Diligence means to engage in persistent and consistent effort to finish what must be done.
Rule 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct says, “A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”
The Power of Deadlines
Being deliberate with our priorities and controlling our workload are paramount in client relations. Yet we often struggle to fulfill these obligations.
Deadlines are often associated with heightened stress, time crunches, and external pressures beyond our control. Instead of motivating us to make steady progress, deadlines often lead us to procrastinate and underestimate how long a project will take.
But if you know how to use external deadlines and set self-imposed ones to your benefit, you’ll be more effective. They help you to prioritize your work and focus your time, energy and attention.
In combination with deadlines, you need a well-timed start date and good daily habits to do what’s most important.
The Power of Daily Habits
A habit is an automatic behavior that starts with a cue and ends with a reward. Habit formation begins with a conscious decision, but the loop reinforces itself and the brain goes into autopilot to execute routine.
Habits require little conscious thought or effort. Keystone habits have the biggest and most positive impact in life. They may involve restful sleep, regular exercise, and creative hobbies. These master habits make it easier to start other habits.
In his book, Atomic Habits, author James Clear writes that the key to building a new habit or dropping a bad habit is to create a new identity first. Your behaviors reflect your beliefs and worldview. For a habit change to last, you must correct both your belief and behavior. You can’t just modify one and not the other.
Learn More at Minnesota CLE 2026 New Lawyer Experience
Deadlines and daily habits are the essence of diligence. They enable you to pick, prioritize, and perform your big tasks and avoid undue delay.
On Monday, January 26, I am scheduled to co-present at a breakout session on What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do, at the Minnesota CLE 2026 New Lawyer Experience. I’ll discuss how to use daily habits and deadlines to manage stress and prevent burnout.
The breakout session is part of a day-long CLE, known as “A Survival Guide for Thriving as a New Lawyer.” Registration details are at https://www.minncle.org/seminar/1051352601.
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Dyan Williams is a solo lawyer who practices U.S. immigration law and legal ethics at Dyan Williams Law PLLC. She is also a productivity coach who helps busy professionals and business owners reduce overwhelm, turn their ideas into action, and focus on what matters. Learn more in her book, The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, and her YouTube channel and podcast, The Incrementalist – A Productivity Show.
