Shows
The 80/20 Principle276: Privacy vs Security: Top Tips to Avoid HackersHackers repeatedly use the same common ploys to fool most people most easily. Avoid becoming a victim by learning about these ploys and by using a tech tool that too many people do not know about (or use if they do know). In this episode, you'll learn about six excellent recommendations the AARP believes can protect people online. And learn more about the one that's most beneficial for everyone who uses the Internet via computer, tablet device, or smartphone. In this episode, you will hear: Technology in efficient law practices The importance of...2024-02-0626 min
The 80/20 Principle255: A Practicing Lawyer's Perspective on ChatGPT (Enrico Schaefer)Discover the transformative power of ChatGPT technology in the legal industry as Ernie sits down with Enrico Schaefer, an attorney with over thirty years of experience in technology and IP law. Learn how Enrico leverages AI tools and third-party applications to revolutionize his practice, streamline communication, and optimize his workflow. Join Ernie as he explores Enrico's journey into the world of ChatGPT, discussing practical applications like analyzing PDFs, summarizing documents, and connecting with Gmail. Delve into the benefits of AI transcription and task management tools, such as Fireflies and Otter.ai, which can transcribe audio files and...2023-05-0943 minThe 80/20 Principle245: How to run a new law practice without any prior business skills (with Chris Earley)Chris Earley had no idea how to run any business when he graduated from law school in 2004. But he figured it out through a series of strategies and tactics, which you'll learn about in this episode. Show Notes Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, book by Adam Grant Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrari Erika Kullberg - Instagram Attorney (that ernie mentions) Chris cellphone # 617-956-2501 Earley Law Group website The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch Richard Koch on Mastering the 80/20...2023-02-2846 minThe 80/20 Principle238: Revenue & Expense Tracking Insights (with Melissa Shanahan)Tracking your firm's revenue and expense numbers gives you helpful insight into which areas of your practice are more profitable or which staff members or contractors are truly valuable. Melissa Shanahan, a top-notch business coach for solo and small firm attorneys, joins Ernie to discuss how best to track these metrics. Show Notes The Law Firm Owner Podcast (Melissa Shanahan's podcast) Velocity Work (Melissa's website) The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch (about using the power of 80/20 leverage in any kind of business) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a...2023-01-1050 minThe 80/20 Principle223: PDF e-Briefs for LawyersPDF e-briefs are more useful than paper briefs, and that's why many appellate courts prefer them. But how do you create them? And what are the main considerations to keep in mind when considering the use of e-briefs? Show Notes e-Brief Info from California Court (2nd Appellate Division) StrutLegal (top recommended e-brief service; Aaron Krigleski is in Ernie's Inner Circle group and routinely answers questions and provides helpful guidance about using PDFs) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our...2022-09-2721 minThe 80/20 Principle205: Modern Legal Ethics (with Dane Ciolino)Can you ethically practice New York law if you're licensed there but actually living in Louisiana? Listen and find out. Modern legal ethics is now driven by technology, so how can regulatory bodies keep up with the pace of change? Short answer: in many key areas, they can't and aren't. Show Notes Dane Ciolino's website (LA Legal Ethics) Casemap (software Dane & Ernie used and loved) Airtable (the popular cloud- based database program Dane uses instead of Casemap) Check out my 2-page outline: Digital Lawyering (how to work smarter by using technology effectively) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email new...2022-05-2450 minThe 80/20 Principle202: Fundamental Questions (for the modern lawyer)Lawyers keep asking the same fundamental questions about key aspects of running a small law firm. Newbies and experienced lawyers have a lot of the same questions and concerns, in this episode we talk about them. Show Notes Email me at ernie@lawfirmautopilot.com with your questions, if you want me to address them. Check out my 2-page outline: Digital Lawyering (how to work smarter by using technology effectively) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsor Smith.ai...2022-05-0319 minThe 80/20 PrincipleHow to Take a 1 Month Vacation (Interview with Andrew Legrand)Business attorney Andrew Legrand is planning to go rafting in the Grand Canyon for 21 days during September, and will be completely out of touch with his law firm for a full month. How can he be sure that everything will continue to run smoothly while he's gone? Listen and find out. (spoiler alert: he relies on well-documented systems) Show Notes Andrew Legrand's Law Firm Website Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Solo By Choice, by Carolyn Elefant How to Start and Build a Law Practice, by Jay Foonberg Ray Abadin's website (former president of the Florida Bar As...2022-04-0550 minThe 80/20 PrincipleAutomated SchedulingWorking out the best time to talk or zoom with someone is annoying, but not if you automate the process. Lawyers who do this are flabbergasted at how amazing it is. In this episode, you'll learn about the two best software options for automating your scheduling. And you'll have a clearer idea of why scheduling automation is so powerful. Show Notes Calendly (best scheduling system for most people) Acuity (if you want to collect money for appointments) Book a free call to chat with me in person General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my e...2022-01-1835 minThe 80/20 PrincipleEverything is Figureoutable (including how to create your dream practice)How do you create a rewarding law practice that earns you a good living, and is also enjoyable? And what's the role of technology in trying to do that? Well, the key is to start with the right frame of mind. If you see this goal as monumental then you'll probably be intimidated. But if you believe that you can figure it out then you'll find the challenge less monumental. Show Notes Everything is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo Working Smarter (The foundational program for using technology effectively and creating systems to run your practice) 2022-01-1116 minThe 80/20 PrincipleDon’t Do This (The Secret to More Effective Marketing)Most lawyers do things that decrease the likelihood of getting good clients. Some even spend money on ads that are counter-productive. Don't do that. Instead, do what I'll explain in this episode. It's easy to do the more effective thing once you understand what not to do )and why the more effective method is better). Show Notes Dean Jackson's Nine Word Email (this is but one example of his uncommonly effective approach to communicating well by email) Ernie's 4-month special Co-Pilot program (where he'll help you create systems to make your practice run smoother...2022-01-0424 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMy Well-Kept Secret (with Megan Hargroder)In this episode, Ernie is interviewed about a longstanding, well-kept secret that finally emerged to the public during a recent episode of NPR's This American Life. Megan probes Ernie in an interview designed to show you how being vulnerable (in some cases because of public revelations) can help people know you in ways that allow them to trust you more. Show Notes The Importance of Meeting Earnest (This American Life segment by Jeanne Darst) Jeanne Darst online videos General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice T...2021-12-2839 