316: Inside the Smartphone-Powered Law Firm (with Elise Buie)

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Oct 15, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Elise Buie, the "Smartphone Lawyer" and a dynamic family law attorney, unveils how she operates a 40-person firm purely from her smartphone. She dives into the power of radical delegation and virtual assistants, highlighting how they support her practice around the clock. Elise shares insights on overcoming perfectionism, the importance of focusing on high-value work, and the role of key tech tools like Slack and AI in streamlining operations. Her advice? Delegate everything you can to reclaim your time!

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ADVICE

Delegate Tasks You Shouldn't Do

Delegate work that doesn't require your law degree or that you dislike doing.
Ask delegates to create SOPs so tasks are repeatable and improvable.

INSIGHT

Perfectionism Is A Time Tax

Perfectionism blocks delegation because lawyers often believe "nobody can do it as well as me."
Elise reframes this: 50–80% competence from others still buys back huge amounts of time.

ANECDOTE

Family VA Sparked Firm Delegation

Elise first learned delegation through hiring help for her large family via Pursuit Concierge.
That personal experience seeded firm-wide delegation and inspired offering delegation services to staff.

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What if you could run a thriving 40-person law firm entirely from your smartphone? In this episode, attorney Elise Buie—known as "The Smartphone Lawyer"—shares how she scaled her Seattle-based family law practice through radical delegation, smart systems, and the strategic use of virtual assistants. From hiring and managing overseas talent to automating key workflows, Elise reveals how she built a firm that operates seamlessly, even when she's halfway around the world.

She also breaks down the mindset shifts lawyers need to overcome perfectionism, embrace technology, and trust others to get things done. Whether you're a solo practitioner or managing a growing team, you'll learn how to delegate more effectively, streamline your operations, and create a practice that supports your life—not the other way around.

Topics Covered

Overview of Elise's Practice
Using Virtual Assistants for 24/7 Support
The Power of Delegation
Overcoming Perfectionism and Letting Go
Delegating Personal Life Tasks
How to Start Delegating and Write SOPs
Focusing on High-Value Work
Running a Law Firm from a Smartphone
Slack as a Central Command Hub
Why Elise's Firm Pays for Slack
Key Apps: Clio, Dropbox, and Payroll Tools
Using Loom for Communication
AI Note-Taking and Granola Recommendation
Hiring and Onboarding Virtual Assistants
Filipino Virtual Assistants and Firm Culture
Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns
How Elise's Firm Uses AI
Final Advice: Delegate Everything You Can

Resource Links

Elise's firm website
Elise's LinkedIn page
Elise's email address: elisebuie@gmail.com
Granola AI notetaking tool
ChatGPT Lab (a weekly AI workshop for lawyers)
Apply to join the ChatGPT Lab
The 80/20 Principle (my techlaw newsletter)
The Inner Circle (my online community for lawyers)

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