Solo Law Club

AI isn't going away. How do we use it effectively as lawyers? More importantly, how do we make sure we are not using it unethically or incorrectly? I give some thoughts on this in episode 35 here. Thanks for listening!

Intake is the most important contact your clients make with your firm. I'll talk about why that's true, I'll give you a 15 minute consultation structure, and talk about some tools that could help.

A quarterly review is one of the most important thing any business owner can do. Let's build on the last episode where I talked about facts not feelings, but I'll give you a template to review Q1 of 2026 so you can create some concrete, measurable goals for Q2.

It's too easy for us to use our gut to make business decisions. That case felt productive, I must have made money, and I'll keep doing future cases with the same process and fee. Here's the reality though - our gut lies to us all the time! That's why we need to use facts, not feelings, to make our decisions and set goals. Here, I spend a few minutes giving you a few facts you can s...

Buy Back Your Time book: https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Back-Your-Time-Unstuck/dp/B09YMNQ5HF/ -- How many cases should you actually work on? I'm not asking how many you can survive with or how many you can juggle barely keeping your head above water. Instead, how many is ideal for you? In this episode, Tony walks through how to intentionally design your caseload instead of drifting into it and oft...

This week, we talk about setting up WIP limits via a Kanban board to prevent overextension of lawyer time, which then backlogs cases and creates a scenario where it's really hard to get out of. For example, I keep an "ideal" non-settled case count in my Kanban system. Last month, I had taken in a lot more than usual new cases. I paused my consultations for 2 weeks to work on closing...

We are almost at the end of the year. Let's reflect, analyze how things went this year, and then get some clarity on what you'll focus on next year.

In this episode of  The Focused Solo series, Tony breaks down how to build your quarterly Rocks, otherwise known the three to five priorities that will actually move your solo law firm forward over the next 90 days. If you’ve ever set vague goals like “grow the firm” or “make more money,” this is the episode that shows you how to turn those ideas into measurable, actionable plans. Tony explains th...

Before we get into setting quarterly rocks next week, let's reflect on what we did a few weeks ago. If you haven't done the Clarity Break session I worked with you on, check out episode 026 for the first episode in The Focused Solo series I am doing through the end of the year.

The Focused Solo is a 3 month series I am doing to help you set priorities for Q4 and do some annual planning for 2026. I aim to do some small bite sized exercises with you during these episodes to get us both straightened out for the last quarter of the year. Links mentioned: Velocity Work / Melissa Shannahan: https://www.velocitywork.com Dan Martell's Buy Back Your Time: https://www.buybacky...

One year in, I look back at the core themes of Solo Law Club: planning that sticks, pricing with data, KPIs that tell the truth, lean overhead, smart automations, humane communication, deep focus, and a niche practice that fits your life. We revisited Buy Back Your Time, Four Thousand Weeks, The Anxious Generation, and Slow Productivity. I tied these ideas to real tools like Back Office Betties, C...

In this episode I unpack Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity through the lens of a solo law practice. I talk about choosing fewer and better cases, planning work in natural seasons, protecting deep work blocks, and aiming for craftsmanship that reduces chaos later. The goal is not to do less for its own sake. It is to produce work that matters without burning out. Further reading: Cal Newport’s three...

In this episode I explore the “second mountain” idea, which is the purposeful life after you’ve built a successful solo practice. I talk about defining “enough,” shifting from growth to impact, adding meaning metrics to the dashboard, serving beyond the billable, protecting craft time, and building rhythms that make the business serve your life rather than the other way around. Related reading: ht...

In this episode, Tony explores what it feels like to hit your version of success as a solo lawyer and why that can be unexpectedly disorienting. Inspired by a Tim Ferriss quote, this conversation covers how the chase often gives us purpose, and why learning to rest in the wins is just as important as reaching them. Related Links: Tim Ferriss: “When Success Makes You Anxious” – Clip on Instagram “T...

In this episode of Solo Law Club, Tony reflects on  The Anxious Generation  by Jonathan Haidt and how its message about kids growing up in a hyper-connected world also applies to adults — especially solo lawyers. He shares how switching to phone notifications turned off has helped him reclaim focus, reduce stress, and be more present both at work and at home. Get the book: The Anxious Generation b...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , Tony shares the exact automations that save him hours each week in his solo law practice. From after-hours voicemail screening to automated client updates and streamlined email workflows, Tony breaks down the tools and integrations he uses to lighten his workload and stay focused on high-value legal work. You’ll learn how he uses tools like  Vida.io ,  Zapier , ...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , Tony shares how OpenPhone has transformed communication in his solo law practice. From separating business and personal calls to delegating texts and voicemails to a remote assistant, OpenPhone helps streamline client communication while protecting your time and sanity. Tony explains how he uses OpenPhone alongside other tools like LegalBoards and Zapier to auto...

In this final episode of the Buy Back Your Time series, Tony shares how he holds recurring check-ins with his assistant, uses automation tools like LegalBoards and OpenPhone, and still makes time for personalized client experiences. He discusses how he defines freedom in his law practice and how he's building a sustainable path toward it. Tony also reflects on the challenges of growing a rural...

In this episode of the Solo Law Club podcast, Tony shares how he redesigned his calendar, stacked court dates, blocked off client meeting days, and started building his “perfect week” based on  Buy Back Your Time  by Dan Martell. He discusses overcoming micromanagement, reducing procrastination, and using data and delegation systems to reclaim time and focus on high-value work. Related Articles: T...

In this episode of the Solo Law Club podcast, Tony continues his series on  Buy Back Your Time  by Dan Martell, diving into buyback rates, decision-making systems like the 1-3-1 rule, the Camcorder Method for training, and delegating beyond basic admin. He shares how these tools helped him step out of the weeds and empower his remote assistant to take ownership of more work. Related Articles: How...

In this episode of the Solo Law Club podcast, Tony discusses integrating concepts from Dan Martell's  Buy Back Your Time  into solo law practice. He covers conducting a time and energy audit, recognizing the need for delegation, and implementing tools like Missive and OpenPhone to streamline client communications. Tony also shares his experience hiring a remote assistant to enhance productivit...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , I break down  whether paying for Google Ads is worth it for solo lawyers  and how to get the most out of your ad spend. Google Ads can be a  powerful marketing tool , but they’re also  one of the most expensive  advertising platforms for legal services. The key is knowing  when and how to use them effectively  to maximize your return on investment. I share insig...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , I break down how solo lawyers can  maximize profitability by keeping overhead low while still investing in the right areas to grow their firm. Running lean doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means being  strategic  about where you spend and where you save. I share my own experience of  starting my firm by renting office space from a realty company , allowing me to...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , I dive into one of the most effective ways to grow and optimize a solo law practice:  tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) . Early in my solo journey, I wasn’t paying much attention to specific numbers, but once I started consistently tracking my KPIs, I was able to  increase revenue while reducing inefficiencies . I break down the essential KPIs every sol...

In this episode of  Solo Law Club , we explore the wisdom of David Ogilvy, often called the “Father of Advertising,” and how his insights can be applied to running a successful solo law practice. Ogilvy’s legendary career at Ogilvy & Mather, his groundbreaking advertising campaigns, and his timeless book, Confessions of an Advertising Man , provide invaluable lessons for solo lawyers on client...