

The 80/20 Principle
Ernie Svenson
This podcast is for lawyers who want more freedom, flexibility, and control over their practice. Ernie focuses on the 20% of tools and strategies—especially AI—that deliver 80% of the results.
No buzzwords. No hype. Just clear, practical insights on using AI, automation, outsourcing, marketing, cybersecurity, and smart systems to reduce friction, streamline workflows, and run your practice your way—from anywhere.
No buzzwords. No hype. Just clear, practical insights on using AI, automation, outsourcing, marketing, cybersecurity, and smart systems to reduce friction, streamline workflows, and run your practice your way—from anywhere.
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Dec 16, 2025 • 11min
320: AI in Legal Decision-Making: The Dawn of a New Era
Discover how AI is revolutionizing legal decision-making, with the American Arbitration Association leading the charge. The podcast explores the balance between AI drafting decisions and the essential human oversight that remains. Transparency and party validation are highlighted as key elements in ensuring fairness. Learn about significant benefits, including faster resolutions and cost savings, which ultimately enhance access to justice for underserved populations. This technology could represent a profound shift in legal processes.

Dec 9, 2025 • 35min
319: Gavel Exec: AI Copilot for Legal Drafting
Dorna Moyni, a former attorney and founder of Gavel, shares her journey transitioning from litigation to legal tech. She discusses the creation of Gavel Workflows and Gavel Exec, an AI copilot for Microsoft Word, designed to automate document generation and streamline legal drafting. Dorna highlights how AI can help lawyers tackle high-level tasks, debunks misconceptions about job loss, and introduces concepts like 'vibe lawyering' for creative legal thinking. She emphasizes the role of AI in improving efficiency and the future of law practice.

Nov 26, 2025 • 7min
318: AI is a consensus machine (and here's why that's good for some lawyers)
Explore the transformative impact of AI on the legal profession. Discover how surface-level tasks are at risk of automation, while innovative lawyers who prioritize strategic thinking and deeper insights will thrive. Learn about a judge's unique criteria for practical decision-making and why understanding complex legal scenarios is essential. Embrace AI as a tool for enhancing judgment rather than as a replacement. The future is bright for lawyers who adapt and evolve in this rapidly changing landscape.

10 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 36min
317: AI, ClioCon, and the Future of Law: What Lawyers Need to Know Now
Join Jeff Lewis, a California-based appellate and defamation defense attorney and expert in AI's impact on law, as he discusses key takeaways from the recent Clio conference. He shares Richard Susskind's unsettling keynote on AI's potential disruption in the legal profession, describing it as a 'gut punch.' They explore Clio's innovative AI tools, the implications of the VLex acquisition, and how AI might reshape legal careers. Jeff emphasizes the need for lawyers to adapt by using AI daily and developing strategic skills to thrive in a competitive landscape.

41 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 49min
316: Inside the Smartphone-Powered Law Firm (with Elise Buie)
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!

13 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 53min
315: Email is the Most Under-leveraged Marketing Channel for Lawyers (with Tyler Cook)
Tyler Cook, an email marketing expert, shares his insights on why email is the top ROI marketing channel for lawyers. He emphasizes that email consistently outperforms social media and reveals the three essential automations every lawyer must implement. Tyler discusses how to craft emails that captivate readers and the role of AI in streamlining content creation. He provides pro tips on enhancing deliverability and maintaining a healthy email list, proving that even a small list can yield significant results.

8 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 5min
314: Why law firm SOP manuals are now obsolete (because of AI)
Law firms are reevaluating their reliance on traditional SOP manuals, which are costly and quickly outdated. Instead, the focus is shifting to AI-powered prompt libraries that streamline tasks and enhance efficiency. Real-world examples demonstrate how these prompts can save lawyers significant time each week. This insightful discussion reveals the future of legal documentation and how adapting to AI can improve workflow.

12 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 29min
313: The New Rules of SEO for Lawyers in the Age of AI (with Megan Hargroder)
Megan Hargroder, founder of Legends Legal Marketing, specializes in connecting lawyers with clients through compelling websites. She discusses how AI is reshaping the legal SEO landscape, stressing that professionalism isn’t enough anymore. Instead, storytelling and trust-building are key to gaining visibility. Megan also reveals strategies for ethically ranking online, optimizing content for direct answers, and leveraging platforms like Reddit to engage prospective clients—transforming outdated marketing approaches into trust-driven success.

11 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 15min
312: The Release of GPT-5 and How to Escape the Vortex of Bad Information
The podcast dives into the chaos that follows major news events, like the launch of GPT-5. It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and evaluating sources to combat misinformation. Personal stories highlight the struggle with distractions and information overload, especially for solo lawyers. Tips for filtering out noise include choosing credible sources and adopting intentional learning habits, enabling listeners to focus on what’s genuinely useful amidst the chaos.

20 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 20min
311: Protecting Client Data in the Age of AI
Explore the pressing issue of client data security as AI tools like ChatGPT increasingly infiltrate law practice. Discover the biggest vulnerabilities lawyers face and learn best practices for safeguarding sensitive info. Insights from a consensus of 30 legal professionals reveal the importance of privacy settings and securing client consent. Find out which paid AI tools are trustworthy and take a peek behind the curtain at the ChatGPT Lab, your ultimate resource for safe AI usage in the legal field.


