AI Tools Podcast

Most AI advice for lawyers stops at prompting. Ron Drescher goes further, walking through the automated newsletter-digest system he built with make.com, Gmail, and ChatGPT — one that runs itself every morning and hands him a curated legal-tech briefing before he's finished his coffee. It's a real build, roadblocks and all, and a look at what "Jetsons" actually looks like for a solo practice.

Field Note

Field Note: In Defense Of AI Notetakers (5 min)

Most AI pitches to law firms start with a product. This one starts with an audit — and a question about whether buying software was ever the right move for a solo or small firm in the first place. Jerry Dearden of David AI joins Ron and Heather to unpack what it actually takes to build AI around a firm instead of forcing a firm into someone else's software. It's the David AI origin story, the pricing, and the pitfalls — no punches pulled.

021 Episode 021 Law Firm AI: Custom Made Or Off The Shelf? (53 min)

Most AI pitches to law firms start with a product. This one starts with an audit — and a question about whether buying software was ever the right move for a solo or small firm in the first place. Jerry Dearden of David AI joins Ron and Heather to unpack what it actually takes to build AI around a firm instead of forcing a firm into someone else's software. It's the David AI origin story, the pricing, and the pitfalls — no punches pulled.

020 Episode 020: Pain Points, Grok And The Homeless Summer Associate (46 min)

Solo lawyers don't need Big Law's budget to compete in the AI era — they need to find their pain point first. Dr. Sara Kubik, Ph.D, MBA, a family law and estate planning attorney turned professional AI trainer, joins Ron and Heather to make the case that small firms may hold the real advantage right now, and why a Reddit post about a homeless summer associate proves AI still can't replace human involvement.

019 Episode 019 Bankruptcy Meets The AI Revolution (54 min)

Jenny Doling didn't wait for AI to be ready for bankruptcy practice — she built it herself, one skill at a time. This episode digs into the analyzer stack she's running for pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and Chapter 13 objections, and why she thinks the real win isn't time saved but better legal work. If you're still deciding whether AI belongs in a bankruptcy practice, Jenny's already three steps past that question.

Your hosts

About the show

Ron Drescher

Attorney & Host

After more than 40 years in the trenches of bankruptcy law, Ron Drescher has seen legal practice evolve from paper and fax machines to cloud software—and now to artificial intelligence.

He’s not a technologist. He’s a practicing lawyer who understands how law firms actually work—and where they break.

Through his podcast, AI Tools for Practicing Lawyers, Ron helps attorneys move beyond hype and confusion to practical, ethical use of AI in their day-to-day work. His focus is on what matters: tools that save time, improve client service, and fit within the realities of legal practice.

If you’re trying to figure out what AI actually means for your practice, Ron is the guide who speaks your language.

Heather Gardner

Co-Host & Founder, Propel Paralegal Services

Heather Gardner is the Founder and CEO of Propel Paralegal Services, a virtual legal support company providing experienced bankruptcy paralegal services to attorneys nationwide. She has spent her career working extensively with consumer bankruptcy practices, supporting debtor-focused Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases through every stage of the bankruptcy process.

An early adopter of AI in legal practice — from GPT to Spellbook — Heather uses AI extensively in content marketing, workflow development, and creating SOPs. She frequently speaks on practical ways attorneys can use AI tools for drafting, business operations, and everyday practice management.

40+

Years in Law

1000s

Cases Handled

Weekly

New Episodes