EP103: Insider Tips for Successful Outsourcing & Nearshoring for Legal Practices with Jason Melton, Zuly Murphy, and Emily LaRusch

Ten Golden Rules Internet Marketing for Law Firms Podcast

Today I share the audio recording from our recent webinar on the growing trend of nearshoring and outsourcing for law firms, focusing on the benefits and practical implementation. I'm joined by an awesome panel of experts who share their insider tips and valuable insights. We explain the difference between Outsourcing, Offshoring and Nearshoring. Jason Melton, is a successful law firm owner who built a nearshore resource for himself, and now offers this service to other law firms, Zuly Murphy is the Co-Founder of ProFinder International, and Emily LaRusch the Founder and CEO of back Office Betties,

Jason Melton shares how he started nearshoring and the advantages of hiring lawyers and legal professionals in Mexico, emphasizing cost savings, high-quality work, and cultural alignment. Zuly Murphy delves into strategic aspects, highlighting the importance of clear communication, role clarity, and rigorous onboarding processes to ensure seamless remote team operations. Emily LaRusch offers practical advice on managing remote teams, stressing the need to treat internationally hired employees like local ones and create a welcoming culture.

Our conversation covers essential practices for making remote work effective for global teams, including a process-based approach to training and documentation. We address the significance of unspoken expectations and premeditated resentments in outsourcing, sharing personal experiences and lessons learned.

Whether you're facing staffing challenges or curious about nearshoring, this episode provides a comprehensive guide to enhancing your firm's productivity and growth through innovative outsourcing practices. Tune in for expert insights, real-life case studies, and actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of remote staffing in the legal industry.

Key Topics

• 00:41 - How to leverage outsourcing and nearshoring for a law firm.
• 01:40- Jay’s story on how a team member joined the company and worked remotely after his visa expired.
• 03:56 - Definitions of the terms outsourcing, offshoring, and nearshoring.
• 05:10 - Jay’s and his team use nearshoring to hire third-party talent from Canada and South America.
• 05:44 - Using digital assets (Zoom, Slack, ClickUp, Harvest) and team building activities (virtual cocktails, Lego building, trivia nights, roast) to work seamlessly and build camaraderie with remote teams.
• 08:18 - General characteristics of remote workers, including being enthusiastic, loyal, and hardworking, and that they appreciate being part of a US-based company.
• 10:33 - Hiring remote workers in other countries, highlighting the benefits and challenges of doing so.
• 13:01 - Jason Melton’s insights on outsourcing and nearshoring for law firms.
• 15:04 - Early success in law firm due to limited competition, but comfort led to complacency and efficiency issues.
• 16:49 - Adapting to remote work in the 2010s, and how Gen Z talent brought new challenges and a "skills crunch" to law firms.
• 17:18 - Finding qualified candidates in their small town due to economic challenges and a lack of higher education.
• 19:41 - The nearshoring advantages and it is just not cost savings.
• 20:49 - Wage issues and economic conditions in the US led Jason to consider nearshoring as a solution.
• 22:41 - How filling a video editing role in Mexico, crushed Instagram space with quick answers to important questions.
• 25:06 - Hiring in Mexico, highlighting cultural similarities to the US and ease of access.
• 27:04 - Improvement in resolving small issues with staff from an agency who work in-office, compared to those who work remotely.
• 28:44 - The importance of hiring people who can learn and take things to the next level, rather than just filling positions with unskilled workers.
• 31:53 - Treat remote workers like humans, provide a nice workspace, and foster camaraderie.
• 32:10 - Jason’s shares how his business has expanded into a building in San Pedro which is class A space and located in a nicer neighborhood.
• 36:02 - Emily LaRusch’s background and sharing her experience as a volunteer teacher and entrepreneur.
• 36:16 - Emily’s golden rules of outsourcing for law firms, focusing on fractional remote staffing.
• 38:23 - The importance of hiring people who are amazing at what they do and loving their work.
• 38:29 - Allowing lawyers to focus on things that move the needle for the firm, and everything else needs to go off the plate.
• 39:10 - Emily emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations and defining roles for outsourced workers.
• 41:40 - Emily’s Case Study that saved $614,000 by hiring a fractional C suite.
• 42:56 - The Culture's importance in business success, citing a 33% revenue increase in companies with great culture.
• 43:40 - Practical ways to implement culture, such as rewarding team members for living the company's core values, providing growth paths, and conducting team-building exercises.
• 46:37 - The importance of matching personality traits with role requirements in the hiring process.
• 50:28 - Zuly Murphy’s background and her company Profinder International.
• 51:38 - Establishing clear goals and expectations for nearshoring to avoid pitfalls.
• 52:14 - Defining SMART goals, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
• 53:19 - Communicating openly with staff about nearshore provider partnership to prevent resistance to change.
• 55:02 - The importance of documenting processes for nearshore providers so everybody stays transparent and honest.
• 58:47 - Establishing clear policies for communication and onboarding can prevent problems.
• 1:00:56 - Nearshoring legal operations can help firms avoid issues like turnover and lack of career growth.
• 1:02:13 - Experienced nearshore partners can provide leadership and training to staff in the nearshore location.
• 1:04:41 - Reviewing existing documentation from law firms, integrating core team members into the operation, and creating process-based training manuals and tools to improve workflow.
• 1:07:00 - The importance of cultural fit in hiring, providing examples of how it can impact job performance.
• 1:07:51 - Immersing new hires in the organization's culture through activities and quizzes to help them understand the local community and organizational structure.
• 1:14:50 - Hiring a fractional administrator for law firms to avoid common mistakes and save money.
• 1:18:11 - Avoiding remote workers working multiple jobs include clearly defined KPIs and tasks, and providing a dedicated point of contact for feedback and support.
• 1:19:25 - The importance of overcommunication with remote staff to make up for lack of in-person interactions.
• 1:20:21 - Insights on monitoring call center agents' productivity.

