Are you aware of the efficacy of office start-up time line and checklist? Use it to streamline your work, and never miss a task even if you are super busy.
By Mark Chinn (Mississippi)
Law Office Operational Time Line
| DATE | ACTION | RESP. PARTY |
| Office space: | ||
| Date | Lease negotiated Space planning and layout Material selection Cabled for computers/telephone Electrical |
Name |
| Date | Marketing:Letterhead Business Cards Announcements and client list Press Releases Signage Telephone Listings Directories |
Name |
| Date | Bank Relationship: Accounts Credit – LOC and Fixed Asset |
Name |
| Date | Agreements:Firm organization Gov. licenses (Federal, State, City) |
Name |
| Date | Procedures and policies File retention |
Name |
| Date | Equipment:Telephone System VM DD Telephone lines Long distance carrier Internet provider Computers (notebooks)/Printers Dict./Trans. Typewriter Copier – cost recovery Fax machines Postage machine and scale Adding machines/Calculators |
Name |
| Date | Software: Mgmt Financial Payroll Word Processing(Office Suite) Communications and Fax Docketing Software Backup and Virus Database Training Legal Research – Library |
Name |
| Date | Furniture and Artwork: Reception Break room Workroom File room shelves Conference room/Library Offices Secretarial Workstations |
Name |
| Date | Insurance: Group health, life and disability Retirement Omissions General Office Liability Automobile Workers Comp. Valuable papers Employee Bond |
Name |
| Date | Other:Supplies, Binding Equipment, Post office/Safe deposit box |
Name |
This article has been excerpted with permission as “Appendix 4A” from How to Build and Manage a Family Law Practice, by Mark A. Chinn. Copyright 2006 American Bar Association, Section of Family Law.
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Mark Chinn received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1975 and his Law Degree from the University of Mississippi in 1978. He is admitted to practice in all courts in Mississippi, the Fifth and Seventh Circuits and the United States Supreme Court. Mark is a frequent contributor in periodicals such as the American Journal of Family Law, The Family Advocate, Small Firm Profit Report and Fair Share on the subjects of client relations, service and law practice management.
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