I hate billing by the hour. I’m also not very good at it -- never have been. I find it very difficult to keep track of my day in six-minute increments. As a solo attorney, I have the flexibility to change the way I bill my clients, and I am resolving to do just that.

Now I know that New Year’s Resolutions are often forgotten before the snow melts, and how many times have we all promised ourselves to improve our personal and professional lives? Well this year for me is going to be different. With God (and the five or six people who will read this) as my witness, I resolve to do the following this year to make my law practice fun again:

I resolve to move all of my practice away from the billable hour -- no exceptions. I do not want to keep another timesheet as long as I live.

I resolve to think more and work less. I will take one day off each week to reflect on improving my practice and to recharge my batteries.

I resolve to write more and speak more. I will seek out writing and speaking engangements instead of waiting for them to come to me.

I resolve to make my clients my best sales people. I will offer my clients a completely different legal service experience than they are accustomed to. I will ask them about what they want their lawyer to be, and incorporate their ideas into my practice model. In short, I will astound them.

From this day forward, I will be working with my clients and staff to overhaul the way I practice law. In my blog, I will be sharing my ideas and keeping a log of my progress. Join me as I make practicing law fun again.