In the lesson Controlling Interruptions, we gave you some advice on dealing with interruptions. We discussed interruptions caused by supervisors, colleagues, and supervisees who physically approach you, asking you to give priority to whatever’s on their mind. For most lawyers, though, it’s the electronic interruptions, rather than the human ones, that have the greatest negative impact on focus. Among these uniquely Twenty-First Century interruptions, email is the leading offender.

Although...