Digital note-taking for lawyers is no longer just about transcribing ideas—it's about weaving them together. Enter the world of "Personal Knowledge Management" (PKM), a realm where Evernote once reigned supreme but now faces more powerful contenders.

Obsidian is the best note-taking app for lawyers who want a powerful, user-friendly tool that also happens to be completely free. With its interconnected system of notes, it offers unparalleled speed and efficiency. Want to learn more? Tune in as PKM specialist Mike Schmitz shares his insights.

Listen to the episode and check Mike's top resource links.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Importance of digital note-taking and how it can revolutionize the way individuals capture and leverage ideas.
• Introduction to Obsidian, a digital note-taking tool, and how to use its features effectively.
• Discussion on Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and how being selective with the information we consume can fuel creativity.
• The advantages of using Obsidian for note-taking, including its seamless integration with markdown language and various plugins that extend its functionality.
• Overview of Obsidian 101 and Obsidian University – courses designed to help users get the most out of the tool.

Show Notes

• Join: '80/20 Inner Circle' (valuable business insights for small firm owners)
• Read: The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch
• Get my new email course: ChatGPT for Lawyers (it's free)
• Craft: A note-taking app mentioned alongside Obsidian as part of the PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) stack.
• Roam Research: Another app mentioned as part of the PKM stack, emphasizing the need for a PKM app to manage different apps' information.
• Notion: Mentioned in relation to PKM and note-taking, highlighting the various options available for managing information.
• Drafts: An Apple-based quick capture tool was mentioned in the conversation, and there was a question about how to move content from Drafts to Obsidian.
• Evernote: The OG of note-taking tools, although many people now want more effective alternatives.
• Mike's PKM stack is: To-Doist for tasks, Notion for work projects, and Cron for calendaring
• Obsidian University Cohort
• Mike's Obsidian Newsletter
• Obsidian 101
• Book an Obsidian Setup Call with Mike
• Mike's YouTube channel
• Jobs to Be Done, a well-known article by Clayton Christensen
• Liminal Thinking: Create the Change You Want by Changing the Way You Think, a book by David Gray

General Resources

• The 80/20 Principle (my email newsletter)
• The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice
• The Inner Circle (an online community for law firm owners)

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'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 Our Sponsors

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.

If there's one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of.

Plans start at $210/month for 30 calls, and pricing starts at $140 for 20 chats, with overage at $7 per chat. They offer a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee on all receptionist and live chat plans, including add-ons (up to $1000).

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.

Overture Law

Overture Law is the first private attorney network enabling them to refer matters to one another and ethically share in referral fees.

Membership is free if you're accepted. Apply for membership at Overture.law

Once you're accepted, you'll start getting valuable referrals and earn fees for matters you refer out. A powerful win-win for U.S.-based solo and small firm attorneys.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.comLet them know we sent you.