minThe 80/20 PrincipleYour Best Marketing Focus for 2022 (with Megan Hargroder)If you want to get better clients, consistently, and cost-effectively, you need to focus on this one thing above all else in the coming year. Megan Hargroder joins Ernie to delve into the thing that will make the best impact on your marketing efforts if you focus on it, and do so consistently. Show Notes The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller (book about the power of hyperfocus) Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, by Don Miller (about story-powered marketing) The Art of Rhetoric, b...2021-12-2131 minThe 80/20 PrincipleWhat to Focus on in 2022 to Transform Your PracticeTransforming your practice means focusing on what's most important and consistently improving in that area. Next year I recommend you focus on this one thing above all else. If you're realistic about what it takes to make big improvements you can make them. You also need to proceed strategically, using your critical thinking skills. Show Notes Systems Workshop details General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a g...2021-12-1427 minThe 80/20 PrincipleFunny Online CLE programs (with Joel Oster)Joel Oster is a comedian who practices law, and he puts on highly entertaining CLE programs that you can access online. Plus he just wrote a funny book. In this episode, Joel explains how he started using comedy to get speaking gigs. His thesis is that "the true role of the law can best be understood with a dose of humor." We discuss that and reveal the best place for getting charbroiled oysters in New Orleans. Show Notes Comedian of Law website (humorous online CLE programs) Debriefing the Law podcast UnDue Process: Exposing the...2021-12-0745 minThe 80/20 PrinciplePaperless Lawyering Questions from Attorney Joe O'KeefeSt. Louis estate planning attorney Joe O'Keefe had some questions about optimizing his practice to be more paperless. In listening to this discussion, you'll learn about why you might want to use a digital document management system, and which one is best for lawyers. And many other aspects of being paperless are discussed as well. Show Notes Okeefe Law website (Joe's biography page) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors Swe...2021-11-301h 07The 80/20 PrincipleMental Models.- Part 2In the last episode, we talked about how mental models are helpful for simplifying our complex world to make it more understandable. Now let's delve deeper. We'll discuss different types of mental models, focusing on ones that attorney/businessman Charlie Munger believes are the most important for achieving the highest level of success. Show Notes The Psychology of Human Misjudgment, (a YouTube recording of a 1995 speech given by Charlie Munger at Harvard University) The Revised Psychology of Human Misjudgment, by Charlie Munger Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (~100 Models Explained) The G...2021-11-2326 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMental Models (Charlie Munger)It's often hard to understand our complex tech-driven world. That's why we need "mental models" to simplify the complex and make it more understandable. Charlie Munger is a famously successful lawyer who popularized the idea of using mental models. In this episode, Ernie explores how lawyers can use this tool to "make their thinking visible" as they do their knowledge work. Show Notes The Psychology of Human Misjudgment, (a YouTube recording of a 1995 speech given by Charlie Munger at Harvard University) The Revised Psychology of Human Misjudgment, by Charlie Munger Mental Models: The Best...2021-11-1620 minThe 80/20 PrincipleBuilding a Better Biography (with Megan Hargroder)To attract better clients you need to give greater assurance that you're someone they'd feel comfortable working with. Or even better that they yearn to work with. The best tool for doing this is your biography, but not via the usual "obituary style" litany of accomplishments. Rather, you need to tell the story of who you really are, and why you really care about helping people. Of course, it's hard to tell your own story. In this episode, Megan Hargroder shares the insights about doing this effectively, which she's learned by working with hundreds of...2021-11-0938 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMake Work Visible (with automation)We need to be constantly mindful of what we're working on because it's easy for important work to slip through the cracks, figuratively speaking. The best way to do this is to make our work visible. Not literally, but figuratively. The thing to keep in mind is that our knowledge work is mostly mental and therefore not visible. And when information is intangible or invisible it's easy to forget about it or misplace it. That's why we need to use every means possible to keep it from slipping away—including using automation. Show Notes Ep...2021-11-0220 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMake it PersonalIf you're willing to go beyond the superficial and get more personal, you'll attract much better clients. It feels awkward at first, but it's vital. In this episode, I'll share some really personal things that I don't normally share. Not as a "marketing ploy," but to demonstrate that deeper connections come from going beyond the supposedly "safe zone" of superficiality. I'll share the true reason why I became a lawyer. It's not anything that anyone would ever guess. But once you know that true reason you'll know a lot more about me than even some...2021-10-2632 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMental Trauma & StrengthThe modern world places even greater strain on our mental well-being. How can we become more resilient, strong, and balanced? Sometimes it's not easy to understand. But we can gain useful perspective that helps us stay calm, and make better decisions under pressure. Or just in the everyday stress moments that routinely present themselves to us. Show Notes The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz (concise guide to putting everything important into helpful perspective) The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle (for learning to become more present and less distracted) Insight, by Tasha Eurich...2021-10-1924 minThe 80/20 PrincipleReading Jurors' Minds (with Elizabeth Larrick)Jury consultants assemble focus groups and then use psychology-based interview strategies to help lawyers get in the minds of jurors. Now they can do it virtually. Elizabeth Larrick is an attorney who also does focus group consulting, and in this episode she shares insights into how this is now done virtually, using Zoom. Show Notes Elizabeth Larrick's website Elizabeth Larrick's PDF Guide checklist for doing your own focus groups Judge Emily Miskel's Twitter General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online co...2021-10-1233 minThe 80/20 PrincipleReview of The Law+Tech Evolution (with Denise Howell)California attorney Denise Howell reflects on the many changes that technology has brought to the practice of law over the past two decades. Denise Howell was working in a large L.A. firm when started the fourth lawyer weblog. Five years later she went out on her own, and also was the host of probably the first legal podcast. In this episode, she and Ernie examine some of the tech-driven changes that have taken place in the practice of law and society in general. Show Notes Denise Howell's Twitter Denise Howell's Instagram Denise Howell's...2021-10-0550 minThe 80/20 PrincipleVirtual Executive Assistants (with Valerie Trapunsky)A virtual executive assistant can be a boon to your productivity. But how can you get a good EA and what is it like to work with one? One person who knows is Valerie Trapunsky, the founder of a virtual assistance company called ChatterBoss. Her company pairs virtual executive assistants with