How To Set SMART Lawyer Goals for 2025 + Examples

If you've ever taken a Business 101 class, completed a yearly employee evaluation, or read a self-help book, chances are you're familiar with the concept of setting SMART goals. The idea isn't revolutionary; however, it’s a tried and true method of reaching success.

In this article, we outline how lawyers and law firms can incorporate the SMART formula into their goal-setting efforts for 2025 and beyond.

Why Is it Important for Lawyers to Set Goals?

In an increasingly competitive legal market, attorneys who are adaptable often are the ones who thrive. Setting clear, meaningful goals ensures that your team's work achieves meaningful, consistent results. Goals serve as benchmarks from which you can adapt and adjust to be as successful as possible. 

Defining SMART goals for lawyers

SMART is an acronym for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals are easier to track, monitor, and assess—in the short and long term.

Specific

When setting SMART lawyer goals, be specific about what you want to accomplish. Think about this as the mission statement for your goal. This isn't a detailed list of how you're going to meet a goal, but it should include an answer to the 'W' questions:

• Who needs to be involved in achieving the goal?

• What are you trying to accomplish? 

• When: Set a realistic time frame. 

• Where: Although this question may not apply to every situation, identify a location or an event here if it is relevant.

• Why: What is the reason for the goal?

Measurable

What metrics will you use to determine if you meet the goal? Identifying metrics makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure progress. If it's a project that will take a few months to complete, then set some milestones by considering specific tasks to accomplish.

SMART Lawyer Goals Example Metrics:

• Number of website visits

• Number of form submissions

• Number of online reviews

• Number of new clients

• End of month/quarter/year profits

Achievable

Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. When you set an achievable goal, you may be able to identify previously overlooked opportunities or resources that can bring you closer to it.

Achievable goal examples:

• Get 10 5-star reviews on Google

• Add 5 new clients by the end of the month

Unachievable goal examples:

• Get only 5-star reviews on Google

• Add 100 new clients by the end of the month

Relevant

This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it attainable. It may require developing new skills and changing attitudes. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement. Think about how to accomplish the goal and whether you have the tools/skills needed. If you don't possess those tools/skills, consider what it would take to attain them.

Time-Bound

Anyone can set goals, but if they lack realistic timing, they're unlikely to succeed. Ask specific questions about the goal deadline and what you can accomplish within that period. If the goal will take three months to complete, defining what should be achieved halfway through the process is helpful. Providing time constraints also creates a sense of urgency.

Time-bound goal examples:

• Earn 4 new clients by the end of Q2.

• Attend a continuing legal education course before June 1, 2025.

• Write 5 new blog posts by the end of Q1.

Examples of SMART Goals for Lawyers

To begin creating SMART goals for lawyers or an entire law firm, think about what key performance indicators (KPIs) are most important to your firm and you personally. SMART goals and KPIs are complementary because both measure, track, and account for lawyers' performance. To further simplify the process, break your KPIs out into specific areas like marketing, client acquisition, professional, and financial goals. This will allow you to have a well-rounded approach to reaching your SMART goals. View our SMART lawyer goals examples + how to accomplish them below!

These example goals provide a clearer picture of how you can achieve them. By sticking to the SMART rules, you avoid frustration and uncertainty. This results in a higher chance of you sticking to the plan and reaching your short-term and long-term goals!

Tips for setting law firm goals

When creating SMART goals for lawyers, there are several best practices you can follow. Check out the tips below for a more efficient goal-setting process.

Review the Previous Year's Goals and Performance

Law firms struggling to determine goals can use the previous year for guidance. Start by assessing last year’s goals and evaluating what was and wasn’t accomplished.

Identifying failures may be difficult and stressful, but it's the most effective way to move forward since it provides insights into improving your processes in the future. Law firms should gather opinions from partners, senior attorneys, associates, and clients. These different perspectives can provide insights into the whole picture and what contributed to the failure in the first place.

Identify Your Biggest Pain Points

Identifying business problems is a big part of fostering more success within your firm.  You can use the following steps to evaluate and determine the primary challenges that could be holding you back from reaching your full potential.

1. Don't be afraid to ask questions: If you want an answer, you must ask many questions. Asking yourself questions can help you identify problems and come up with possible solutions.

2. Get to the root cause of the problem: Often, a series of problemscould be linked to one central issue. Approach this deeper issue strategically to eliminate the problem.

3. Get some insight: It could be that a problem exists right under your nose, but you're not in any position to notice it. That's why it helps to get outside opinions. Talk to coworkers, clients, professionals in the same industry, and anyone else who might be able to find issues that you could be missing.

4. Don't waste time: When it comes to identifying business problems, the worst thing you can do is let them sit. Crises tend to snowball if you let them, so you must be proactive.

Research Modern Solutions that Provide Analytics

Industries change rapidly, and the legal sector is no different. More firms are investing in strategic analysts and legal analytics to help them see what's coming around the bend. What better way to support that process than to give them actionable insights into the current market?

Strategic insights will allow you and your firm analysts to easily view and share results with data visualizations and interactive dashboards between teams to develop a holistic market view. Knowing where you stand in the market allows you to adapt messaging or investments to keep or expand your competitive advantage.

Software and applications, like Google Search Console, most social media accounts, and your website host, usually provide easy-to-read analytics. For example, LawPay's comprehensive legal reporting software provides 100% payment deposits, complete transaction details, and real-time reporting for easy, accurate reconciliation. 

Adapting to changing market conditions means empowering yourself and your firm with knowledge of what lies ahead and the shifts needed to stay ahead of your competition.

Prioritize Goals

Prioritizing your law firm and individual lawyer goals involves identifying and organizing your objectives according to their urgency, value, and importance. It's also important to allocate your resources, time, and effort where needed. The idea is to determine which tasks to focus on before moving on to other tasks.

Create a Milestone Timeline

Defining and prioritizing your goals is an important step, but it's only half the battle. Once you get to work, you'll need to remain focused, diligent, and determined, so you don't accidentally drop the ball. Creating a schedule and detailed to-do lists can help you stay accountable.

Measure goals and KPIs

Check your KPIs and see how you're progressing toward your goal. If the goal is monthly, you should have daily or weekly check-ins to evaluate progress. This helps you direct energy and change course if something you are doing isn't working and you aren't hitting milestones

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Using SMART Goals for Law Firm Success

Attorneys who adapt can thrive and create a better normal for the legal industry. SMART lawyer goals give you a benchmark to adapt and adjust to be as successful as possible. 

However you measure success, LawPay has the tools to help you achieve them. To better understand how our online payments solution can specifically benefit your firm, schedule a demo!