What if you could run a thriving 40-person law firm entirely from your smartphone? In this episode, attorney Elise Buie—known as "The Smartphone Lawyer"—shares how she scaled her Seattle-based family law practice through radical delegation, smart systems, and the strategic use of virtual assistants. From hiring and managing overseas talent to automating key workflows, Elise reveals how she built a firm that operates seamlessly, even when she's halfway around the world.
She also breaks down the mindset shifts lawyers need to overcome perfectionism, embrace technology, and trust others to get things done. Whether you're a solo practitioner or managing a growing team, you'll learn how to delegate more effectively, streamline your operations, and create a practice that supports your life—not the other way around.
Topics Covered
- Overview of Elise's Practice
- Using Virtual Assistants for 24/7 Support
- The Power of Delegation
- Overcoming Perfectionism and Letting Go
- Delegating Personal Life Tasks
- How to Start Delegating and Write SOPs
- Focusing on High-Value Work
- Running a Law Firm from a Smartphone
- Slack as a Central Command Hub
- Why Elise's Firm Pays for Slack
- Key Apps: Clio, Dropbox, and Payroll Tools
- Using Loom for Communication
- AI Note-Taking and Granola Recommendation
- Hiring and Onboarding Virtual Assistants
- Filipino Virtual Assistants and Firm Culture
- Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns
- How Elise's Firm Uses AI
- Final Advice: Delegate Everything You Can
Resource Links
- Elise's firm website
- Elise's LinkedIn page
- Elise's email address: elisebuie@gmail.com
- Granola AI notetaking tool
- ChatGPT Lab (a weekly AI workshop for lawyers)
- Apply to join the ChatGPT Lab
- The 80/20 Principle (my techlaw newsletter)
- The Inner Circle (my online community for lawyers)
Follow and Review:
I'd love for you to follow me if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. I'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 the sponsor: 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.
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.