entrepreneurs, even some lawyers. ChatterBoss is not like most virtual assistance services, because they go beyond just VA match-making. They are also outsourcing coaches, which means they're fully invested in helping you succeed in working with virtual assistance. This conversation will give you some...2021-09-2841 minThe 80/20 PrincipleEffective Decision-Making for LawyersHow can we make better, more effective decisions? It's important to find out because the quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our decisions. Many of our decisions are impaired even before we start to make them because of cognitive blind spots. So what are some examples of these cognitive glitches, and how can we overcome them? That's what you'll discover in this episode. Show Notes Read Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (will help you develop your “figure it out” muscle) Read Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (and exam...2021-09-2137 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSelf SufficiencyThe less you need to rely on other people the greater your flexibility and resilience. The same goes for relying on resources. Keep your needs to a minimum to survive and thrive. In this episode, Ernie focuses on several key principles to help you be as self-sufficient as possible. Show Notes Episode 167 - Crisis Management OODA Loop, cited in Episode 167 John Boyd, cited in Episode 167 Uncluttered.com Tim Ferriss, Author of Four Hour Workweek Heat, movie with Robert DeNiro & Al Pacino Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke Deep Work by Cal Newport General...2021-09-1441 minThe 80/20 PrincipleThe New Law Business Model (with Ali Katz)A new law business model is vital now. Ali Katz’s book explains exactly how lawyers should revamp their practices to make them more enjoyable and more profitable. Ali's NLBM is most beneficial to lawyers with estate planning or business law practices that use flat-fee pricing, but the principles and tactics she teaches can help any lawyer in any kind of practice area. In this episode, you’ll learn about the 5 critical shifts solo and small firm lawyers need to make to revitalize their law businesses. We also discuss which practice types lend themselves most read...2021-09-0753 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCrisis Management for LawyersLearning how to manage a catastrophic crisis like the hurricane that just hit New Orleans (or fires, earthquakes, and pandemics) will help you in everyday life for reasons that are surprising. Even "smart people" wind up making bad decisions in a crisis. But a prepared person who isn't that "smart" can do surprisingly well. In this episode, we examine exactly why that's true. And Ernie's examination takes place in the aftermath of an actual crisis: i.e. Hurricane Ida, a category 4 storm that ravaged Louisiana on August 29th (the 16th anniversary of when Hurricane Katrina...2021-08-3132 minThe 80/20 PrincipleQ&A: Advice to a New LawyerWhen starting a new firm, what types of things are important to get right in the beginning to scale later? That's the question I was asked recently by a new lawyer. The answer is applicable or at least helpful to any lawyer thinking about how to improve their practice. Show Notes Advice to a New Lawyer - blog post that inspired this episode Vision & Traction - blog post about the importance of creating a solid vision for your law practice Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, book by Gino Wickman (a powerful, actionable...2021-08-2428 minThe 80/20 PrincipleFlat Fee Billing & Other Alternatives (with Kristin Tyler)Historically, the flat fee was the only "ethical fee" for lawyers. Now, it's more often the most sensible type of fee—both for clients and lawyers. The question is: what kind of flat fees are most successful and profitable for lawyers? In this episode, Kristin Tyler shares insights gleaned from her own practice and from helping other lawyers understand the ins and outs of flat fee billing (and eight other alternative billing methods). Show Notes How to Flat Fee Bill As a Lawyer, Kristin Tyler's blog article (discussed in depth during this episode) Outsourced Law...2021-08-1746 minThe 80/20 PrincipleVisualizing Workflows using Kanban Boards (with John Grant)Making your work visible is vital for knowledge workers (like lawyers), and the best way of doing that is by using a Kanban Board. Task managers just can't cut it. In this episode, Ernie talks with John Grant a consultant who helps fellow lawyers fix their legal workflows using Kanban Boards to help them manage tasks more effectively and collaborate better. Show Notes Agile Attorney (John Grant's website) The Voice of The Client (John's podcast where he interviews lawyer clients) Thinking Fast & Slow, Daniel Kahneman Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work...2021-08-0352 minThe 80/20 PrincipleYour Personal Brand (with Mike Kim)You are a brand. The only question is whether you want to understand it and improve so your reputation is enhanced? Or do you prefer to leave things to chance? If you prefer the former, then reading Mike Kim's new book "You Are The Brand," is your starting point. In this episode Mike shares some of the key lessons from his book, but in a way that relates to lawyers with solo or small firm practices. Show Notes You Are The Brand, by Mike Kim General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) T...2021-07-2745 minThe 80/20 PrincipleManaging ClientsClients are the lifeblood of your business, but they can also be frustrating and annoying. You must manage clients very well if you want a happy law practice. The simplest, most important business goal you can have is to optimize for happy clients. But you must understand what that actually means in practice. I learned a lot about what this means as a waiter at a prestigious New Orleans restaurant. The principles for effectively managing your law clients are the same as those for managing any kind of high-end customer. General Resources The 80/20 Principle (m...2021-07-2046 minThe 80/20 PrincipleKaizen for LawyersIf you want to make steady, powerful improvements to your law business, in a way that's super effective and surprisingly easy, you should leverage the principle of "Kaizen." It's a Japanese business philosophy of continuously improving operations in small incremental steps. But it's also a powerful tool for solo and small law firm owners in the modern tech-driven world Show Notes Atomic Habits, book by James Clear Loom video comparing SweetProcess to Process St. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, book Steven Covey Evernote - digital dumping ground TextExpander - text automation tool Notion...2021-07-1327 minThe 80/20 PrinciplePersuasive writing for lawyersUnfortunately, most lawyers don't know how to write persuasively, and their marketing copy is boring. And surprisingly, many marketing folks (who supposedly are experts in persuasive ad writing and marketing writing) also do a really poor job. So don't feel bad if you struggle to write persuasively. It's not something you were ever taught to do, certainly not in law school. In this episode, you'll discover the best strategies, tactics, and tools for creating more persuasive briefs and marketing copy that will help you attract better clients (and refer other great clients). Below...2021-06-2938 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSpotlight: Immigration Lawyer Bin Xia ZhangDiscover how he approached the creation of his solo practice, and which tools and resources he has found most useful in the process. Show Notes Episode Transcript (via Otter.ai) Team Desk (database software) ScanSnap iX1600 scanner Paperless Lawyering course (that Bin took to learn to become paperless) Zoho CRM TextExpander (amazing keyboard macro software) SweetProcess(process documentation software) Law Firm