Reader:
"Experience is the best teacher."
That's advice given to me by a senior lawyer in my first years of practice.
After a decade of practice, I've learned this isn't quite right. Experience is only the best teacher if you are trained to build systems around your experiences.
This was something that came up in last week's Modern Lawyers AI Legal Toolkit workshop. What began as a simple Q&A session evolved into something more valuable when Justin highlighted a critical truth: AI tools are only as as good as the systems and workflows built around them!
While I'll elaborate on the importance of this insight at the end of the email, this revelation couldn't have come at a better time as we launch into February's theme of workflow optimization.
Why Systems and Workflows Matter in Legal Practice
In the course of my career, I've learned that the gap between good and great lawyers isn't knowledge - it's implementation.
In this week's video, I dive deeper into the revelation that changed everything for my practice: your expertise means nothing without systems to deliver it effectively.
The Impact of Decision Fatigue On Your Energy Levels
Think of your daily decision-making capacity as a smartphone battery.
You start each morning at 100%, but unlike your phone, there's no midday charging station for your mental energy. Every decision – from crafting legal strategy to managing your inbox – drains this limited resource.
This is decision fatigue - a psychological phenomenon surrounding a person’s ability or capacity to make decisions.
The more decisions you make over the course of a day, the more physically, mentally and emotionally depleted you become.
For lawyers - especially those practicing without support - this impact is particularly significant. Your practice demands countless decisions daily, each one depleting your mental resources:
- Should you respond to that client email now or later?
- How should you prioritize your task list?
- What's the best approach for this new case development?
- When should you schedule that important client meeting?
- Which tasks can wait until tomorrow?
As these decisions accumulate, their toll becomes evident in subtle but important ways.
By late afternoon, you might find yourself staring at a complex legal document, your usually sharp analytical skills dulled.
That's not mere fatigue – it's your brain's response to decision overload. Over time, the impact ripples through your practice: delayed responses, postponed strategic planning, and compromised problem-solving capacity.
How Routines Are Vital to Addressing Decision Fatigue and Your Mental Health
To combat decision fatigue, medical professionals often recommend establishing structured routines and habits that preserve mental energy for crucial decisions by either
- eliminate unnecessary decisions that drain mental energy throughout the day Think of it as creating a "decision budget" where you consciously choose where to spend your limited decision-making resources.
- delegating decisions as much as possible. While many lawyers struggle with delegating, the sustainability of your legal practice depends on your understanding that not every decision requires your personal attention.
The key is identifying which decisions truly require your expertise and developing systems to handle or delegate the rest.
In the coming weeks, we'll be exploring practical strategies to build systems and workflows.
For now, start observing your energy patterns throughout the day and identifying tasks that consistently drain your mental reserves.
How This Relates to the AI Workshop
Earlier, I shared Justin's insight about the need for systems when it comes to implementing AI.
But here's what really struck me after the webinar: integrating AI into my practice didn't just streamline my workflow – it reduced my mental burden by at least 50%.
Let me share a simple comparison to drive this home.
How much easier it is to edit an existing document versus staring at a blank page?
That's exactly how AI has transformed my legal practice. It's not just about getting more done – it's about preserving mental energy for the decisions that truly matter.
That's precisely how AI has transformed my legal practice: it has served not only as a productivity enhancer and a powerful tool for managing decision fatigue.
Over the weekend, my team and I are re-recording aspects of this workshop to elaborate on this element. This enhanced version will feature:
- Step-by-step demonstrations of how I use AI in my practice
- Interactive walkthroughs you can follow along with (thanks for the suggestion, Alix!)
- Practical strategies for setting up your own AI workspace
As a preview, check out our newly recorded introduction as well as one of the clickable walkthroughs.
Current participants, fear not, you'll automatically receive access to the new version at no additional cost.
Haven't joined yet? Lock in early bird pricing for the Modern Lawyer's AI Toolkit before Monday using code 30OFFLTPAIW (one click access here). That's less than $70 USD for the complete enhanced experience.
Don't wait too long though - after the weekend, the price jumps to just under $100 USD after the weekend. (Still incredible value for the enhanced content, but why not save while you can?)