Raise your hand if you've heard the term "economic uncertainty" one too many times over the past year. We all know that the environment we're working and living in has been volatile, turbulent and, at times, even chaotic. No one needs to remind us of that. So, what if we tune that out for a moment and focus on certainty—efforts you can take internally that will certainly strengthen your law firm or legal department so that external forces don't hold so much sway?

Here are some things you can do to fortify your organization in the face of today's seemingly countless challenges:

• Improve your workflows to shore up productivity
• Control costs so you can do more with less
• Reach your operational efficiency goals
• Make your proposals more cost-effective and appealing
• Boost the morale, loyalty and productivity of your team members

One effort—strategically incorporating contract attorneys and support personnel into your staffing plans—can help you achieve every one of these objectives. This may look a little different depending on whether you are leading a legal department or a law firm, so let's explore how contract staffing can support each type of organization.