Solo Law Club

In this December installment of The Focused Solo, Tony guides listeners through an intentional end-of-year reset designed to close out the current year with clarity and prepare for a purposeful start to the next. Instead of coasting or cramming through the final weeks of the year, this episode invites you to pause, look back at what worked, examine what didn’t, reconnect with your long-term vision, and translate that vision into themes and Rocks for Q1 of the new year. With quiet reflection blocks built into the episode, listeners can think on paper and build an Annual Reset that actually supports the life and law practice they want to create.By the end, you’ll have reflected on your year, reviewed your Rocks, clarified your 2026 direction, chosen themes for the new year, and identified the habits or commitments you’ll leave behind. This is your chance to step out of the churn and design the next version of your solo practice with intention.Planning Rocks (EOS): https://www.eosworldwide.com/blog/how-to-set-rocksVelocity Work Annual Planning Insights: https://www.velocitywork.comTim Ferriss’ Fear-Setting Framework: https://tim.blog/2017/05/15/fear-setting/

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 start tracking in your practice.

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 often drifting into way more work than you can handle. You’ll learn how to reverse engineer your revenue goals, calculate sustainable capacity, and determine the number of active matters you can handle without sacrificing quality or your sanity.If you’ve ever felt like your practice “just grew” into something heavier than you intended, this episode will help you recalibrate.

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 out the close-to-done cases. When I first started doing this, I would worry that I'm losing revenue but in reality, the reason I had to do the WIP limit pause was because I exceeded revenue goals last month...and I needed it for mental sanity. It's hard for a solo to do this because our natural human inclination is accept anything that comes our way, but that's never worked in a positive way for me.

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 the difference between outcome goals and process-based Rocks, walks through real examples of both, and shares how to break each Rock into smaller, doable Pebbles that fit into your weekly schedule. You’ll learn how to identify what really matters, block time for focused progress, and stay accountable week to week so you finish the quarter with results you can see, not just intentions on paper.Related:How to Set Quarterly Rocks that Actually Get Done (EOS Worldwide)The Velocity Work Guide to Building 90-Day GoalsThe Difference Between Goals, Rocks, and Tasks

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.comDan Martell's Buy Back Your Time: https://www.buybackyourtime.com

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, Calendly, MyCase, LegalBoards, Zapier, OpenPhone, and Missive. Year two will bring more practical teardowns, live planning sessions, and human-first systems for solos.Further reading:https://www.velocitywork.com/monday-maphttps://www.clio.com/blog/law-firm-metrics-kpis/https://calnewport.com/my-new-book-slow-productivity/

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 principles. https://calnewport.com/my-new-book-slow-productivity/Cal Newport’s summary essay in Behavioral Scientist: https://behavioralscientist.org/a-new-philosophy-of-productivity/

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:https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/14/the-second-mountain-quest-for-moral-life-david-brooks-reviewhttps://hbr.org/2023/01/why-success-doesnt-lead-to-satisfactionhttps://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/law-firms-can-attract-and-retain-talent-by-providing-purpose-for-young-attorneys

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“The Grayhound Who Caught the Rabbit” – A Take on Post-Success Restlessness (Medium)Why High Performers Struggle With Happiness – Harvard Business Review

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 by Jonathan Haidt (Official Site)

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, Calendly, OpenPhone, LegalBoards, and Missive to automate intake, communication, and case management—without losing the personal touch that builds trust with clients.Resources Mentioned:OpenPhoneCalendlyLegalBoardsZapierMissiveVida.io

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 automate case updates and create a seamless experience for clients. He also compares OpenPhone to alternatives like Google Voice, RingCentral, and GoHighLevel—and explains why OpenPhone stands out as the best option for most solo lawyers.Whether you're still giving out your personal number or looking to clean up your intake and communication systems, this episode breaks down exactly how OpenPhone can help.OpenPhone – Business phone system built for remote teams and solosLegalBoards – Kanban-style task management for law firmsZapier – Automation platform that integrates your favorite tools

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 practice and why Dan Martell’s book continues to shape his business philosophy.Related Articles:Million Dollar Meeting Breakdown (by Dan Martell)Building Repeatable Systems for a Solo PracticeHow Personal Touches Boost Client Trust in Small Law Firms

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:Time Blocking: The Ultimate Guide to Reclaim Your ScheduleWhy Your Business Needs a ScoreboardHow to Create SOPs for Delegation and Team Growth

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 to Calculate Your Buyback Rate (Dan Martell’s Method Explained)The 1-3-1 Rule: Empower Your Team to Make Better DecisionsHow to Use Loom or Zoom for Effective Team Training

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 productivity and focus on high-value tasks.Related Articles:Missive App Review: This Email App Will SHOCK You (2025)OpenPhone Review (2025): Is It Right for Your Business?Buy Back Your Time

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 insights on when paid advertising makes sense, the high costs of legal keywords, and how Google’s Local Services Ads (LSAs) have been a cheaper and more effective alternative for my firm. I also cover keyword targeting strategies, landing page optimization, and how to track ad performance so you’re not wasting money on ineffective campaigns.If you’re considering running Google Ads or LSAs for your firm, this episode will help you make an informed decision and ensure you’re getting the best possible results.