Systems Workshop The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community fo...2021-06-2252 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSecurity for Lawyers - Part 2You need to train yourself to understand how the most common attacks work. That's how you avoid them. So that’s what we’re going to talk about, with a special focus on phishing attacks & ransomware. Show Notes Episode 154: Security for Lawyers Beyond Fear (recommended book by Bruce Schneier) LastPass (free password manager) Password Management Policy (good overview of using passwords effectively) VPN Security - basic information about VPN use 60 Minutes Segment on Ransomware attacks General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online communit...2021-06-1538 minThe 80/20 PrincipleGetting Buy InIn this episode, Ernie speaks with an anonymous associate at a large firm about resistance she faces in her attempts to get her firm to adopt technology. Ernie shares some strategies and tactics for getting buy-in. Human nature is a bigger factor than cold logic and well-pled arguments. Show Notes The free preview to my Working Smarter course contains the discussion about using automated calendaring that we discussed. General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to...2021-06-0846 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSecurity for LawyersWe must learn to think sensibly about security in order to properly implement it and manage it. According to Bruce Schneier, a renowned security expert, there are 5 elements to consider when making security decisions. Show Notes Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World, by Bruce Schneier General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help mak...2021-06-0125 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCreativity for LawyersIn my Systems Workshop, we begin by delving into the role of creativity in creating systems for improving a law practice. There are some common myths about creativity that need to be debunked, and that's where we start in this episode. Show Notes Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide, by John Cleese The HBR Guide to Better Business Writing: Divide the Writing Process into Four Separate Tasks, by Brian Garner (where he explains his "madman, architect, carpenter, judge" model) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The I...2021-05-2524 minThe 80/20 PrincipleNaked EmperorsYou know your situation better than anyone else. Sometimes you should trust what your gut instincts tell you is best for you, and not what a supposed expert says. We'll talk about some things that experts say that need to be questioned, and we'll also talk about places where your intuition can be wrong. Interestingly, persuasion is one area where both supposed lawyer experts and your intuition are probably wrong —unless you closely study the books I'll recommend and discuss. Show Notes To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, by Dan Pink Exactly Wh...2021-05-1844 minThe 80/20 PrincipleStart a New Firm (with Joe Emmerth)Joe Emmerth is a family law practitioner in the Chicago area who left the firm he joined out of law school to start his own firm. After 15 years of practice, he knew a lot about being a lawyer, but suddenly he had to make sure he knew enough about running his own law business. In this episode, he explains how he planned his move, and what tools he finds most essential in his new firm. Show Notes Emmerth Divorce Law (Joe's firm website) Clio (practice management software) Gravity Legal (payment processor) Core Solutions (legal a...2021-05-1148 minThe 80/20 PrincipleEasy is HardWarren Buffet nails it when he observes: "The interesting thing about business is that it's not like the Olympics. You don't get any extra points for the fact that something's very hard to do. So you might as well just step over one-foot bars, instead of trying to jump over seven-foot bars." In other words, find the easy path and take it. Finding the easy path isn't so easy though. In this episode, we explore how to make it easier using concrete examples. Show Notes What if it were easy? Tim Ferriss' insightful question T...2021-05-0436 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCrazy TalkCreating radical improvement requires radical new ways of solving a problem, which requires radical new ways of thinking. And that radical thinking will inevitably feel like crazy talk at first. But it’s not, if you are willing to listen and open your mind and discover that some things that seem incompatible in what you want actually are not. Show Notes The Power of Simplicity (2015 YouTube presentation by Alan Kay) A World Without Email, by Cal Newport Trello (a popular Kanban tool that's free for up to 10 boards) Systems Workshop (link to apply for nex...2021-04-2731 minThe 80/20 PrincipleNo Goals? (with Melissa Shanahan)Melissa Shanahan coaches attorneys and insists that they define key benchmarks as a way of growing their practices. In this episode, she and I discuss whether Jason Fried's statement is crazy talk or whether maybe there is some wisdom behind it. Show Notes "I've Never Had a Goal" (article by Jason Fried) Rework: Change the Way You Work Forever, by Jason Fried Remote: Office Not Required, by Jason Fried It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work, by Jason Fried VelocityWork (Melissa Shanahan's website) Tom Shadyac (director of Bruce Almighty film who gave away most of...2021-04-201h 02The 80/20 PrincipleInvisible Threats - Optimal ActionScaling your business in a sustainable way is possible, but the way to do it is counter-intuitive for many reasons. In this episode, I'll complete my 3-part discussion of this issue and recommend a sane, sustainable, and effective solution. Show Notes Future Shock, by Alvin Toffler book Remote: Office Not Required, by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson Rework, by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work, by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson Basecamp (Jason Fried's web-based remote-work service) Hey email service (it's a $14-day free trial, then $99/year for the paid version...2021-04-0631 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCobwebs to CablesI've been participating in Melissa Shanahan's 30-day sprint. I've gained so many valuable insights and practical takeaways that have helped me start working at a much higher level. The way Melissa gets results is by helping you achieve more—but without that achievement coming at the expense of your enjoyment of life. But there is a mindset shift that has to happen and that's what we'll talk about in this episode Show Notes Deep Work, by Cal Newport A World Without Email, by Cal Newport Episode #127: with Melissa Shanahan Velocity Work website (learn more ab...2021-03-3038 minThe 80/20 PrincipleTurtle Steps - Velocity WorkWhile email overload might seem like one big reason for our being mired in busywork, the root cause is something deeper. In this episode, I’ll lay out the real problem and start to share some thoughts about the best solution. And we’ll be talking about the solution for the next few episodes because the best solution is also counter-intuitive. Show Notes Otter.ai transcript of podcast Deep Work, by Cal Newport A World Without Email, by Cal Newport Episode #127: with Melissa Shanahan Velocity Work website (learn more about her 30-day accountability sprints) VelocityWork podca...2021-03-2340 minThe 80/20 PrincipleContrarian InsightsKeith Lee is a good friend (and fellow contrarian) from back in 2010 when he started a law blog called Associates Mind. In this episode, we'll reminisce about big shifts that technology has created in the legal profession over the past decade. And we'll focus on a new tool that now makes it easy for lawyers to provide quick case status updates to clients via a smartphone app. Show Notes Associates Mind (The blog that Keith started in 2010) LawyerSmack (the Slack-based lawyer community Keith runs) CaseStatus (the app-powered case-status service that Keith works with and...2021-03-1654 minThe 80/20 PrincipleLegal Writing Powered by A.I.Lawyers who write briefs know that their first drafts are usually filled with errors and inconsistencies. Having a set of fresh eyes look over the draft helps tremendously, and now you can use artificial intelligence to help you edit faster and do a better job with less stress. In this episode, premier legal writing instructor Ross Guberman explains how he created his A.I.