Comments on: Getting Things Done For Lawyers – Commencing GTD Legal Week

By: Rav

Rav — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:35:05 +0000

We have tried to apply this policy to our software tools that enable documents and their associated data to be managed electronically. This allows us to tag documents with actions and apply workflow. Documents are normally associated with manual or adhoc processes.

By: Greg Lois

Greg Lois — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:50:34 +0000

Wow, this is a great topic and great comments, especially Andrea’s!!!

I AM a lawyer, and I have been writing about implementing GTD in my practice. Check out the book (“The Six Minute Lawyer”) available here: https://www.createspace.com/3480062

As a lawyer I can tell you that several aspects of GTD – especially the ‘now action’ principle that gets us moving – are especially useful for attorneys. However, “orthodox” GTD is filled with a lot of first-world mysticism and psycho-babble claptrap that is basically a waste fo time. The best parts of GTD are the ‘action’ orientation and the frameworks for getting knowledge workers to tapproach their work scientifically.

Check out the book! Website coming soon, and I look forward to continuing this conversation!
-Greg

P.S. ‘The Six Minute Lawyer’ is also available on Kindle here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Six-Minute-Lawyer-ebook/dp/B004183LXU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1283888085&sr=8-2

By: Productivity Bits

Productivity Bits — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:49:16 +0000

I think that David Allen’s GTD is the perfect system for lawyers. I am not a lawyer but this series of post about GTD-Lawyers. When we speak about GTD, it’s about getting your “stuff” out of your mind and putting them into your in-basket where they become manageable. It’s about the workflow. If the workflow is seamless, then everything will follow smoothly.

By: Larry Port

Larry Port — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:43:36 +0000

Hey Kris:

You’re absolutely right! You want to get it out of your head. That was a typo, and I’ve fixed it. Great catch.

By: Kris Krol

Kris Krol — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:32:07 +0000

I am a late-comer to these posts. I was reading with interest, because I am a lawyer, who has implemented GTD in my TimeMatters system. I also recently began my consulting practice, assisting other lawyers and law firms with productivity and increasing profitability through use of technology, as well as implementing paperless office solutions. My reading of the GTD book would indicate that David Allen wants us to capture information and get it OUT of our heads, no INTO our heads. The concept is that, with all kinds of tasks and things rattling around in our heads, we can be stressed out. So, we get it OUT of our heads and into a sysem that we trust to work for us. You have picked up this concept in the main body of the post, but in the first bullet point, you say to get it “into your head.” Good post, otherwise! Thanks.

By: Larry Port

Larry Port — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:46:16 +0000

Thanks Andrea! Let’s get a guest post from you on DAFT.

By: Andrea Cannavina

Andrea Cannavina — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:57:28 +0000

You are going to find lots of things are different between IT/software companies and law firms! I have found very few solos or large firms where anyone knows anything about GTD. So, thanks for doing this series, Larry. I hope lots of legal peeps learn from it!

I found GTD several years ago, but soon realized it had too many categories and lists for me to stay on top of – I was spending all my time figuring out my lists! So I literally created my own organizational system somewhat based on GTD and a few other systems which I call DAFT.

As for so many balls in the air – who do you think it is keeping track of those items… the attorney? Nope! In most instances, it is his/her secretary/assistant – you know the one who never gets a mention as a “professional” in law firm.

It is the assistants of the world who are keeping those busy lawyers and firms humming along; not missing deadlines, clients happy, etc.

So think of the assistants at law firms as you write these columns – dedicated, overworked and under appreciated peeps – they need GTD even more than the attorneys!