The Paper Monster
Whether you are in a large practice or a sole practitioner, you are drowned in paper.
A client file can easily weigh several pounds and be an inch or several inches thick.
Do you really want to sort through all that to find a phone number from last week when you can find the same record on your computer in seconds? Further, a single search can bring up all the records for this caller at the same time.
Delegation
Suppose you get an ordinary telephone message slip which your secretary or an associate could handle for you given a little direction. You write a short note, hand it off, and lose all record of the call. This works fine except that last "losing all record" part.
An electronic email message is far superior because it can be forwarded with your comments. You now have a record of the original message, who you forwarded it to, what you said, and when you said it. You can transfer the outgoing message to a follow-up tickler file and retain control until the matter is resolved.
Hold my calls
It is easy to say you cannot be interrupted but multi-tasking is a reality as well. With old fashioned paper message slips, your secretary has to abandon his/her post, hunt you down, and stick a piece of paper under your nose. Maybe you wanted to know then and there. Maybe not...
With email messaging, a notification will show up on you laptop, desk computer, or even your cell phone if you set it up. You see it when you can, as often as you want.
Office on the go
Your practice may require you to leave your office for court appearances, depositions, client visits, research, filings, speaking, or other reasons. During breaks you can check your email instantly, knowing that you are not missing slips of paper sitting on your desk, buried amid all the other paper. Even if you are unable to connect where you are, as a backup, you can call in to your office and have your secretary find all your messages by logging in to your account.