How I Expanded My Staff Without Hiring a Single Person

Testing and sharing what actually works in solo practice.

I’m a solo and want to stay that way. But that doesn’t mean I do everything myself.

Instead of hiring a team, I built one—entirely out of AI. No payroll. No managing. No awkward Slack threads.

It sounds futuristic, but it’s surprisingly practical. Right now, I’m using AI in three distinct ways to expand my capacity, sharpen my thinking, and elevate my marketing—all without the stress (or price tag) of hiring.

Here’s how you can too.

1. My Copy Editor: Clearer, Sharper, and Less Wordy

I write a lot. You probably do too—emails, client updates, pleadings, newsletters. And like most attorneys, I tend to say something in three sentences when a few words would do.

That’s where AI steps in. I paste my draft into ChatGPT or Claude and say something like: Make this more concise without losing meaning. Flag anything that’s repetitive, confusing, or overly formal.

The result? It’s not just grammar help. It tightens my message, catches filler I missed, and helps me sound more like me.

Prompt you can steal (for ChatGPT or Claude):

I wrote this client email/newsletter/update. Help me tighten it up by simplifying long sentences, removing filler, and making the tone more approachable and confident: [PASTE YOUR COPY]

2. My Thought Partner: A Brain I Can Talk To

Sometimes I need to talk through an idea without being interrupted, judged, or met with blank stares.

So I talk to AI.

I open Claude or ChatGPT and use the voice mode and simply…talk. I’m free to be messy, unfiltered, unedited.

Pro Tip: Before I begin, I say, “I want to talk through something. Don’t interrupt me until I’m finished.” That ensures I can pause when needed without the AI jumping in before I’ve had a chance to get all my thoughts out.

When I’m done, I ask: Can you organize these ideas into a clear outline and point out any gaps?

It’s like having a smart friend who doesn’t need coffee or context to get it.

Prompt you can steal:

I’ve been thinking through this new blog post/workflow/service idea. Don’t interrupt me until I’m finished. When I’m finished, summarize it, outline the key themes, and highlight any areas that need more clarity.

You’re still the thinker. AI just helps you process faster.

3. My CMO: Strategic, Smart, and Brutally Honest

I’ll be real with you—I thought my nurture emails were fire. Clever, helpful, on-brand. I even reread them and thought, “Yeah, this hits.”

Then I ran them through my custom GPT, trained on my tone, ideal client, testimonials, and best-performing content.

And Claude was like, “Cool, but you buried the lead. Your CTA is vague. And there is no social proof.”

Oof. Embarrassing. But also? Helpful.

Now every time I draft something—an email sequence, landing page, social post—I ask ChatGPT or Claude: Improve this using proven marketing principles. Tell me what’s unclear or weak, and explain why each change would help.

And it does. It doesn’t just edit. It teaches. I’m becoming a better marketer because of it.

Prompt you can steal:

Here’s a draft of my landing page for my website. Make it more compelling and clear for my ideal client. My ideal client is [DESCRIBE IDEAL CLIENT]. Explain each suggestion and why it works. [PASTE YOUR COPY]

Wait. Isn’t That…Cheating?

Nope. It’s editing, not outsourcing your brain.

AI doesn’t replace my voice or values. It just helps me get out of my own way.

I still review, revise, and personalize.

I’m still the boss.

But now? I’ve got an amazing team on call 24/7—and they don’t need benefits.

Action Step: Try One Prompt Today

Pick one prompt from this email—whichever feels easiest—and use it. Right now. Paste in something simple: a client email, a blog intro, messy notes from a meeting.

You’ll be amazed at how fast it helps.

You don’t need to become “an AI person.” You just need a little help. And now, you’ve got it.

Cheering you on,
Lauren

P.S. Want a pro tip? Create a Notion page called “AI Prompts That Work.” Every time you use one that helps, save it. Soon you’ll have your own playbook, and your invisible team will get sharper with every click.