Sometimes We All Need a Little Accountability

Today, I wanted to talk a bit about getting things done.  At this point in the law school semester, there is more work than time (or at least that is what it feels like). You can find yourself making lists of things to do or setting goals and it still feels as though you aren’t getting anything done.  How do you remedy this? Well, sometimes we all need a little accountability in our lives.

Let me share with you a personal example. I have projects that I do on my own and those that I work on with Alison. When working on my own projects, it becomes very easy to change deadlines, change scope or just opt not to do something. Because whom am I accountable to? Only myself!

In contrast, when Alison and I have meetings about the Law School Toolbox or Bar Exam Toolbox, we often leave those meetings with to-do lists. And since I know that she is expecting me to get things done by the agreed date, well, they get done! Why? Because working with a partner creates accountability. I don’t want to disappoint Alison, so I am going to work harder to meet my deadlines.

This is an important lesson that can be applied to law school. Although you don’t have a business partner, you can still create accountability in your law school life.

Use a Study Group: If you have a study group or like studying with a friend, set up some deadlines for getting things done. For example, by your meeting next week, you will have your Torts outline updated. If you know you have to show up and show that outline to someone else, it is more likely you will get it done!

Go to Office Hours: You can also create accountability by going to office hours. If you decide you are going to go see your Civil Procedure professor each Wednesday during office hours, you are likely to review the material before that time and even make a list of questions. Or perhaps you are going to take a writing assignment to her each week to get her feedback. Having that standing meeting can give you the structure needed to get work done.

Work with a Tutor: Many of the law students that we work with like having standing meetings with us so they have deadlines to get certain things done. For instance, if we have a meeting coming up, my students must send me their writing practice 24 hours in advance or I won’t get a chance to look at it. In addition, at the end of many of our sessions we set goals for the next week. And you know how we start the next session? Reviewing the goals. Additional accountability and desire not to disappoint your tutor help students get their work done well and on time.

Think about your own workload. How can creating some accountability help you be more productive and efficient?

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Check out these other helpful posts:

• A New Time Management Technique I’m Trying
• Pay attention in class, it can save you time!
• Law Student Social Media How-To: Facebook

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Image by mmagallan via stock.xchng.