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Thanks to the fine folks at FindLaw for Legal Professionals, here’s a productivity tip for you: try dual monitors.

Much of the time wasted when attorneys work on computers comes when they switch between windows. Not only does it waste time, it can lead to unnecessary distractions. Some try to compensate by putting two windows on one screen, or by various workarounds.

But instead, attorneys would be wise to consider making a small investment and using an extra monitor. For that matter, it would be wise to make the investment for support staff as well. Not only do dual monitors double your screen real estate, they creates boundaries you can use to divide what you’re going to focus on. For a lawyer, time is money, and there are statistics that indicate that dual monitors save a lot of time. And they have some serious advocates.

Take for example, a study at University of Utah and ATI Technologies using dual monitors. Those who participated reported increases of productivity including:

• 33% fewer errors
• 16% faster edits
• 6% quicker access to tasks
• 45% easier task tracking
• 32% faster performance
• 24% more comfortable

With numbers like that, it’s definitely worth giving it a try. Which would you rather do? Constantly shuffle through Windows, or have case law up on one screen and Word on the other, so that you can write your motion without having to switch between the two?

A second monitor is likely to set you back $200 or less, and you may need to upgrade your video card. But at that price, you would only need to see a benefit of one hour of time before you have already broken even.

The rest is gravy from there!