There’s always room for improvement – sometimes we get stuck in our ways and it’s hard to see how to better our practice and ourselves. Introducing Debra Bruce, a.k.a the Lawyer Coach. Debra draws on her extensive legal experience and psychology degree to help lawyers improve their management skills, and achieve greater fulfillment in their practice.

1. 5 Ways to Find Satisfaction in
Your Law Practice
#HappierLawyer

2. About MyCase
Built as a complete platform, MyCase offers features that
seamlessly cover all the daily functions that a modern, small law
firm requires in one place at an affordable price.
MyCase Web-BasedLegalPracticeManagementSoftware
Just$39/monthperattorney
$29/monthperparalegalorstaff

3. About MyCase
•Modern and professional design built for your firm
•Social media and blog integration
•Complete integration with MyCase practice management
software
MyCase Websites

4. About Our Presenter
• Debra L. Bruce, JD, PCC
• President, Lawyer-Coach LLC
• “Coaching & training on what law
schools don’t teach about practicing
law”
• Practiced law 18 yrs - corporate &
securities, M&A
• Coaching lawyers 15 yrs
• ABA Law Practice Division – Law
Practice mag & other boards
• Served as Vice Chair, Law Practice
Management Committee of Texas Bar
Debra Bruce

5. 5 Obstacles to Satisfaction
1. Problems in managing conflicts
with other people
2. Stress from work overload and
disorganization
3. Lack of sense of meaning and
purpose
4. Inadequate connection and
support from colleagues
5. Fixed mindset

6. Poll #1
 Can’t count on subordinates to do it timely & right
 Demanding and disrespectful supervisors or peers
 Clients with unreasonable expectations
 Hostile opposing counsel
Which are the biggeststressorswithother peoplein your
practice?

7. Key Solution Path #1
• Listen more than you talk
• Clarity about requests – yours and theirs
• Agree on accountability – Who, What, When, Followup
• Cultivate trust by making it safe
 Separate needs from strategies
 Contrasting to assuage fears
 Find common Goals
CommunicationSkills Improve Influence

8. Poll #2
• Too many interruptions during the day
• Can’t delegate to someone I can depend on to get it right
• Hunting for documents or information
• Worry about missing a deadline or commitment
• Too many obligations piling up at the same time
Which of these stressorsstrains your practicemost?

9. Key Solution Path #2
Practice management software makes it easier
• Track all projects and due dates
• Go digital – avoid hunting for paper
• Templates for frequently occurring tasks
• Delegate with checklists and templates
• Accountability record for assigned tasks
• All matter activity 1 click away
• Commitments visible - avoid overloading
ConsistentSystems

10. Key Solution Path # 2 cont’d
• Update to-do list daily
• Top 3 daily priorities
• Uninterrupted productivity time
• Less but better essentialism
• Delegate to focus on your highest use
• Quick standing daily meeting
• Identify & remove bottlenecks
PersonalProductivityHabits

11. Poll #3
• Most of the day every day
• Daily
• Several times per week
• Once in a while
• I wish…
How often do you get to do work you love to do?

12. Key Solution Path #3
• Do you know your strengths and values?
• Does your work call for you to use your strengths every day?
• Does this give you an opportunity to stretch and grow?
• What meaningful need do you meet?
• How can you make a difference to your clients or co-workers?
• How would their lives change if your function disappeared?
• Does your organization’s mission align with your values?
• What is in your control to enhance the meaning of your work?
Meaningand Purpose

13. Poll #4
• I frequently lunch or socialize with someone from the office.
• Occasionally I have lunch with co-workers, but that’s it.
• Others in the office socialize with each other, but I don’t.
• Almost no one socializes with others in the office.
Which is most accurateabout your relationshipsat work?

14. Key Solution Path #4
Gallup, Wharton, U of Michigan & other
studies find correlation of quality of
workplace relationships with job
satisfaction
• Initiate social time
• Make deposits in emotional bank
account
• Be curious – something interesting
about everybody
• Demonstrate concern for their interests
• Find something in common you both
enjoy
EnhanceWorkplaceRelationships

15. Poll #5
• You can learn new things, but you can’t really change your
basic intelligence.
• You can change even your basic level of talent considerably.
• Some people just aren’t creative.
Which statementdo you agree withmost?

16. Key Solution Path #5
IdentifyYourMindset
Fixed Mindset: Believe traits and abilities are fixed
Growth Mindset: Believe can be developed through effort
GrowthMindset Exercises
• Recognize your fixed mindset voice and stretch
• See criticism as unstated request or useful
feedback
• Recognize setbacks as signals to make
adjustments
• Tell yourself “not yet” or “up until now”

17. Key Solution Path #5 cont’d
Gratitude Exercises
• Express gratitude to others, including why
• Daily gratitude list
• 3 Blessings: What went well today? Why?
Gratitude
Grateful people are more likely to:
• Use better coping strategies
• Seek supportiveness of social networks
• Experience less stress

18. Contact Us
Debra L. Bruce
Lawyer-CoachLLC
debra@lawyer-coach.com
713-682-4353
www.lawyer-coach.com
MyCase.com
MyCase.com/blog
support@mycase.com
(800) 571-8062
30-Day FREE Trial
MyCase
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PracticeManagementSoftware
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19. Thank You