Page 34 - Pierce County Lawyer - July August 2025

How I Organize My Calendar
On my calendar program at the date and time of the event I
input the name of the client and what I am doing. Example: at 9
am I write 'Stone, Julia - intake'. Along with my client's contact
information, the location, address (if needed), phone number,
and if there is a room number. I have also found it important to
include the Zoom meeting information. Of course, I am relying
that the information on my calendar is entered accurately
and correctly. Accurately, that it is on the proper day and
correctly that the right information has been entered. I have
found that it is VERY important to make sure the
phone number my client can be reached is entered
correctly and is a working number. I found this out the
hard way. A while back, before I was heading out the door to
a hearing, I checked LINX to make sure the hearing was not
canceled/stricken, only to find out the hearing was moved to
a different courtroom. I did not have my client's file with me,
only my padfolio with my speaking points for the hearing and
proposed orders. Without my client's phone number, I had no
way of notifying my client, before the hearing, that there was a
room change. Of course, my client silenced their cellphone in
the hallway, walked into the original courtroom, and took a seat
while waiting for me. To solve this problem, I went to the new
courtroom, checked in, and let the JA know I was going to meet
my client. With my client, this works both ways. If I am stuck in
traffic. I can first call my office, then the courtroom, and if there
is no answer or voice mail, I can call (or text) my client and ask
the client to let the JA know I am stuck in traffic.
For My Morning Routine
I have gotten into the habit of first checking my cellphone to see
if there are any missed calls and/or text messages. Is it an ASAP
return call or reply text? Before checking my voicemail, if the
3 4 P I E R C E C O U N T Y L A W Y E R | J u l y /A u g u s t 2 0 2 5
Ideas for
Calendaring
and Routines
for the Day
BY DAVID R. SHELVEY
After a year of running my
solo practice, several policies
and procedures have been
established based on various
experiences and thoughtful input.
caller ID has the office phone number (when I used to work
in an office) or the client's name (my client having my number
is not a problem, although I know of attorneys who frown on
this for good reasons), I normally call the office or the client. If
I do not get an answer, I will then check if there is voicemail. I
have found it best to ask the office or the client to
text me. It is easier for me to read a text message
and respond to it ASAP. Text message: "Pease call me
ASAP." Next, I quickly check my office emails. Since I get my
office emails on my phone, I can accomplish this at the same
time without sitting in front of a computer. I am looking for
subject line emails that have anything to do with my morning
calendar. If I am needing to be somewhere, I quickly check my
office emails for anything to do with where I need to be. Is there
an email from the client, the court, or the office with the client's
name in the subject line? Normally 10 minutes before I leave
my home, I do one more check of my phone for calls, texts or
emails about that morning’s hearing. I have received emails
from clients saying things like they need to move their morning
meeting or a client is asking me for the courtroom number.
My Evening Routine
Before I call it quits for the day and start preparing to leave
the office or in the evening at home, before shutting down
the computer, I check my calendar to make sure I
know what I am doing in the morning, where I need
to be, and what time I need to be there.
Do I have a hearing at 8:45 a.m. or an office meeting at 9 a.m.?
Is it a Zoom meeting (needing time to get logged in), or an in-
person meeting? Then I consider the departure time. If I have
a hearing at the Pierce County Courthouse at 9 a.m., it takes
me, with traffic, from Sumner to the courthouse, about forty-
five minutes to get there by 8:45 a.m. Obviously, with a 9 a.m.