Working From Home - Tips From The Legal Sector1st Apr 2020
You are likely to have seen countless articles of late offering tips on working from home.
Some of these will have shared simple advice and ‘lifestyle hacks’, others will have been far more complex and structured. Here, Coles Miller have collated an alternative view.
We all have our own way of working. Below are tips to remember when working in a confidential sector (such as a law firm or bank), where there is no room for complacency.
1. Check your internet and device security
This may seem obvious, but if like Solicitors your workload consists of handling client information – a secure network and device is of paramount importance.
- make sure your network is private
- keep all programmes up to date, including anti-virus software
- check that your internet connection is password protected
- ensure your device is locked when unattended, particularly if you live in a shared occupancy household
2. Switch your smart speakers off
It is estimated that 34% of UK households have a smart speaker such as an Echo Dot or a Google Nest (reference – The Telegraph.) Security experts claim that these devices may pose security threats if disclosing sensitive information nearby. Switch them off to be on the safe side.
3. Find a quiet and private place to work from and take calls
It is important not to be complacent when handling phone calls from clients. When dealing with confidential matters, clients are entrusting you with their personal affairs. Background noise can prove both unprofessional and unnerving.
Conducting work within the family home is, for a time at least, unavoidable. Even so it is advised that those working within professional sectors aim to find a quiet place to handle sensitive matters.
4. Check in on colleagues, take a break
The legal, financial and healthcare sectors, amongst others, can prove stressful. It is important to remember that all colleagues are adapting to new processes.
Integrate as much structure as you can into the working day. If you manage a team, regular contact at the same time, and on a daily basis, can implement structure and routine as well as enable colleagues to understand expectations.
Most importantly, remember to take a break from your workstation. Go for a walk if it is safe to do so and return feeling refreshed and primed for the second stage of your day.
Got any further tips to add? Email us at marketing@coles-miller.co.uk we would love to share them on social media.
If you need to seek advice during these uncertain times, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are responding to queries like normal and are happy to help.
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This document is not intended to constitute and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice on any specific matter. No liability for the accuracy of the content of this document, or the consequences of relying on it, is assumed by the author. If you seek further information, please contact Managing Partner Neil Andrews at Coles Miller Solicitors LLP.
