Home Podcasts The 80/20 Principle
The 80/20 Principle

The 80/20 Principle

Ernie Svenson 328 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Tech and AI recommendations for solo and small-firm lawyers, focusing on the 20% that actually matters. Hosted by Ernie Svenson, a former big-firm litigator turned solo and coach. Episodes are short and practical, covering tool reviews, AI explainers, and stories from coaching lawyers. Beyond the podcast, Ernie runs a private community called the Inner Circle for solo and small-firm lawyers.

Episodes

334: Other lawyers' tech mistakes can be a powerful shortcut (using the 80/20 principle)
334: Other lawyers' tech mistakes can be a powerful shortcut (using the 80/20 principle) Oct 13, 2026 22:24 If the 80/20 principle never worked for you, you weren't doing it wrong. You were missing a part never gets discussed. In this episode I cover that part. It has to do with perfectionism, and with whose trial and error you rely on. Then I show how it works in a free automated scheduling tool many lawyers still resist. Why they resist and how to overcome mental blocks with the 80/20 principle are ex
333: Why AI feels more like email than the web
333: Why AI feels more like email than the web Sep 29, 2026 46:03 In this episode, Ernie Svenson talks with Greg Siskind, who has practiced immigration law for 35 years and wrote a book about marketing on the internet back in 1996, when that was a peculiar thing for a lawyer to do. Greg says AI reminds him of email more than any other technology wave he's lived through — the web, the cloud, and social media each changed a slice of legal work, while email changed
332: The role your firm needs but can't name
332: The role your firm needs but can't name Sep 15, 2026 37:16 A few weeks ago, one of Sarah Persich's clients dropped an AI agent into their Slack workspace. Sarah gave it the criteria her client's intake team is supposed to follow on calls — build rapport, handle objections, gather the right information — and asked it to listen to the recorded calls and grade every person against those criteria. It came back ten minutes later with work that would have taken
331: When AI Starts to Look Like Judgment (with Carolyn Elefant)
331: When AI Starts to Look Like Judgment (with Carolyn Elefant) Sep 1, 2026 38:09 Carolyn Elefant has been practicing law for thirty-five years and writing about solo practice for almost as long. In this episode she and Ernie get into how AI is changing litigation — not in theory, but in the cases she's handling right now. Carolyn walks through experiments she's run and posted publicly, including having AI draft the judge's opinion from both briefs before she wrote her reply, a
330: Why Claude Gets Dumber—and How Lawyers Can Use AI Better
330: Why Claude Gets Dumber—and How Lawyers Can Use AI Better Aug 18, 2026 42:16 In this episode, Ernie Svenson talks with Docket Drafter co-founder Tommy Eberle about what lawyers need to understand to use AI tools like Claude more effectively. They unpack why Word documents consume so many tokens, why AI performance can decline during long chats, how context windows and compaction affect results, and when to use different Claude models and thinking levels. Tommy also explain
329: Introduction to Claude and Its Potential
329: Introduction to Claude and Its Potential Jul 21, 2026 38:51 Most lawyers using Claude are only scratching the surface of what it can do. In this episode, Ernie Svenson talks with former litigator and software founder Nick Chapleau about using Claude as more than a chatbot—as a chief of staff that can help run a modern law firm. They explore email triage, workflow automation, firm knowledge bases, custom dashboards, security, and what it takes to build a
328: The Golf Lesson That Changed How I Teach AI
328: The Golf Lesson That Changed How I Teach AI Jun 23, 2026 10:25 Most AI training for lawyers is shiny-object stuff — nine prompts, the "ultimate playbook" — and that's exactly why none of it sticks. My old golf instructor figured this out decades ago, and he taught me the fix before AI even existed. In this episode I tell that story and show you the one approach that actually works when you're learning to use AI in your practice. It's slower than chasing the
327: How a Seasoned Litigator Became an AI Power User
327: How a Seasoned Litigator Became an AI Power User May 26, 2026 38:02 Ernie Svenson sits down with complex litigation attorney Richard Serpe to explore how he went from struggling with AI basics to becoming an advanced user in just 18 months. Richard shares how he uses tools like Claude, Perplexity Computer, NotebookLM, and AI skills to manage complex cases, organize research, prepare witnesses, and build better legal workflows. They also discuss the r
326: Perplexity for Lawyers: AI Research With Sources
326: Perplexity for Lawyers: AI Research With Sources May 12, 2026 08:03 In this episode, we cover Perplexity—what it is, how it works, and why it deserves attention from solo and small firm lawyers. Ernie explains how Perplexity differs from traditional Google research by using AI to search the live web, synthesize answers, and provide footnoted citations so lawyers can quickly verify the sources behind the response. You'll also hear practical examples of how lawy
325: Copilot Doubt To Power
325: Copilot Doubt To Power Apr 14, 2026 28:07 In this episode, we talk with tax litigator Brandon Siegal about why Microsoft Copilot has gone from a disappointing experiment to a genuinely useful AI tool for legal work. We unpack what changed with Microsoft's latest updates, including direct Word editing, deeper research capabilities, and new ways to connect AI with the documents and systems lawyers already use every day. You'll also h
324: Why I switched from ChatGPT to Claude
324: Why I switched from ChatGPT to Claude Mar 24, 2026 12:37 In this episode, we explore why a long-time ChatGPT user made the switch to Claude and what ultimately drove that decision. We break down how features like direct file access, structured project workflows, and custom skills are transforming the way lawyers handle complex, document-heavy work. You'll hear how AI can dramatically speed up tasks like course creation, improve writing quality, and act
323: Revolutionize Your Law Practice with AI and Flat Fees
323: Revolutionize Your Law Practice with AI and Flat Fees Feb 25, 2026 16:43 In this episode, we explore how lawyers can adapt to rapid AI advancements by shifting from billable hours to outcome-based, flat-fee services. We'll discuss creating a better client journey, using AI to improve research efficiency, and offering privileged, flat-fee AI-driven legal searches as a way to stay relevant and attract clients. Chapters 00:00 Breaking Free from the Billable Hour 05:04

Recommended