Posted with Permission of the Author, Stephen M. Nipper

     My office is slowing going paperless, doing a number of things including scanning all paper files to PDF when we close them.

     One little insight that those of you whom are not yet paperless should consider: staples.

     To scan a file to PDF, all papers in it must first be unstapled. The kicker is that the task of unstapling the file takes almost as much labor as scanning the file. Believe it, or not. Just think about it!

     Thus, even if you know you are years (or decades) from going paperless, it makes sense to institute an “Everyone Should Use Less Staples” policy. Before you staple something together that is going to be tacked down in the file, ask “do I really need to staple it?” If no…don’t. For things that must be stapled together…staple away!

     About the Author – Stephen M. Nipper is a partner with the law firm of Dykas, Shaver & Nipper in Boise, Idaho. Mr. Nipper received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law.