-driven "legal-writing coach," which he named BriefCatch. BTW, I'd love to get your feedback or answer any questions you have (which I will respond to in upcoming episodes). Show Note...2021-03-0948 minThe 80/20 PrincipleEssential SoftwareThese are the essential software options that many lawyers aren't using but should be using, or should be using more than they are (if they're using any of these options). BTW, I'd love to get your feedback or answer any questions you have (which can get to in an upcoming episode). Show Notes Here's a list of essential software that was discussed: Automated Scheduling (e.g. Acuity, Calendly, ScheduleOnce) PDF Manipulation software (e.g. Acrobat, Kofax PowerPDF, PDF Pen,PDF Expert) Dictation & Transcription software Dictation: (Dragon Naturally Speaking, which is now only supported for...2021-03-0248 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMorning PagesMorning pages is a simple, easy tool that can help you overcome a lot of what’s keeping you confused or stuck about many important things in your life and in your law practice. This simple daily exercise has made helped me make massive progress in areas where I was perpetually stuck. And apparently, this process has worked for thousands of people. Of course, just because it's easy and simple doesn't mean that you won't create excuses to not do it. In this episode I'll share my insights so that you can (hopefully) get past th...2021-02-2345 minThe 80/20 PrincipleInformation SherpasIn the Information Age (which we are now living in) there's a lot of information to keep track of. Most of it is useless, but some of it is powerful. The trick is to separate the signal from the noise, and having "information sherpas" will help you do that. Information sherpas are people who pay close attention to particular areas of interest. In this episode I'll share some of the best sherpas to help you learn the principles and best practices for becoming more productive. am Show Notes The Tim Ferriss Show (his podcast) 5 Bullet Friday...2021-02-1629 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMegatrends for LawyersLawyers who fully understand what's known as "megatrends" will thrive. And those who ignore the megatrends or (worse) resist them, will probably struggle to survive. The megatrends we'll discuss are ones that are inherent in the shift from an industrial society to one based on the flow of information —specifically, digital information. Show Notes Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives, by John Naisbitt Creating Online Courses (a video session by Joey Vitale, which was part of the 2020 Virtual Bootcamp conference) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Prac...2021-02-0925 minThe 80/20 PrincipleReflections on Systematizing Your Law Firm (with Kerry Wallis)Kerry Wallis practices family law in Los Angeles California, and aspires to spend more time traveling the world. She's been working on building systems by documenting workflows, and she's been traveling Europe with her family during the pandemic. How is she able to do this? Listen to this episode and find out. Show Notes Gray Law Corp (Kerry's law firm website) Slack (tool Kerry uses extensively) Otter.ai (free transcription tool) Otter transcript of this episode Evernote (online note storage) Google Docs (online doc storage) SweetProcess (online process documentation service) Link to Ernie's 28-day...2021-02-0246 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSubscription Outsourcing of Legal Work (with Kristin Tyler)If you’re need to hire an associate but don't have enough work for a full-time person check out a legal outsourcing service called Lawclerk. In this episode Kristin Tyler (one of the founders) explains how their service works, and talks about their new subscription program. Show Notes LawClerk.legal home page Details on Associate Subscription Program (features & pricing) 50-State Review of Rules re: Outsourcing for Lawyers YouTube video discussion of program (featuring the two founders of LawClerk legal) Example of work product of attorney freelancer (a memo I outsourced the creation of for a...2021-01-2640 minThe 80/20 PrinciplePersuasion & PolarizationYou can learn to be more persuasive, but if you want to learn the most important elements then you should read the short book discussed in this episode. You'll also learn why polarization is persuasive even though it's usually immoral and improper. Episode Notes The One Sentence Persuasion Course - 27 Words to Make the World Do Your Bidding, by Blair Warren General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a g...2021-01-1943 minThe 80/20 PrincipleBe a Better Lawyer (wtih Dina Cataldo)Learn how to recover 5 more hours of your time per week. Dina Cataldo is a criminal defense lawyer turned coach who helps lawyers master time-management, grow their businesses, and have more fun. In this episode, she and Ernie talk about getting leverage in your law business and gaining margin in your life. Episode Notes Dina's business website Dina's Be a Better Lawyer Podcast Dina's downloadable PDF guide: the Busy Lawyer's Guide to Getting 5 Hours Back Dina's Instagram page General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice T...2021-01-1244 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSWOT AnalysisLeveraging strengths and conquering weaknesses is vital to your success. When you harness strengths you can make big improvements in your practice that make your life a lot easier. The key to doing this is with a well-known 4-step analysis called S.W.O.T. which many business managers find to be indispensable. In this episode, we'll delve into what the SWOT analysis looks like for a solo or small firm lawyer. Episode Notes Click here to download a 1-page S.W.O.T. worksheet (PDF) Click here to fill out my online S.W...2021-01-0521 minThe 80/20 PrincipleUpdate: Paperless LawyeringThe less paper you handle the more freedom you have in your practice. David Sparks is a California business attorney who teaches others how to use technology to shed paper and be more productive and less stressed out. While he focuses on Mac-based technology in terms of the tools he uses, his systems are platform-independent. In this episode, he talks about how he created his paperless practice and the challenges he faced. He also explains how modern lawyers should go about making their practices as devoid of dependence on paper as possible. Episode Notes...2020-12-2958 minThe 80/20 PrincipleA Tool for Documenting SystemsYou want your practice to run better, with less involvement on your part. But there are several challenges to making this happen. One is finding the best tool to document, refine, and optimize all your workflows. The more workflows you document the less involved you can be. The better those workflows are described (and optimized over time) the smoother your practice will run. In this episode, we will delve more into this important topic with Owen McGab Enaohwo, the creator of SweetProcess, one of the best tools for documenting systems and workflows. Here are links...2020-12-2245 minThe 80/20 PrincipleTrust Your IntuitionYour intuition is a vast repository of life experiences, insights, and deep knowledge. There are times you should trust