The Law Firm Blueprint

On this episode, Seth Price and Jay Ruane discuss when to utilize outside vendors vs. hiring in-house employees for services needed to run your firm such as bookkeeping, intake, marketing, videography, and more! Jay hates it when Seth says “it depends,” to answer questions like these, but as is the case with many entrepreneurial endeavors, it truly does depend. The duo agree that there are different circumstances that would cause a firm owner to hire vs outsource, such as finances, quality of work, and dependability. Seth believes that hiring someone in-house can be the answer if you can be sure that person is stable and reliable, but outsourcing to a vendor or forming a small team in house could work best to ensure redundancy. Check out the podcast on The Law Firm Blueprint Facebook group, the BluShark Digital website, or stream it wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode, Seth and Jay discuss how hiring a “utility player” in your firm who can fill in multiple roles is an important part of building up redundancies in your firm. When done right, the firm owner is not always on call if someone in a key role suddenly calls out.  Seth discusses how he believes the younger generation’s constant exposure to video content and social media will likely be found to be tied to higher anxiety levels. They also analyze how Seth almost moved BluShark to the 4 day work week but decided not to. Overall, the pair agree that employee mental health will be aided by their ability to live the lifestyle they desire. This way, employees want to stay with your firm. Check out the podcast on The Law Firm Blueprint Facebook group, the BluShark Digital website, or stream it wherever you get your podcasts!

In this insightful video, Seth Price and Jay Ruane discuss what to do when the systems you have in place fail to prevent disaster. From streamlining your procedures to training your staff properly, these legal experts share valuable insights and tips for success when scaling your firm. They use an example from Jay’s firm this week where a lawyer was assigned to a case outside of his expertise, resulting in disaster. Because of this situation, they delve into the importance of building a strong foundation for your firm so that you can step back as a CEO/firm owner.  Seth talks about hiring new attorneys and the debate between bringing on first year attorneys, training them well, and giving them time to develop, versus hiring third through tenth year lawyers who have appropriate experience, but may be more set in their ways and less of a fit for the culture of your firm. Whether you're a solo practitioner or managing a team of attorneys, this discussion is packed with actionable advice to help you take your law firm to the next level. For more valuable content on law firm growth and success, be sure to subscribe to our channel and stay tuned for future videos. #LawFirmGrowth #SethPrice #JayRuane #LegalMarketing #LawFirmProcesses

On this edition of The Law Firm Blueprint, Seth Price and Jay Ruane discuss Ruane Attorney’s potential search for a second Sales Attorney as a contingency plan to take the burden off of one of his longtime employees. They go over the best ways to vet potential employees, and how to hire as a business owner with the intent of expanding a department rather than firing and replacing an employee. Jay expresses how he wants to build up his team for a potential firm exit down the line, and Seth gives him advice on how he would conduct such an exit. Seth tells Jay that he may be sitting on a beach in “retirement” for the majority of the time, while still having a certain amount of involvement at the firm. Seth and Jay also discuss international employees, how they have been beneficial for Seth at Price Benowitz in terms of intake, and how to handle the cultural differences that come with hiring across the globe. Finally, the pair discuss benefits and salaries in relation to hiring mid-level and junior employees in the current economy. Check out the podcast on The Law Firm Blueprint Facebook group, the BluShark Digital website, or stream it wherever you get your podcasts! #hiring #sales #atttorney #lawfirmgrowth #salaries #benefits #internationalemployees

On this edition of The Law Firm Blueprint, Seth Price and Jay Ruane discuss Ruane Attorney’s potential search for new intake software. The pair discuss when new software might be the right move and expand the discussion for other firms looking to experiment with new tools.  Jay leads the conversation with his own personal experiences. His firm has a software that works well, but with the amount of new leads his firm is seeing, he is curious to find if there is anything new out there that could benefit his firm. Seth and Jay touch on Clio, SmartAdvocate, and Filevine, debating between the mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” versus continuing to innovate and grow in the ways your firm uses softwares. Plus, they hash out why it is important to ensure that the vendors working with your firm are also trying to innovate and grow as time goes on. This way, as your firm grows and scales, so do the partners you are working with, creating a synergy and a shared goal towards innovation.  Check out the podcast on The Law Firm Blueprint Facebook group, the BluShark Digital website, or stream it wherever you get your podcasts! #software #lawfirmgrowth #vendors

On this week’s edition of The Law Firm Blueprint, Seth and Jay discuss starting a firm on your own. Together, the pair reminisce about the origins of Price Benowitz and Ruane Attorneys in order to give advice to current upstart firms. They dive into topics such as where to focus your marketing budget, the importance of having a plan in place before starting your firm, and strategies for moving into a practice area that you want to be in. Plus, the duo discuss the current state of their firms and how to manage International employee holidays.

