The 80/20 Principle

Lawyer Sheila Wilkinson shares her journey from building a multi-million dollar law firm to practicing law from coffee shops in Europe. She emphasizes the importance of clarity, confidence, and mental processes in overcoming hurdles. The episode also discusses risk aversion in decision-making, embracing individuality, and the challenges and advantages of living and working remotely in Europe.

In this episode, Brandon Siegal, a seasoned Canadian tax specialist who is comfortable using technology but finds delegation more challenging, discusses software tools he uses, frustrations with Clio, benefits of the Microsoft ecosystem, inbox management strategies, setting up a second brain system, voice to text dictation with Audio Pen, Text Blaze for document organization, and technology recommendations for lawyers.

Learn about the power of digital note-taking for lawyers and the rise of Obsidian as a free and efficient note-taking app. Explore the concept of Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and the advantages of using Obsidian, including seamless integration with markdown language and useful plugins. Discover the limitations and friction points of Obsidian, and explore resources like Obsidian University for learning and support. Also, learn about the benefits of creating multiple vaults in Obsidian and how lawyers can benefit from quick and frictionless note-taking.

In this episode, Ben Schorr, senior-level product manager for content at Microsoft, discusses various topics such as exploring Microsoft 365's mobile app, leveraging Office.com, utilizing the Quick Access Toolbar, email management and learning resources, and Windows Speech Recognition and Dictation Options.

Ben Schorr, senior-level product manager for content at Microsoft, provides insights on getting the most out of Microsoft 365 tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Topics include navigating documents in Word, building fluency and habits, Excel tips and tricks, PowerPoint's speaker coach, and using flags and drag-and-drop in Outlook.

Join seasoned digital nomad Megan Hargroder as she shares the challenges and freedoms of her unique lifestyle. Topics include navigating time zones, managing remote work, cyber security, and evolving a contractual role into a full-time position. Discover the benefits of a WeWork All-Access membership and learn about staying connected with virtual SIM card app Airalo. Explore the importance of automation and outsourcing, as well as the significance of a systematic onboarding process.

Let's journey into the fascinating world of law and technology with our extraordinary guest, Ben Alarie. He's not just a law professor, but also an entrepreneur and author who has put his expertise in an excitingly accessible format through his AI product, Ask Blue J. This ingenious tool simplifies tax law navigation, transforming complex databases into question-answering platforms. We also shed light on the concept of the 'legal singularity', a term coined by Ben himself in his new book, signifying the potential of AI to develop a more responsive and precise legal infrastructure. Our conversation takes an interesting turn as we dig into the predictive power of machine learning in judicial decisions. Imagine an AI tool that could anticipate a judge's ruling in ambiguous scenarios, sounds like a sci-fi movie, right? Well, not anymore. Ask Blue J, Ben's brainchild, is changing the game, boasting over 90% accuracy in certain areas. We also address a unique AI issue, the ‘hallucination problem’ - illustrating how AI can sometimes veer off course when it lacks sufficient information. Wrapping up our discussion, we touch upon the 80/20 principle, a guiding tenet that could be your key to success. It emphasizes getting the maximum return on investment with minimal effort. This enlightening conversation with Ben Alarie will not just keep you informed about the cutting-edge advancements in AI and machine learning in the legal field, but also inspire you to implement strategic principles for success in your professional journey. So, plug in those headphones and embark on this thought-provoking exploration of the legal industry's future. In this episode, you will hear: The concept of the 'legal singularity' and the potential of AI in creating a responsive and precise legal infrastructure. Machine learning's predictive power in judicial decisions and the accuracy of Ask Blue J in certain areas. The ‘hallucination problem’ in AI, where it can go off course due to lack of sufficient information. Use of AI in diagnosing and rectifying social problems and achieving universal legal literacy. Implications of AI and technology for the future of the legal profession, legal education, and democracy. Show Notes Read: The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch Get my new email course: ChatGPT for Lawyers (it's free) BlueJ website: https://www.bluej.com  The Legal Singularity: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Law Radically Better, book by Ben Alarie Preet Bharara's podcast: Humanity, Security & AI, Oh My! with Ian Bremmer & Shuman Ghosemajumder) 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, by Yuval Noah Harari 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) Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai, you’re hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at $210/month for 30 calls, and pricing starts at $140 for 20 chats, with overage at $7 per chat. They offer a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee on all receptionist and live chat plans, including add-ons (up to $1000). And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee now (and learn more) at smith.ai. Overture Law Overture Law is the first private attorney network enabling them to refer matters to one another and ethically share in referral fees.  Membership is free if you're accepted. Apply for membership at Overture.law Once you're accepted, you'll start getting valuable referrals and earn fees for matters you refer out. A powerful win-win for U.S.-based solo and small firm attorneys. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In this episode, we revisit a persistent favorite topic - Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). We understand there are many recurring issues that may concern you, but which ones are the most pressing? We are on a mission to resolve these sticking points. A common challenge for attorneys is determining the technology that could bring the most significant improvement to their practice. Given the unique needs of each attorney, the question is: How do you identify the ideal technology for your practice? Keep reading as we reveal a practical solution to this conundrum. In our Tech Assessment section, we'll evaluate how effectively you are employing crucial technologies in your practice, including the ever-important SOPs and GPT tools. In this episode, you will hear: Importance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for civil litigators and how to create effective ones. Tips on overcoming challenges and resistance points when documenting SOPs. Introduction of a new tech assessment tool for enhancing attorney practices. Use of innovative technology like Generative Pre-training Transformer (GPT) in the legal space. How SOPs can help in streamlining repetitive workflows and transforming legal practices. Show Notes Join: '80/20 Inner Circle' (valuable business insights for small firm owners) Read: The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch Get my new email course: ChatGPT for Lawyers (it's free) 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) Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai, you’re hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at $210/month for 30 calls, and pricing starts at $140 for 20 chats, with overage at $7 per chat. They offer a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee on all receptionist and live chat plans, including add-ons (up to $1000). And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee now (and learn more) at smith.ai. Overture Law Overture Law is the first private attorney network enabling them to refer matters to one another and ethically share in referral fees.  Membership is free if you're accepted. Apply for membership at Overture.law Once you're accepted, you'll start getting valuable referrals and earn fees for matters you refer out. A powerful win-win for U.S.-based solo and small firm attorneys. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Legal tech consultant Adriana Linares discusses the transformative power of technology in the legal practice. Topics include transitioning to cloud-based services, leveraging tools like TextExpander and ChatGPT for enhanced productivity and writing skills, effective communication through Toastmasters, password managers for flexibility and security, and the wonders of ChatGPT technology for creating natural and professional speeches and generating language for attorney forms.

