Carolyn Elefant Talks Owning Your Talent, AI and the Future of Solo Practice on Real Lawyers Podcast

Carolyn Elefant is a renewable‑energy litigator, founder of MyShingle and longtime advocate for solo and small‑firm lawyers. In this conversation Kevin digs into her idea of “owning your talent,” the 20‑year journey of MyShingle and how generative AI is opening new doors for lawyers who practice on their own terms. They also explore Carolyn’s niche work in renewable‑energy regulation and her vision for a nationwide solo network.

Watch the episode

Listen and subscribe

You can subscribe to Real Lawyers with Kevin O’Keefe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Episode outline

• 00:00 — Introductions and Carolyn’s mission to help solos
• 02:00 — Leaving big law and building a niche practice
• 06:30 — What “own your talent” means for lawyers today
• 10:00 — Launching MyShingle and the early days of legal blogging
• 15:30 — Generative AI, deep‑research tools and Carolyn’s “AI teach‑in” model
• 22:00 — How solos can market expertise faster with AI aids
• 28:30 — Renewable‑energy litigation and the importance of a focused niche
• 33:00 — Building a national solo community and next steps for MyShingle
• 36:45 — Parting advice for lawyers who want to reinvent practice

Key takeaways

• Solo lawyers can compete by doubling down on unique talent and focused expertise
• Publishing consistently—whether through blogs, newsletters or video—builds authority and drives referrals
• Generative AI lets solos handle deep research and first‑draft tasks quickly, freeing time for strategy and client care
• Niche practices, like renewable‑energy regulation, show clients clear value and reduce price pressure
• Community matters: sharing knowledge through platforms like MyShingle strengthens the solo ecosystem and creates collaboration opportunities