your intuition, and times when not doing so will put you in peril. In this episode, you'll discover when and how to tap into the immense power of your subconscious knowledge to get more good clients more easily. General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners) Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your imp...2020-12-1532 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCranking The Gears of Your BusinessDocumenting your workflows is boring but essential if you want to crank the gears of your law business, and evolve into something that doesn’t depend on you doing all the work and making all the decisions. Why is it so hard to document workflows? Well, it has to do with the nature of the work we do, which is mostly information processing that’s intangible and ephemeral. But if you learn to visualize the work in the way I describe in this episode you’ll find it a lot easier to map your workflows, and then steadi...2020-12-0838 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSubscription pricing with Dan LearHere are links resources mentioned during the episode : Financially Legal Podcast (Dan Lear’s podcast) Dan's White Paper on Subscription legal services How do you “show up” for your clients? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Kim Bennett) Can you sell legal services by subscription? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Jon Tobin) Can you do that with your law practice? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Megan Zavieh) Could you be an outsourced general counsel? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Beth Lebowitz) General Resources The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (an...2020-12-0150 minThe 80/20 PrincipleAccountability with Melissa ShanahanMelissa Shanahan is a business coach who helps solo and small firm lawyers make massive changes to their practices —by harnessing the power of accountability. She does this through her 30-day “sprints” and exclusive Mastery Groups. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss things like super-thinking, meta-skills, and the vital importance of the “Monday Map” and the “Friday Wrap.” We talked about the War of Art, “the resistance,” and why process saves you from the poverty of intention. Resources discussed Velocity Work website (learn more about her 30-day accountability sprints) VelocityWork podcast The Practice, by Seth Godin (his...2020-11-241h 06The 80/20 PrincipleOnline reviews with Andy StickelGetting clients to write reviews is vital to your marketing success, but most lawyers struggle to gather reviews. Andy Stickel has helped hundreds of lawyers develop solid marketing strategies, especially showing them how to effectively and most easily gather reviews that are posted online. His new book is a trove of valuable strategies and tactics for attorneys who want to get more great reviews. In this episode, Andy explains how to get client reviews that help Google rank you higher by using 5 basic questions. And he explains why getting a few bad reviews can actually...2020-11-1748 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCase Study - Attorney Pete ClancyAfter doing commercial litigation in an Oakland law firm, Pete Clancy and his wife started their own personal injury law firm. Pete is a member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association where he strives to help fellow lawyers learn to improve their practices in various ways, including the strategic use of technology. In this episode, Pete and Ernie discuss the challenges of running a small firm and the opportunities for using technology to improve the operations and marketing of small firms. Episode Notes Clancy & Diaz law firm Sanebox Zapier Process St. X.ai...2020-11-1046 minThe 80/20 PrincipleLow-Cost OutsourcingIn his law practice, Joey helps entrepreneurs protect their brands by securing trademarks. And he’s also a brand strategist and entrepreneur. In this episode, he and Ernie talk about how he is able to find and hire virtual assistants for as little as $6 per hour. He also shares his special hack for learning things he needs to know by outsourcing the learning process. Yes, it sounds unusual but it will make sense once you hear him explain it. Episode Notes IndieLaw (Joey’s law firm website) Owning It (Joey’s podcast) Joey’s process...2020-11-031h 00The 80/20 PrincipleE-Discovery OpportunitiesAndy Wilson is the CEO of Logikcull, an e-discovery company that (in his words) aims to “democratize the process of discovery.” With over 1,300 law firm clients, Logikcull has been responsible for helping process many terabytes of valuable data. And as a result, they have their finger on the pulse of digital discovery in a way that few lawyers could hope to have. In this episode Andy explains why lawyers handling digital data should treat that data as a modern crime scene, and what proper handling of the data looks like. He and Ernie also discuss why...2020-10-2748 minThe 80/20 PrincipleThe Tax TerminatorLarry Weinstein understands the special needs of lawyers and helps them create clever tax plans to save more money. As he points out “the less you pay in unnecessary taxes, the more money you can invest in your life and business.” In this episode, Larry shares six tax-reducing strategies that small business owners (i.e. lawyers) should be aware of and take advantage of. And then he and Ernie discuss some of their best marketing strategies and tactics for small firm owners. The CPA for Lawyers website The Successful Lawyer podcast (Larry’s best advice for free i...2020-10-2057 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMind Over LawLexlee Overton became a trial lawyer just like her dad, but then found herself anxiety-ridden and suffering from what she terms “trial psychosis.” She learned to overcome her stress and turned to helping other lawyers. Now she helps lawyers learn how to use scientifically proven techniques to train their minds to release stress, anxiety, and fear; become power-performers; and love what they do all at the same time. In this episode, Lexlee tells us how (as a young lawyer) she met the world-famous Gerry Spence. And she shares the unusual advice the veteran trial lawyer gave her for...2020-10-1351 minThe 80/20 PrinciplePeople Over TechnologyVisionary attorney Matt Homann shares insights garnered from practicing law as a solo lawyer, and as a consultant who now helps businesses innovate in practical ways. Among the topics discussed are the joys and practical benefits of systematically firing clients, the “ideal average client,” and Matt’s unique “client worthiness index.” Below are some resources mentioned in this episode: Filament (Matt’s company) The Monday Morning Meeting - Matt’s weekly email tips for helping you prepare for the coming week. Matt’s Twitter stream - filled with pithy actionable business advice. Practically In Person - Matt’s vir...2020-10-0659 minThe 80/20 PrincipleHow to Get Free Advertising OnlineBelow are the resources Ernie discussed in this episode. How to use free online “billboards” to market your practice, blog post by Ernie (summarizes the points covered in the podcast) Loom video demo- (Ernie demonstrates how he tweaks his LinkedIn “headline” bio on his iPhone) Linktr.ee service-Allows you to bundle several link sources and link to a page that hosts those links. Also allows you to track how many clicks each link gets. Here are the character limits for some popular online platforms: LinkedIn Headline (120), Instagram (150), Twitter (160), Facebook (101) Character Counter- A free web tool for calculating the number o...2020-09-2233 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSystems Building with Attorney Jeff LewisLearning to systematize your practice isn’t that hard, and so it helps to hear how other lawyers are tackling this important aspect of running their businesses. Jeff