Commuter Commiseration: Tips Lawyers Can Use to Make Travel Time More Productive

On average, New Jersey residents have longer commutes than people living in any other states except New York and Maryland. According to 2012-2016 U.S. Census data, the typical Garden State commute clocks in at over 30 minutes.

For attorneys, who often travel to court or meetings with clients in addition to trekking to the office, time on the road can really add up. But this time should not be considered “lost.” There are many ways to make your commute more productive.

• Use GPS so you don’t get lost traveling somewhere you have never been before. Even if you know where you are going, it is helpful to plug the address into an app with real-time traffic updates. In our densely populated state, there are always unexpected events requiring a detour. You don’t want to get to court late due to an accident you could have known about before hitting the road or avoided with a quick detour.

• If you are headed to court or some other important meeting, you can use your time in the car to rehearse. Don’t be shy about practicing what you plan to say out loud. Hearing yourself talk can help you identify weaknesses that you otherwise would not have noticed.

• Speaking of rehearsing, did you know New Jersey Supreme Court arguments and certain selected Appellate Division arguments are available online as .mp3 files? You can download the files to your mobile device and listen to them at your leisure. This can be a great way to improve your oral advocacy skills, or learn how to handle yourself on your feet. It is also a great way to hear the evolution of the law.

• Learn how to use Bluetooth technology to connect your phone to your car. You can then make calls, add items to your to-do list, or listen to a podcast or audio book. A virtual assistant can tell you what is on your calendar for the day, read you the top headlines, let you know what the weather forecast is, and tell you who won last night’s big game. We recommend testing out this technology while you are parked instead of trying to figure it out on the go.

• If you want to try listening to an audiobook, check with your local library to see if they lend them out before you invest in an app or subscription service. Most libraries have a service that will allow you to download lots of titles for free, from your home or office.

• Most podcasts are also free, and you can find one on almost every topic under the sun. From cooking to comedy to true crime, there is probably one you would find interesting. There are even legal podcasts, which cover specific practice areas, law practice management, and client development. The ABA Journal ranks the top 100 legal podcasts so you can find one that interests you, or just Google “legal podcast” to find one that might best benefit your practice area.

• Rather listen to music than a lecture? Subscription-based services allow you to customize the radio stations you are tuning in to. Paying a small fee is worth skipping all the commercials.

• If you plan on doing a lot of calls while you are driving, invest in a quality headset with a microphone. The people on the other end of the line will appreciate the better sound quality and hear fewer car noises. A lot of these also have a button that allows you to mute yourself when you are not talking, which can be a lifesaver.

• Need some CLE credit before the reporting deadline? The New Jersey State Bar Association and other providers offer on-demand CLE courses that can be downloaded as .mp3 files, allowing you to listen to them almost anywhere. When you arrive at your destination there is just a little bit of paperwork to do to certify your attendance.

• Mindfulness is a hot topic, but something many of us are still wary of. It turns out your commute is an ideal time to give mindfulness a try. Search “mindful commute” and you will find a number of techniques you can test out that will help train your brain to focus on the task at hand.

• If you use public transportation, you can obviously do a lot more during your commute than if you are driving. You can actually work if you want to. If that is something you want to do, make sure you pick a mobile device or small laptop that can handle being jostled about and do the work you need it to do without overheating. You may want to invest in a power bank to keep your device juiced, and a bluetooth keyboard that will help you write more efficiently.

• Working while on public transportation is not for everyone. Don’t feel guilty if you would rather spend your time reading, watching your favorite TV shows, or even knitting.

• Use your commute on public transportation to enforce some limits on leisure activities that are a time suck—like checking your social media accounts. Tell yourself it is okay to get lost in them for your entire trip, but once you arrive, it is time to put your device away or only use it for work.

• Sacrifice a little time now to save a lot of time later by adding an item or two from your to-do list to your weekday commute. The grocery store is a mad house on the weekends, but it is pretty quiet at 9PM on a Wednesday night, so why not handle your weekly shopping on your way home from work. Making your commute a bit longer a couple of days a week can really help open up your weekends.