7 Steps To Achieving InBox Zero And Staying There. There are zero messages in my InBox as I write this post. It won't stay that way, of course. For many years now, we have all transitioned our law practices into email, and most of us do business there all day every day. Yes, there are other methods of communication with courts, clients, prospective clients, creditors, junk mail companies, and so forth. But, email has taken over as the primary day to day communication tool. So, why is it important to get the InBox down to zero as often as we can? Well, consider that InBox as the chief repository of things that need to be dealt with if you are to survive as a practicing lawyer. Process, organization, competence, all demand that we deal with stuff. But, you say, I can't do everything every email demands right away, as I read it. That is true, but organize the way you handle it. I do it by creating a folder that I call "Pending", into which I move everything that will require action; but, that I can't get to right now. By doing this, you keep the InBox clean, and you have a ToDo list that you can prioritize. When I began law practice, I decided that, to survive, I would need to have at least 5 billable hours a day. I don't necessarily mean that those hours had to generate income that month; but, at least 5 hours had to spent working on a file. Computers and tech helped me to know what I was doing in that regard, and tech made me more efficient in the use of my time. So, if you can't find the discipline to keep that InBox empty, and your tasks organized, how do you expect to do your job properly? Now, make it a practice never to leave the office again, unless that InBox is empty. And, spend enough time to make certain that the Pending folder is manageable.