Lewis is quite thoughtful and incisive because he just spent time focusing on developing systems in Ernie’s new course on systems building. Jeff Lewis is co-host of the California Appellate Law Podcast. The Power of A System, John Fisher’s book TextExpander;, amazing keyboard macro tool Wisetime;, time tracking app Jeff mentioned that syncs with Clio; Tiago Forte, online productivity coach The P.A.R.A. organizational method taught by Tia...2020-08-2538 minThe 80/20 Principle113: Evernote for Lawyers (with David Ward)Evernote is for lawyers as much as it is for anyone else. And no lawyer knows more about using it well than David Ward (the author of Evernote for Lawyers). David shares his insights about how to get more organized with Evernote. But he's also is a thoughtful student of marketing, which many lawyers find daunting. He explains that successful marketing is merely an extension of who you are and not so much something you have to spend a lot of time doing. Show Notes The Attorney Marketing Center, David Ward’s website Evernote Fo...2020-08-1856 minThe 80/20 PrincipleRuminations on Good MarketingShow Notes Ernie ruminates about marketing with Ramesh Reddy, a young lawyer that he mentored in his early career. Afterwards, Ramesh focused on learning the fundamentals of marketing his law practice. Both Ernie and Ramesh have found success with the same principles, which they discuss in an informal, engaging way. Ramesh’s law firm website Mike Kim (an exceptional marketer/copywriter) Ray Edwards (another exceptional marketer/copywriter) Breakthrough Advertising - by Eugene Schwartz Brené Brown’s very popular TED talk on vulnerability Richard’s LinkedIn page Check out my Guide to Working Smarter (not harder) and learn how to buil...2020-06-1653 minThe 80/20 PrincipleOvercoming barriers to getting what you wantGetting what you most want in life is important, but many people get derailed, discouraged, or defeated in their attempt. Michael Lewis faced adversity, and so did Ernie. Even Ernie’s dad, the psychoanalyst that helped people get what they most wanted had struggles. Understanding other people’s struggles helps you realize that you’re normal if you struggle. After listening to this episode you’ll understand the common struggles better, and you’ll know how to overcome them so you can get what you truly want out of life and your law practice. Michael Lewis’ podcast epis...2020-05-2636 minThe 80/20 PrincipleLet's work on your practice together, now!The Coronavirus pandemic is obviously a disaster, but it’s also an opportunity if you know how to capitalize on it. I faced a similar situation when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005 and I seized an important opportunity (not without a lot of trepidation, mind you). General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to My Sponsor ...2020-04-1434 minThe 80/20 PrincipleMarketing in a Time of Pandemics with Conrad SaamConrad Saam is one of very few legal marketing experts that Ernie trusts. In this episode, Conrad explains what lawyers should and shouldn’t do in this current pandemic crisis. He talks about which practice areas are seeing a boost in activity, and why. Conrad’s company website: Mockingbird Marketing Ernie’s LawFirm Autopilot Slack Group Signup for the (now) 100% Virtual Small Firm Bootcamp Get Ernie’s free Tech Resource Guide for solo and small firm lawyers, which includes recommendations about working remotely. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource...2020-04-0734 minThe 80/20 PrincipleHow Lawyers Can Future Proof Their PracticesShow Notes Mike Whelan was a family law practitioner who realized that many old ways of practicing law don’t work anymore, which makes lawyers more stressed today than they’ve ever been. He identifies the problem as something called “the churn” in his excellent book: Lawyer Forward. In this episode Ernie asks him about how lawyers can overcome the churn to create profitable and enjoyable practices. Mike Whelan’s Twitter feed. Ernie’s LawFirm Autopilot Slack Group Ernie’s free *Tech Resource Guide* for solo and small firm lawyers, which includes recommendations about working remote...2020-03-3150 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCoping with Disaster By Having a Mobile Practice - Tips from Elise BuieFamily law practitioner Elise Buie has built a paperless practice that is super streamlined and optimized for remote work. She and Ernie share thoughts about how Hurricane Katrina helped motivate lawyers to adopt technology that improved their practices. Listen in and find out why she says that learning to practice virtually not only helps your firm run smoother but also dramatically improves your quality of life. For example, she observed that "it's so much easier to file a difficult brief from a beach in New Zealand than from your office." She knows this from direct...2020-03-2456 minThe 80/20 PrincipleDisaster Response - Pandemic EditionHere are helpful lessons I learned during the massive social disruption of Hurricane Katrina that are relevant and helpful to you during the Covid-19 situation. The current pandemic is forcing many of us to work from home in isolation. We need to become adept at working remotely and collaborating virtually. Here are 3 vital things that will help you do that better. Twitter; - sign up for an account and use it to follow high-value information sources like Tim Ferriss’ Twitter list of Covid-19 sources. Follow me on Twitter if you want to get my quick takes an...2020-03-1827 minThe 80/20 PrincipleHow a California business lawyer leverages tech with David SparksDavid Sparks is a solo business lawyer in Orange County, California. He’s been a frequent speaker at bar association conferences around the country, including the ABA TECHSHOW, where he helps lawyers learn to better harness the power of technology to make their practices run more smoothly, with less effort. David is a well-known speaker, author, and podcaster (i.e. Mac Power Users, Automators;, and Focussed; podcasts). He loves jazz and is looking forward to participating in the Small Firm Bootcamp where he will be a featured speaker. Omnifocus; - Project & Task management software used and re...2020-03-1731 minThe 80/20 PrincipleFinancial Reporting in Your Law Firm with Amanda AguillardHow would your best accountant friend recommend you streamline your law firm's management of bookkeeping, accounting, and general finances? Listen & find out... Show Notes Amanda Aguillard has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2001. She holds a Masters Degree in Taxation from the University of Denver, and loves helping small law firms (and other small businesses) improve their financial data handling and accounting (especially by harnessing useful technologies). Aguillard Accounting - Amanda’s main business website Amanda’s Training Service for accountants and bookkeepers Xero; - online accounting service recommended by Amanda Quickbooks online - onli...2020-03-1035 minThe 80/20 PrincipleEffective Marketing with Mark HomerErnie interviews Mark Homer about effective marketing for small law firms, and how he helps his lawyer clients get better noticed and found, online and offline. Show Notes Mark Homer’s GNGF website (GNGF stands for “get noticed, get found”) Online Law Practice Strategies: How to Turn Clicks Into Clients, by Mark Homer (the book we discussed in the episode) GNGF.tv; - Live interviews, updates, and Q&A on everything law firm marketing or the business side of running a law firm. Airs every other Wednesday at 11:30am Eastern time. Join l...2020-03-0351 minThe 80/20 PrinciplePersonal Branding with Mike KimWhat is a "personal brand?" You are a personal brand, so you should understand what it means and how to strengthen your brand in powerful and tasteful ways. Show Notes Mike Kim’s website Brand You podcast (Mike shares weekly insights about personal branding here) General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to...2020-02-2545 minThe 80/20 PrincipleReferrals by Email, Pt 2 with Erica PeroGetting clients by sending a monthly email is effective and much easier than attending networking lunches. That's what business attorney Erica Pero discovered. Show Notes Erica Pero’s website Erica Pero’s sample January Email Newsletter (compiled in Mailchimp) LFA Podcast #81 with John Rafferty Private Facebook group for Email Referral Marketing General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short...2020-02-1830 minThe 80/20 PrincipleTop Tech Recommendations for a Better PracticeTo create a better practice you should leverage technology. Here are my top tech recommendations for simplifying, automating and outsourcing your way to freedom. Show Notes Here’s my a link to download my top tech recommendations, and here’s my best overall advice: After having worked for over a decade with hundreds of lawyers in all kinds of practices, I’ve zeroed in on three essential elements for making any kind of law practice run a LOT smoother. 