Research in England several years ago found that checking e-mail as it comes in, and thereby letting it become a distraction and interrupt your flow of concentrated work, results in a greater loss of IQ than smoking marijuana.

In order to keep e-mail from interfering with your ability to focus and get things done, try to develop a reasonable interval for checking e-mail given your responsibilities. Lawyers are often tied up for some period of time during court hearings, depositions, negotiations, client meetings, closings, etc. We make do with checking our blackberries during breaks. We should bring the same practice into the office when we are trying to concentrate on a project.