From the blog

Guides for the modern solo practice

Plain-English writing on AI ethics, deadline docketing, client confidentiality, and getting a new matter under control — written for solo and small-firm attorneys.

Ethics

Is it ethical to use AI on client files? ABA Opinion 512, explained

A plain-English guide to ABA Formal Opinion 512 on generative AI — what it requires of attorneys, and why on-device tools remove the third-party disclosure problem.

6 min read · February 2026
Workflow

How to never miss a legal deadline: a docketing system for solos

A simple, repeatable docketing system any solo attorney can run without a calendaring department — plus how to capture every deadline buried in a new matter's documents.

7 min read · February 2026
Security

Offline vs. cloud legal AI: which is safe for client confidentiality?

The real privacy difference between on-device and cloud legal AI, and a simple framework for evaluating whether any AI tool is safe for confidential client files.

6 min read · February 2026
Workflow

How to organize a new case file in minutes (a solo attorney's workflow)

A repeatable workflow for turning a chaotic pile of new-matter documents into an organized, summarized, and docketed case file fast — without a paralegal.

6 min read · February 2026
Tools

The best AI tools for solo attorneys in 2026 (and the privacy trade-offs)

A category-by-category look at AI tools for solo and small-firm attorneys in 2026 — research, drafting, document organization — and the confidentiality trade-off of each.

8 min read · March 2026
Ethics

Can lawyers use ChatGPT for client documents? What the rules actually say

Whether attorneys can paste client documents into ChatGPT, what consumer AI tools do with your data, and the three things to check before uploading anything confidential.

7 min read · June 2026
Workflow

How to build a case chronology fast (a solo attorney's workflow)

A step-by-step workflow for building a sourced, date-ordered case timeline from your documents — and keeping it living as the matter develops.

7 min read · June 2026
Tools

What does legal AI software cost in 2026? Subscription vs. buy-once

What legal AI tools actually cost in 2026 — subscription seats versus one-time purchases, the hidden costs of recurring pricing, and how a solo should budget.

6 min read · June 2026
Tools

The solo attorney tech stack in 2026: a lean, private setup

A practical, low-cost technology stack for solo and small-firm attorneys — practice management, billing, documents, and docketing — with privacy built into every layer.

7 min read · July 2026
Workflow

How to summarize a deposition transcript without uploading it

A step-by-step workflow for summarizing long deposition transcripts in minutes while keeping the testimony entirely on your own computer — no cloud, no confidentiality trade-off.

6 min read · July 2026
Compliance

How long do you have to keep client files? A retention primer

How attorney file-retention actually works — how long to keep closed files, what the rules generally require, and how to store closed matters securely and on-device.

6 min read · July 2026