Who’s the Most Important Person for You to Hire First in Your Practice?
One of the biggest mistakes attorneys make is trying to do everything themselves.
They answer every email, manage every calendar issue, handle administrative interruptions, and constantly put out fires throughout the day. The result? Burnout, inefficiency, and very little time left for the things that actually grow the practice.
That’s why the most important person you can hire first in your practice is not another attorney or even a paralegal—it’s an Executive Assistant.
As attorneys, the primary things only we can do are meet with clients, provide legal advice, review legal documents, and help grow the business. Everything else should either be systemized or delegated.
A great Executive Assistant helps protect your time, organize your schedule, improve communication, anticipate problems before they happen, and keep the practice running smoothly behind the scenes. More importantly, they allow you to focus on high-value, revenue-generating activities instead of getting buried in administrative work.
Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how the right Executive Assistant can completely transform a practice. Attorneys become more productive, clients receive better service, and the entire office operates more efficiently.
The key is finding someone who has the right personality — is organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and willing to learn how you specifically like things done. Skills can be trained. Attitude, professionalism, and work ethic are much harder to teach.
And once you hire the right person, proper onboarding and training become critical. Clear expectations, regular communication, and documented systems will help create a long-term partnership that benefits both you and your practice.
At the end of the day, your goal should not be to do everything yourself. Your goal should be to build a practice that allows you to spend your time where you create the most value.
Because when attorneys stop acting like administrative assistants, they finally gain the time and freedom to truly grow their practice — and enjoy a better quality of life.
Learn More
If you want to learn proven systems for hiring, training, and effectively utilizing an Executive Assistant in your practice, check out our INSTANT DOWNLOAD: “How to Hire and Effectively Use an Executive Assistant.”
Inside, you’ll discover practical strategies to help you delegate more effectively, improve office efficiency, free up your time for higher-value activities, and create smoother day-to-day operations in your practice. This step-by-step resource is designed to help you avoid costly hiring mistakes and build a stronger support system that allows your firm to grow with less stress and greater productivity.
Download it today and start building a more organized, efficient, and scalable practice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Attorney Philip J. Kavesh is the principal of one of the largest estate planning and administration firms in California—Kavesh, Minor and Otis—which has been in business since 1981. He is also the President of The Ultimate Estate Planner, Inc., which provides a variety of training, marketing, and practice-building products and services for estate planning professionals.