There really is no doubt about it. All the latest research shows that lawyers are spending way too much time NOT practicing the law.

The 2016 Thomson Reuters Small Firm Report says attorneys in small firms report spending just 61% of their time on practicing law, while solos say they spend only 55% of their time practicing law.

The Clio Legal Trends Report says that the average utilization rate — the time lawyers actually spend on client work — is much less, only 28%. This figure is based on data aggregated in the last year from 40,000 active Clio users, so it’s hard numbers, not self-reported information like the Thomson Reuters report.

The competitive edge that small firms have is the ability to give clients more personalized attention, yet you are unable to do this unless your firm is truly efficient. And there is a simple solution: putting practice management systems in place to improve efficiency and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. You’ll cut costs as well.