In his new column, “The 80/20 Principle,” Ernie Svenson demystifies technology. Today, he’s recommending his top eight tech tools for small firm lawyers. The goal isn’t to replace every tool you use — it’s to make your tech work with you, not against you.
Table of contents
- The Right Tech Tools Can Change Everything (Boosting Law Firm Efficiency)
- 7 More Game-Changing Tech Picks for Lawyers (Optimize Your Virtual Practice)
- 1. Online Meetings: Zoom (Essential for Client Communication)
- 2. Video Delegation: Loom (Streamlining Law Firm Communication)
- 3. Business Chat: Slack or Teams (Stop Living in Your Inbox)
- 4. Automated Scheduling: Calendly (Eliminate Meeting Ping-Pong)
- 5. AI-Powered Transcription: Granola (Automate Legal Meeting Notes)
- 6. Mobile AI Notepad: Letterly (Instant Capture for Ideas)
- 7. Simple Automation: TextExpander (Boost Productivity)
- When to Upgrade: Evaluating Your Law Practice Technology
The Right Tech Tools Can Change Everything (Boosting Law Firm Efficiency)
Most lawyers don’t need more legal technology — they need the right tech that actually makes their lives easier instead of adding to the chaos. My work is helping solo and small-firm lawyers cut through that noise, figure out which tools are worth their time, and get past the friction that keeps good tools gathering digital dust, ultimately boosting their practice efficiency.
Wispr Flow: Voice-to-Text for Faster Legal Workflow
One that’s earned its place at the top of my list is Wispr Flow, a voice-to-text powerhouse that understands not just what you say, but what you mean. I discussed this tool in detail in a prior article. Lawyers who adopt it are ecstatic about how useful it is. Here’s what they’ve reported back to me:
“This application is FANTASTIC! I’ve been using it for a month and a half now and am spoiled by how easily I can send emails, draft notes, and any kind of text.”
“I had to give a project to my virtual assistant, and it was so easy to speak it as I went through the steps myself on my screen — instead of flipping back and forth between two windows.”
When the right tool clicks, it changes everything — less time fighting tech, more time actually practicing law. And Wispr Flow is just the start.
7 More Game-Changing Tech Picks for Lawyers (Optimize Your Virtual Practice)
1. Online Meetings: Zoom (Essential for Client Communication)
If you’re not using Zoom or an equivalent, you’re practicing law with one hand tied behind your back. It’s affordable (around $150/year), and more importantly, everyone knows how to use it. Clients expect it, courts use it, and it just works.
2. Video Delegation: Loom (Streamlining Law Firm Communication)
Loom lets you record your screen, voice, and face to explain, delegate, or give feedback without another meeting clogging your day. Recipients can watch when it suits them — perfect for busy teams and clients who appreciate clarity over calendar chaos.
3. Business Chat: Slack or Teams (Stop Living in Your Inbox)
Both Teams and Slack give your team a central place to talk, share and stay organized. Slack keeps conversations in topic-based channels and integrates with hundreds of tools. Teams offers similar features with tighter Microsoft 365 integration — great if you’re already living in Outlook and Word.
The key is to pick one, use it well, and stop living in your inbox.
4. Automated Scheduling: Calendly (Eliminate Meeting Ping-Pong)
Calendly eliminates the endless email ping-pong of finding meeting times. You set your availability, share a link, and let clients pick what works. It syncs with your calendar, adjusts for time zones, and sends reminders automatically. Simple, civilized, and effective.
5. AI-Powered Transcription: Granola (Automate Legal Meeting Notes)
Granola records and transcribes Zoom meetings straight from your computer — no bots lurking in your calls. It delivers clean transcripts, summaries, and action items. Lawyers I know love how it works quietly in the background and saves hours of post-meeting drudgery.
Other contenders — Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Fathom, and Zoom AI Companion — also perform well, but Granola stands out for privacy, simplicity and accuracy.
6. Mobile AI Notepad: Letterly (Instant Capture for Ideas)
Letterly is a mobile AI notepad that captures thoughts instantly — by voice or text. It transcribes, summarizes, and organizes ideas so nothing gets lost between the courthouse, the car, and the coffee shop. Ideal for lawyers who think faster than they type. It also syncs with a desktop app, so you can keep everything connected.
7. Simple Automation: TextExpander (Boost Productivity)
TextExpander turns short snippets into full phrases, templates, or paragraphs — across any app or device. It saves time, kills typos, and brings consistency to everything from client emails to document drafting. Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
When to Upgrade: Evaluating Your Law Practice Technology
The goal isn’t to replace every tool you already use — it’s to make your tech work with you, not against you. If you’ve got a scheduling app or chat platform that’s doing its job, stick with it. Switching for the sake of novelty just adds friction.
But sometimes, the upgrade is worth it. Tools like Granola, for example, aren’t just different — they’re better in ways you need to experience to appreciate.
Bottom line for small firm owners: The key to getting real results from your legal tech stack is knowing which tools are just OK and which can truly turbocharge your law practice — like Wispr Flow, for example.
Image © iStockPhoto.com.
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