What are you going to do to become a better practitioner in 2011? What action steps will you take to help you better understand your area of the law?

Many lawyers will simply handle the cases that come through the door and learn as they go. When an issue arises, they’ll do the research and figure out the law. That’s the extent of the plan.

I’d suggest to you that learning as you go, based on pressing matters, won’t really move you forward. It certainly won’t move you ahead of the competition.

To grow, and to do it quickly, requires spending some time learning.

Here’s my suggested plan for 2011.

1. Subscribe to and read your legal newspaper containing summaries of the appellate cases in your jurisdiction. Read every family law, civil procedure, and evidence case that comes out. Scan the remaining cases for anything relevant.

2. Read two books this year on practical matters like trial advocacy or collaborative law.

3. Read the newsletter of your state bar association, family law section.

4. Read Family Advocate from the American Bar Association.

5. Attend the 2011 or 2012 ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute.

6. Call around and get yourself invited to teach a family law CLE. You’ll learn more than you can imagine.

7. Read one book on substantive family law issues, like something on retirement plan division.

8. Attend two family law continuing education programs in your state.

That’s it. Do those eight things, and you’ll have done dramatically more than 99% of your fellow family law practitioners. Do those eight things, and you’ll soon be regarded as one of the most educated, informed family law practitioners in your jurisdiction. Do them a couple of years in a row, and you’ll be at the top of the heap.