Lawyers offer colleagues advice on balancing practice and personal life

June 26, 1998
By Laura Gallagher
State Bar of Wisconsin Newsletter Editor

It's no secret that a healthy lawyer is keenly aware of the importance of balancing the practice of law and a personal life. Lawyers attending the State Bar's Annual Convention in Lake Geneva on June 26 received a healthy dose of advice on bringing this balance into their lives.

At the seminar, "Recipes for a Healthy Law Practice," sponsored by the General Practice Section and Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, Robert Hagness, Susan M. Zabel, and Katja Kunzke offer the following tips:

• Live as though dying tomorrow would be fine. Spend your time in a way that matches your priorities and you'll regret less.
  
  
• Look for what's good. You'll be surprised at the number of positive things in your life if you take the time to think about them.
  
  
• Remind yourself of what's good in your life by keeping family pictures, awards, or special artwork in your office.
  
  
• Know when to say "no." Say it.
  
  
• Decide how long you'd like to work on an average work day, then schedule in a few hours less. For example, if you'd like to work nine hours a day, fill your schedule for six hours. That way, you've got time to deal with unexpected or emergency situations without canceling plans or forsaking personal time.
  
  
• Make realistic promises -- to clients and family -- and stick to them.
  
  
• Schedule vacation time, even if it's only a day or two. Don't wait until you have the time; make the time.
• If you have the luxury of picking your clients, don't take every case that walks through the door. Take the ones you can handle well and the clients with whom you feel you can communicate.
  
  
• Realize you're not the only one who feels stressed or overwhelmed. Talk to someone. The State Bar's Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP) can help.
  
  
• Try not to come back from vacation on a Monday, when everything seems hectic. Come back later in the week and you won't be so overwhelmed.
  
  
• Get as much "off your plate" on Friday, so that you have less to face on Monday.
  
  
• Surround yourself with a good support staff. Trust them to help you get your work done.
  
  
• Be careful of expectations that you help set. Don't start going into the office on Saturdays if you don't want to set a precedent. Don't cancel personal plans for work unless you want to be perceived as always willing to cancel personal plans.