Resources Mentioned

Tools and Apps:

1. **Zoom** - For video conferencing and communication.
2. **Slack** - For team communication and collaboration.
3. **ClickUp** - For project management.
4. **GoToMeeting** - For remote work and virtual meetings.

Websites and Companies:

1. **ProFinder International** - Founder and CEO Zuly Murphy. Involved in nearshoring and offering resources for managing remote staff.
2. **Regents Remote Services** - President and Co-Founder Jason Melton, focusing on nearshoring in Mexico. Jason’s law firm Whittel & Melton
3. **Back Office Betties** - Founder and CEO Emily LaRusch, provides premier fractional administrative staffing solutions to small law firms.

About Jason Melton:

Jason Melton has earned a stellar reputation throughout his career for developing and executing individually tailored strategies for personal injury and wrongful death clients in Florida. Beginning his career in Florida’s criminal courtrooms, Jason has consistently championed victims' rights and has extended this commitment to the civil arena, taking on insurance companies and major corporate entities.

He is a life member of both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Jason is also listed among Florida’s Super Lawyers. As a founding member of the National Academy of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, he was named one of the Top 20 Motorcycle Injury Lawyers in the United States in 2020. Recognized among the top 100 High Stakes Litigators for his experience in cases exceeding $2,000,000, Jason belongs to an elite group, with less than 0.5% of U.S. litigators earning this distinction. Additionally, he is the president and co-founder of Regents Remote Services.

About Zuly Murphy:

Zuly Murphy is the CEO and founder of ProFinder International, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing and leading the human capital needed to execute their vision. At ProFinder International, Zuly sources and manages qualified professionals who are motivated and aligned with the goals, values, and business processes of their clients. Her passion lies in helping companies reduce their labor costs, streamline processes, and build dedicated teams to elevate their law firms to the next level.

About Emily LaRusch:

Emily LaRusch is the esteemed Founder and CEO of Back Office Betties, where she expertly leads her team to provide premier fractional administrative staffing solutions to small law firms. Her entrepreneurial journey was sparked by a frustration with unanswered phone calls, leading her to establish Back Office Betties, which offers US-based, highly qualified administrative staff to law firms at a fraction of the cost of full-time employees. Emily is a dedicated advocate for entrepreneurship, contributing her expertise through volunteer work with organizations like Inmates to Entrepreneurs, serving on the Board of The Entrepreneurs Organization, coaching an Accelerator Group, guest lecturing at Texas A&M, and advising as a Culture Index Advisor. In addition to her professional pursuits, Emily homeschools her two sons, Lucas and Mason, demonstrating her exceptional multitasking abilities. Outside of her professional and educational roles, she enjoys reading and outdoor adventures, exemplifying a well-balanced approach to life.

About Jay Berkowitz:

Jay Berkowitz is a digital marketing strategist with decades of experience in the industry. As the CEO of Ten Golden Rules, he has helped countless law firms and businesses harness the power of the internet to achieve remarkable growth and visibility. Jay is also a renowned keynote speaker and author, sharing his expertise at various industry events and publications worldwide.

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