
There are already so many inefficiencies in the traditional workplace.
How many times have you thought to yourself after a meeting, That could have been an email?
Even worse than the time wasted in long drawn-out meetings is the inefficiency of resource management.
From cranked-up air conditioners, blinding fluorescent lighting, printers, copiers, and water coolers, to the carbon emissions of the daily commute, there are a lot of resources that go into a traditional workplace environment.
What Is Law Firm Sustainability?
In this context, a sustainable law firm is one that makes a conscious effort to prioritize the environment. This means being less wasteful and more aware of the impact your business has on the environment.
How to Make Your Office Greener
Whether or not your law firm takes environmental law cases, sustainability is important for everyone. Here are some tips on how to make your office more sustainable.
Recycle
Starting with the low-hanging fruit, recycling is the easiest way to make a big impact on the sustainability of your law office.
The results are measurable and add up quickly. It is easy to get most employees on board with putting their papers and bottles into the green receptacle rather than the black one, so adoption rates are generally pretty good.
Go Digital
Billing, contracts, and other document resources can almost all be paperless.
Continual improvements in digital information hosting, point of sale, and educational resources such as Westlaw and LexisNexis mean that your briefcase can be a lot lighter these days and a lot fewer trees are sacrificed.
Another benefit of digital communication and storage is that files are less likely to be lost under the desk.
Rent a Coworking Space
Using a legal co-working space rather than a full dedicated office has a number of benefits that promote law firm sustainability:
- You do not have to heat or cool a whole building if few people are in the office;
- You can come into the office when you need an office space and save your fuel when working from home; and
- You can share resources like lighting and office equipment with other attorneys.
Using a co-working space when you need to meet a client or just need to work away from home not only helps make your office greener, it can save you a lot of green in monthly overhead costs.
Eco-Friendly Commuting
Whether you are in a traditional office or a legal co-working space, eco-friendly commuting can have a big impact on the environment.
That doesn’t necessarily mean staying at home. Distance permitting, consider riding a bike to work, taking the bus, or catching a ride with a coworker.
Creating a Sustainable Law Office
A sustainable law office does more than just make you feel better about yourself. Law firm sustainability shows your clients that you care.
It can also be cost-efficient as well as energy efficient. Mesilla Legal Center is a great option for attorneys who want an alternative to the resource-intensive traditional workplace.
Whether you are a lawyer traveling in New Mexico or a local looking to create an eco-friendly business model, our facility has everything you need to make business happen.