The beginning of each year can seem overwhelming as you take a look at the totality of things we need to accomplish in order to run a successful practice.

There's simply no better time than these first few days of 2022 to take the time to consider and prioritize some essential first steps you can promptly execute to ensure your law practice is on the right path to being even more successful in January 2023 than it is today.

Of course, you don't need to implement everything at once, but the faster you act on at least one of these points, the quicker you'll see the improvement that can help take your firm to the next level in 2022.

Here are five key points to consider as we enter the New Year.

Play the Thought Leadership Long Game

Any type of thought leadership seems like a difficult investment for lawyers because it is not an immediate return on investment. Whether it's becoming a thought leader through writing expert commentary or whitepapers, becoming a legal social media influencer, or booking face with broadcast media (television, radio, podcasts)  as a legal expert, thought leadership takes a lot of time and energy but is well worth building the necessary foundation.

But you need to be open to becoming a thought leader in 2022 because it's an excellent way to differentiate you from your competitors, most of whom are happy to stay out of the spotlight. The key to becoming a thought leader in the law is to pick your places and pick your battles. It's much better to become an expert in one of your areas of practice and speak extensively about certain key issues than it is to be a general legal expert.

For example, if one of your areas of practice is premises liability, it is helpful to monitor local and national news for events where your expertise and perspective can educate and inform the public. As you begin to make regular appearances, you can become one of the sources news outlets will reach out to for regular commentary. This can help solidify you as a thought leader in your practice areas, which will assist in generating the right leads.

Reconsider Your Website

There is honestly no set cycle for refreshing your website, as a sleek and dynamic website can have a longer life and provide your practice more utility than a site that is more static. That said, there is no better time than the beginning of the year to make an honest assessment of your website and consider what it's doing well for you, and what you wish it could do better, or how it could yield more leads.

Your website isn't about bells and whistles, it's about functionality and design. The difference between a mediocre website and an exceptional website can be as simple as a new focus on user experience and content.