jdduncanlaw.com, or follow him on twitter and Facebook.