In this episode of Solo Law Club, I break down how solo lawyers can maximize profitability by keeping overhead lowwhile 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 keep costs low while maintaining a professional environment. As my practice grew, I purchased my own building and now rent out the upstairs as a residential apartment, further offsetting costs.I also cover where to cut expenses, including limiting office space, leveraging remote receptionist services like Back Office Betties, using case management software like MyCase, and cutting unnecessary subscriptions. On the flip side, I discuss where to invest, such as SEO, digital marketing, and ongoing education, to help solo lawyers grow their firms efficiently.If you’re looking for practical, real-world strategies to build a highly profitable solo practice without unnecessary financial stress, this episode is for you!

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 solo lawyer should track, including monthly revenue vs. goal, new client intake, conversion rates, average case value, lead sources, case timelines, and client satisfaction. I also discuss the tools I use—MyCase Insights and Google Drive spreadsheets—as well as other tracking methods like ClickUp, Monday.com, and even traditional paper tracking for those who prefer a visual system.By the end of this episode, you’ll have a roadmap to implement your own KPI tracking system, helping you make smarter decisions, grow your practice, and improve your profitability.

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 relationships, integrity, and strategy. From the importance of listening to clients to being selective with the cases you take, this episode dives into some of Ogilvy’s most memorable quotes and connects them to the everyday challenges of solo practice. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned solo lawyer, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow your practice with intention and integrity. Resources Mentioned: Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy – Available on Amazon David Ogilvy’s Legacy at Ogilvy & Mather Insights on Client Management for Lawyers

Rural communities can be hard to network in as a solo lawyer. Let's talk about a few ways I've worked to improve my networking as a small town lawyer.

In this episode of Solo Law Club, we delve into the transformative power of goal setting and strategic planning for solo law practitioners. Tony shares his personal journey of doubling his firm's income while reducing caseloads, emphasizing the importance of annual, quarterly, and weekly planning. Inspired by Melissa Shanahan’s Velocity Work Mastery Group, he introduces the Monday Map Friday Wrap process, discusses setting ambitious yet achievable targets, and highlights the significance of consistency throughout the year. Tune in to discover actionable strategies to elevate your solo law practice and achieve your goals. Helpful Resources: Velocity Work Mastery Group – https://www.velocitywork.com/mastery-groupA private membership community for law firm owners seeking accountability and structured planning to achieve their goals. Monday Map & Friday Wrap Process – https://www.velocitywork.com/monday-mapA proven system designed to help law firm owners overcome procrastination, enhance productivity, and achieve greater success. SMART Goals Guide – https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goalsLearn how to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to keep your practice focused and on track. How to Create a Revenue Goal for Your Law Firm – https://www.clio.com/blog/law-firm-revenue-goals/Step-by-step guidance on setting revenue goals and building a roadmap to achieve them. Join the Conversation: Have thoughts on this episode or tips for goal setting that have worked for you? Share them in the comments section for this episode here. Let’s learn from each other!

In this episode of Solo Law Club, we dive into the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome that many solo lawyers face. Whether it’s the pressure to appear like an expert, comparing yourself to others, or doubting your abilities, imposter syndrome can hold you back from reaching your full potential. We cover: Why imposter syndrome hits solo lawyers particularly hard. Practical strategies to overcome those nagging self-doubts, like tracking your wins, setting realistic expectations, and practicing self-compassion. How building a supportive community and focusing on lifelong learning can boost your confidence and reinforce your sense of capability. Here are some other links I've found useful on the topic too: The ABA Journal: How Lawyers Can Overcome Imposter Syndrome – A great guide from the American Bar Association offering insights into why lawyers experience imposter syndrome and how to address it. Harvard Business Review: What to Do About Impostor Syndrome – A general but practical approach to recognizing and tackling imposter syndrome in any profession. Clio Blog: Managing Mental Health as a Solo Lawyer – Tips and strategies for balancing the mental health challenges of solo practice, including overcoming self-doubt.

We talked about rates a few episodes ago. Let's talk more about whether you should go flat fee or hourly.

Here's how I started using LegalBoards.com for Kanban organization and some automations to staff and clients.

Let's cover how to determine competitive yet profitable pricing for your services. I discuss factors like your practice area, local market, experience level, and overhead costs. I have some advice on flat fees versus hourly billing, and whether to offer payment plans as well.

When is the right time to hire? The decision to bring in support, whether through an assistant, paralegal, or contract attorneys can be a tough one. I will discuss the pros and cons of scaling, hiring decisions, and how to manage a team as a solo firm owner. I talk specifically about how I've used a remote receptionist service to offload the task of answering phone calls and scheduling leads/consults directly to my calendar. That has been the biggest game changer in my practice.

Your tech stack is really important to just work. Make sure you don't mess things up if you rely on something like a phone service - learn from my recent mistake, which I describe here.

What do you need to do to begin to think about starting a solo law firm? Listen to learn more. Check out FormationsCorp.com for the bookkeeping/financial service I mentioned.

Welcome! I look forward to your participation in future episodes.