Last week, I read somewhere about a weird practice of a famous international music band prior to each of their performance. The band had like 50 equipment set-up for their performance. So, before their performance they used to give a checklist to the organisers instructing how they want the setup to be.

One of the things listed in the checklist was to have half a glass of water with the coin inside, on stage before each performance. The band used to cancel the performance if this condition was not fulfilled when they did a sound check.

It all sounds pretty weird, until you realise the reason behind the bizarre request.

The band wanted the setup to be exactly as per their instructions. So when they did not find the glass of water with the coin on stage, they’d realise that their checklist was not thoroughly followed. This checklist test is brilliant in its simplicity!

They can’t check for each technical thing from their checklist but they can  look for the coin in the half empty glass. It is symbolic. If somebody did not put the glass there, they probably ignored other far more important instructions too, which might diminish the overall performance.

On the other hand, if one followed that seemingly illogical point in the checklist, they could be sure that their every request was fulfilled.

How do you manage your multitude of tasks and goals?

In my experience, I have found that being prepared is the first step towards success. But is there that one technique which helps you stay ahead of the rest?

Just like the music band relied on the checklist for a perfect performance, we at LawSikho, too believe in the importance of checklists, as a part of the curriculum in our contract drafting course and M&A course. We train you to make checklists for important contracts and critical, high value transactions.

Even big law firms create ‘closing bibles’ that are to be followed while closing a big transaction by everyone involved.

Therefor we inculcate the habit of preparing a similar checklist before drafting a contract, or preparing a due diligence report. As a corporate lawyer, clients will pay you a premium if you have a reputation to not miss a single detail. How do you become that sort of a lawyer with amazing eye for details?

We have to teach our students to be ultra prepared whenever they approach a task at hand, and develop more suitable time saving and efficient methods. That’s at the heart of corporate lawyering.

But being prepared is not easy. Law schools don’t prepare you for such things.

Very often, the first step of preparation is to either make a mind map, or a checklist. Some very successful lawyers I know obsessively keeps making checklists and mind maps. Be it court cases, client meetings, team meetings and the likes.

You could be a lawyer, a law student, a CA or even a businessman. We all face instances where such checklists are not only handy, but preferred. You may have to convince a judge with your fantastic set of arguments which are backed by precedents and the law. Or, you might have to do a paper presentation in your classroom for an assignment. Or, you have to acquire a new client for your business.

You need to be well prepared in order to convince your audience to go with your idea.

The fact remains that when you walk into the court, or your classroom, or the conference room, you have to own it. The only way to do that is to work a little more than the rest, and be more prepared than them.

You have to know their strategy and prepare to beat them at it.

Having a checklist helps you to keep a track of the things that are to accomplished in order to complete the task or the goal.

So let’s say right before a hearing in the court, you prepare a checklist for the same, by making a list of the grounds involved, main arguments, supporting case laws, etc. You also prepare a checklist for the brief, with all the necessary documentations with the contentious points highlighted or flagged for convenience.

These checklists help you stay on point and accomplish the tasks in an organised manner. You’d know not only the things to be done, but also the sequence in which they need to be done. They also help to improve your overall efficiency as well as time management.

It makes sure you don’t forget to get a critical information from client before a case.

Let us take another example. For example, there is a corporate lawyer, who has a multitude of clients, deadline, and associated work to do. If he/she do not have a plan of action to tackle this in a prepared manner, then they are headed towards doom.

Imagine, if one client calls up asking for a specific query, pertaining to a specific clause in the shareholder agreement, while the lawyer is busy contemplating a suitable business model for another client? Which one should they prioritise and how?

Checklists can make your life simple and take away a lot of headache and heartburn.

There should be multiple checklists in place at each crucial juncture, (like for drafting a contract, conducting due diligence and more), to ensure that nothing important is left out.

The best way to ensure success is by preparation. Vision, diligence, and drive matters only when, it is aided by due preparation. So start preparing well. Do not hesitate or overthink things.

Not only how to prepare and the importance of checklists or mind maps, but we can help you learn the techniques which you can carry throughout your career like networking, preparing strategy notes, drafting contracts and various related documents, and more, that will not only impress clients, bosses, peers and judges, but set you apart from the ordinary masses.

We at LawSikho can provide you the tools for success through our curated online courses.

But, it is you who has to take the first step. You can learn on the go through our digital learning management system available on Android and iOS applications. All you need to do is give 6-8 hours of your time per week!

In turn, you get realistic legal exercises to work on, live video sessions held after regular work hours (job or law school) followed by personal written feedback. You get to ask questions, clear your doubts in the live session or the online forums. You learn not only the statutes, but also the practical application through exercises, on drafting various pertinent documents, strategizing and more!

Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime and enroll now! Get ahead of the curve. It is always about the skills you learn and then practice, thereby attain mastery.

All the best.