Unlocking the Full Potential of Microsoft Teams: 3 Essential Hacks for Lawyers

Many attorneys use Groups for fundamental communication, but it surely’s able to way more. Listed here are three important Microsoft Groups hacks that may flip it right into a collaboration powerhouse.

1. Hack Microsoft Groups Communications

Use Channels to Centralize Conversations

Whereas particular person chats are nice for fast, casual conversations, they’ll simply grow to be overwhelming and disconnected, particularly when dealing with a number of issues. Chats don’t supply the identical stage of group as channels, that are particularly designed to group conversations, recordsdata, and duties round specific shoppers, circumstances, or follow areas.

With Channels, you may create devoted areas for every consumer or matter, making certain that every one associated conversations, paperwork, and motion objects are centralized and simple to find. Every channel can have separate threads, permitting discussions on totally different matters below the identical case to be organized and simple to observe. In contrast to chat, which is chronological, channels permit for a structured strategy to collaboration and storage, giving your group a single, dependable place for all matter-related data.

Go to the Groups on the facet rail to be part of or create a group, then choose Create group.

Title the group after a consumer or follow space (select a template if you want), then add members.

To create particular channels, from the checklist of Groups, click on Extra choices (three dots) subsequent to the Staff title, then Add channel.

Creating channels lets you hold discussions and paperwork organized in a single place, considerably decreasing inbox litter.

2. Hack Microsoft Groups Doc Administration

Set Up Actual-Time Co-Authoring

Cease emailing paperwork forwards and backwards. With Groups, a number of customers can collaborate on the identical doc in actual time, avoiding model confusion and saving time.

Open the related channel, click on the Information tab, and add your doc.

Click on on the doc to open it inside Groups (Phrase, Excel or PowerPoint).

Share the doc hyperlink with different group members to allow real-time co-authoring.

Now, a number of group members can work on the identical doc concurrently, with all modifications saved immediately.

Tip: Be sure to aren’t storing the identical doc in 2 totally different locations, making a model nightmare when individuals aren’t all working from the identical location.

3. Hack Microsoft Groups Process Administration

Assign and Monitor Work Effectively

Groups integrates activity administration instruments that assist attorneys assign, monitor, and observe progress throughout circumstances and tasks. Two key instruments for this are Microsoft To Do and Planner.

Microsoft To Do: To Do is a private activity administration app that permits attorneys to maintain observe of their particular person to-dos, deadlines, and priorities. It syncs throughout units and integrates with Outlook, making it straightforward to show emails into duties.

Planner: Planner is a collaborative instrument designed for team-based tasks. Attorneys can create plans inside Groups, assign duties to group members, set deadlines and observe progress. Planner presents a visible board that organizes duties by standing (e.g., not began, in progress, accomplished), making it easy to see what’s pending and who’s accountable.

Each To Do and Planner assist streamline workflows by making certain nothing will get missed and that every one group members are on the identical web page, which is especially essential for managing authorized circumstances the place deadlines and collaboration are vital. By embedding them into Groups, attorneys can handle each private and group duties in a single centralized location.

In Groups, go to Apps and seek for Planner.

Add it to your group’s channel by clicking + on the prime of the channel and deciding on Planner.

Create a plan, add duties, assign them to group members, and set deadlines.

Embedding these apps makes it straightforward to trace who’s engaged on what, making certain nothing slips via the cracks.

Extra Microsoft Suggestions and Methods

Be taught extra helpful ideas and tips from Affinity Consulting Group’s software program manuals designed for authorized professionals.

Affinity Consulting Group conjures up, allows, and empowers authorized groups of all sizes to work smarter, from wherever. The corporate’s holistic strategy incorporates individuals, course of, and know-how. Affinity’s passionate, well-connected business specialists work hand in hand with you that can assist you higher perceive and optimize your small business — from software program to development technique, and every little thing in between.

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