1. Simplicity The simpler your practice is, the better. But how do you create simplicity? ...2020-02-1128 minThe 80/20 PrincipleCharming ScoundrelsThere are tech companies that take advantage of lawyers by first cleverly gaining their trust. I'll explain how they do this and reveal one of the scoundrels. Show Notes Blog post: Problems with Findlaw? ReadWise; - app for reviewing Kindle highlights and other articles Link to register for free webinar series General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. 2020-02-0431 minThe 80/20 PrincipleTradeoff CalculationsThe key to avoiding “seemingly good options” that are not actually useful is understanding the tradeoffs in every decision involving technology choice you face. Show Notes Link to register for free webinar series General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses. Thanks to My Sponsor Smith.ai; is a superior receptionist service for law firms that also...2020-01-2829 minThe 80/20 PrincipleTrouble Creating Systems - Answering a lawyer’s questionFiguring out how to effectively create systems can be tricky. Ernie addresses a solo lawyer’s question why she might be having trouble creating systems. Podcast Episode Show notes: Atomic Habits, by James Clear The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron Brian Koppleman’s podcast (the episode where he talks about doing the 3 daily pages practice that he learned from reading The Artist’s Way) General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your pra...2020-01-2132 minThe 80/20 PrincipleReferral Marketing by Email (with John Rafferty)Referral marketing is powerful. And done by email it’s also ridiculously easy as business attorney John Rafferty discovered. Learn how he cracked the code. Episode Show notes: John Rafferty’s biography; John’s simple template for sending a monthly referral marketing email that gets astonishing results. MailerLite; - free email for 2,000 or fewer recipients (this is the service that John uses). ConvertKit; - the email service that Ernie uses and recommends (pricing starts at $29/month for 1,000 recipients) Dean Jackson’s Email Mastery course. Dean Jackson’s More Cheese, Less Whiskers podcast Vets Get Jobs - John...2020-01-1449 minThe 80/20 PrincipleSmith.ai receptionist's services are top-notch and low-costIn this episode I talk with Maddy Martin of Smith.ai about why their services are especially beneficial to solo and small firm lawyers. For many attorneys affordability is the primary motivation for signing up. (i.e. plans start at $70/month). But the more you research Smith.ai the more reasons you’ll discover for giving it a try. For example, they can make outbound calls for you— everything from routine appointment reminders to bill payment calls when your invoices have gone unpaid. Click here to sign up for Smith.ai (and use the code ‘ERNIE100’ to get $...2020-01-0735 minThe 80/20 PrincipleThe Twelve Automation EssentialsThere are 3 levels of automation. You need to progress through these levels to fully harness the power of the 12 most essential tools that will transform your practice. Episode Show notes: There are 12 Automation Essentials (see my YouTube video if you want a visual refresher), and here are links to the topics discussed in the episode Styles; in Word Processing - Training by LawTech Partners (Adriana Linares) [Templates in Word Processing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_(word_processing)); - Typography for Lawyers, by Matthew Butterick Email Filtering - Sanebox; software Email Templates - Spark...2019-12-2435 minThe 80/20 PrincipleImprove your law practice in 2020Here are the resources mentioned in this episode: Recording of Webinar with Ernie: Uplevel Your Practice in 2020 My New Course: The Trusted Lawyer - A Simple "Referral Marketing by Email" System E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber The 80/20 Rule, (podcast episode & show notes) The 3 R’s of Referral Marketing, (blog post) Mike Kim’s 2-part email template (for getting referrals via regular emails) Mike Kim’s BrandYou podcast episode 202 (where he explains how to use the emails to start an email newsletter) Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence & Impact, by Phil M Jones TextExpander; (simple, powerful automation for te...2019-11-1938 minThe 80/20 PrincipleThe Power of PDFs with Aaron KrigelskiAaron Krigelski is the co-founder of StrutLegal;, a company that helps lawyers created hyperlinked ebriefs. Increasingly, judges want lawyers to create such briefs. But doing so is beyond the technical skill of most lawyers. In this episode, Ernie and Aaron discuss advanced PDF skills generally. But they also highlight the reasons why judges and their clerks are so enamored of hyperlinked briefs. General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take...2019-10-1529 minThe 80/20 PrincipleAccounting Essentials for Your Law Firm with Amanda AguillardAmanda is the founder of Aguillard Accounting, a small business accounting firm based in New Orleans with clients across the country. Her focus is solo and small law firms and real estate brokerages. She is also the co-founder of Elefant, a training company for accountants and bookkeepers. Amanda’s #1 passion is helping small business owners build the practices of their dreams using technology. Resources discussed in this episode Xero; - cloud-based accounting software for small businesses (which Ernie and Amanda both use and recommend) MinuteDoc; - Xero-based time and billing integration Amanda’s Clio Conf...2019-10-0832 minThe 80/20 PrincipleWhat’s your vision for success?In this episode, Knoxville attorney Patrick Slaughter returns to discuss the importance of crafting (or discovering) your law firm’s vision. Patrick and Ernie explain why they think that these two books are helpful in crafting a meaningful vision of success (in life, and in your law practice): The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business, by Gino Wickman General Resources Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/ Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice. Take this sh...2019-09-2441 minThe 80/20 PrincipleText Automation Insights with Brett BurneyAutomating the commonly used text phrases and paragraphs is a powerful way to streamline your law practice. But what's the best way to do this? Let's find out. Brett Burney is a consultant who can help in several ways, including E-discovery and Mac-based workflows. But he’s most passionate about teaching lawyers how to use an amazing text automation tool called TextExpander. In this session, Brett and Ernie discuss the many benefits of using TextExpander, mostly the power of efficiency and accuracy in creating text snippets or multi-page documents. Show Notes Brett’s we...2019-07-3048 min