Welcome to part three of our blog series on Going Green, dedicated to helping attorneys practice law in a more environmentally friendly way.  Last week we introduced a very simple concept that lawyers, and everyone else, have heard time and again.  Turn things off when you’re not using them.  Yet too many people ignore the simple rule because it is just that, too simple.  Here is a hint to help you in your quest to go green, sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.  Small changes, if they are made by the majority, lead to positive outcomes.

In this part, we introduce an idea that is important in the legal profession, more so than other industries.  Lawyers and law firms use a lot of paper.  Boxes, cabinets, closets, and storage bins full or paper.  It’s a simple fact, something that comes with the territory.  And for those who recycle, good for you.  But an even better, more efficient solution, is to cut your paper usage in some very basic ways.

First, take advantage of digital media.  The internet and technology revolution has made it just as easy to keep “electronic” files as it is to keep paper files.  Documents can be scanned, emailed, posted to the web, downloaded, and carried anywhere with the help of a laptop, phone, or flash drive.

The legal profession has to catch up with the times.  Get rid of the wasteful usage of paper and you can cut time, energy, disposal costs, printing costs, and storage costs.  Not to mention, you would be doing a service to the environment.

Part of going green means living a cleaner and more efficient lifestyle.  Losing the paper dependency is one of these ideas that makes sense on every level.  It will make your life easier, as well as help out those around you.  At this point in time, in 2009, we have all but eliminated the need for paper.  There is no reason that those in the legal profession need to continue to waste paper as much as we do.

If 50% of all lawyers cut their paper usage by 50% over the next year, we will not only save countless acres of precious forests, we will help to move the entire legal profession to a more efficient future.  Stay tuned next week for another edition of Clean Lawyer.

Past Installments in this Series
Part One – An Introduction to Going Green
Part Two – Cut Electricity Costs, Just Flip the Switch