🌟 Episode Highlights 🌟 In this episode, you'll get a seat at the table where Seth and Jay share their personal experiences and strategies concerning the fiscal health of their firms. Here's what you can look forward to: - Financial Clean-Up: Seth Price discusses the critical practice of financial decluttering to identify potential issues before they snowball. - Lending and Investing: Jay reveals his considerations for reinvesting in the firm versus seeking external return opportunities. - Financial Struggles and Fears: Jay gets candid about the need for expert guidance in managing firm finances. - Bonuses vs. Base Salaries: Engage in the bonus-versus-base-salary debate and its psychological impact on staff. - Staff Retention: Seth suggests that competitive salaries might be key to keeping talent from exploring greener pastures. - The Mini Summit: Discover how Seth's mini summit aims to unite his firm's global team under one roof for collaborative growth. - Onboarding Excellence: Jay examines structured training's role in creating a consistent, quality onboarding experience. 🔊 Listen, Learn, and Join the Conversation This episode isn't just about dissecting problems; it's about practical outcomes. Learn from the hosts as they consider their approach to bonuses, the recruitment challenge, and the critical role of middle management in a firm's growth trajectory. Plus, they don't shy away from the big question: When is it time to profit from your firm versus reinvest?

On the first Law Firm Blueprint episode of 2024, Seth and Jay discuss a gamut of topics including Seth’s love for the NTL conference, and when (or when not to!) expand into new practice areas. Additionally, Seth and Jay discuss how they are in a hiring frenzy and the challenges associated with receiving many qualified applicants that they must manage. The pair also discuss how to approach employees giving notice, and the proper timetables for both bringing someone new into your firm as well as transitioning from someone exiting.

📈 Scaling Your Practice Intelligently Join Seth Price and Jay Ruane as they dissect the complex relationship between expanding a law firm and maintaining quality staff. They passionately discuss the necessity of balancing revenue with hiring, fostering a culture that aligns with personal goals, and how the freeze of winter can reshape the way we consider remote work and maternity leave policies. Get valuable insights on how to scale your firm while keeping firm values and employee satisfaction at the forefront. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly Work Environments In a candid conversation, Seth reflects on the impact of extended paternity leave trends and the profound effects these have on staffing and profitability. Jay navigates through the intricacies of cultivating a family-oriented workplace in a world where our teams often span multiple time zones and cultures. 📊 The Balance of Profit and People As AI continues to make unprecedented strides, Seth and Jay deliberate over its impact on everyday tasks in the realm of law. They speculate on a future where AI could assist with routine legal proceedings and customer service but also openly address concerns about quality and customer satisfaction. Tune in to hear our hosts discuss how these advancements could potentially affect your firm’s pricing and service quality. 🤖 AI and Client Demographics Embark on a conversation about the intersection of client experience and AI. Our hosts examine how demographics could influence the adoption of technology in firms, particularly when considering client preferences for human interactions. It’s a must-listen segment that could redefine your approach to customer service! 📚 EOS Adaptation for the Agile Firm Are you utilizing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in your practice? Find out how smaller firms can adapt and modify EOS to meet their specific needs, creating a more efficient and goal-oriented environment. Remember, growth isn't just about numbers; it's about adapting, staying receptive to change, and, most importantly, it's about the people.

🎧 New episode alert! Jay Ruane, CEO of The Criminal Mastermind, and Seth Price from Blu Shark Digital and Price Benowitz, dive into some deep discussions in the latest episode - 11.24.23 The Law Firm Blueprint podcast. Listen in as they tackle the potential repercussions of turning off paid advertising, the exhaustion of lawyers, and the impact on their efficacy, and the idea of grooming attorneys for case intake. Plus, they share their insights on leveraging credit cards for travel, annual expense reviews, utilizing attorney labor for intake, and much more. Here are 3 key takeaways from this fascinating episode: 🔹 Exploring alternative business models in the legal field: Leveraging attorney labor for case intake could dramatically improve efficiency and revenue. Also, the episode discussed the concept of a centralized courtroom through video cameras as a cost and time-saving measure. 🔹 Facets of managing business expenses: They delve into techniques such as using credit cards with points for vacation expenses, annual expense reviews for product/service retention, and shopping around for the best credit card providers. 🔹 The future of education and student debt: An interesting discussion emerged around the challenges of high tuition costs, the potential of online universities, and the need for policies to control student debt. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Tune in to the Podcast and let us know your thoughts. #Podcast #Lawyers #BusinessInsights #EducationReforms