Imagine a world where getting quality referrals is not just possible, but easy and ethical too. That's the pioneering world Arya Firoozmand, co-founder of Overture Law, is building. In this enlightening conversation, Arya takes me through his journey into law practice and how he and his partners invented Overture Law, an innovative platform that fills a service gap by linking attorneys and clients in the insurance-bad-faith sector. But Overture Law is more than just a linking platform. It's a community that empowers attorneys through a system that rigorously vets to ensure only the highest quality referrals. Arya shares the intricate process of joining and posting referrals, and how the platform, designed with attorneys in mind, makes this process swift, smooth, and efficient. We also explore the importance of proper vetting in maintaining the high standards of the community. Referral fees and attorneys can be a tricky landscape to navigate, but not with Overture Law. Arya elaborates on how they have developed a system that automatically handles billing, thus eliminating the trust account issues that usually arise when referring matters. We discuss how the platform integrates seamlessly with Clio for time tracking and invoice generation. With clear expectations around referral fees, attorneys can now focus on the most important task at hand - finding the right attorney for their client. So, tune in and discover how Overture Law is revolutionizing the legal industry. In this episode, you will hear: Expanding referrals you get from sources outside your home state Getting compensated for making referrals (even in non-contingency fee matters) The importance of a community platform that not only connects attorneys but also vets them to ensure high-quality referrals. The ethics of getting compensated for making referrals. Show Notes Overture: https://overture.law/ BizCounsel: https://bizcounsel.com Email address for Arya Firoozmand: af@overture.law 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) Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai, you’re hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at $210/month for 30 calls, and pricing starts at $140 for 20 chats, with overage at $7 per chat. They offer a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee on all receptionist and live chat plans, including add-ons (up to $1000). And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee now (and learn more) at smith.ai. Overture Law Overture Law is the first private attorney network enabling them to refer matters to one another and ethically share in referral fees.  Membership is free if you're accepted. Apply for membership at Overture.law Once you're accepted, you'll start getting valuable referrals and earn fees for matters you refer out. A powerful win-win for U.S.-based solo and small firm attorneys. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.