118: Raquel Gomes from Stafi shares insights on staffing solutions for Law Firms

Hiring great resources as VAs, paralegals and office staff can transform your law firm’s productivity, profitability, and your work-life balance. In this game-changing episode I am joined by Raquel Gomes, the founder of Stafi, a unique staffing solution tailored specifically for small and mid-sized law firms. Raquel shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship and explains how Stafi is solving the critical hiring and delegation challenges law firms face today. Stafi’s model provides firms with skilled, vetted paralegals and support staff, predominantly from Latin America, enabling lawyers to save on costs and increase efficiency by delegating routine tasks.

Raquel and I discuss how outsourcing certain functions—like intake, marketing, and paralegal work—can free up time for law firm owners to focus on higher-value tasks and enjoy a better work-life balance. Stafi goes beyond traditional staffing with extensive coaching and support systems for virtual staff, ensuring quality performance and alignment with firm culture. Raquel also shares her passion for helping law firm owners reclaim their time and find more joy in their work by incorporating effective delegation strategies and creating robust support systems.

Key Topics

• 02:20 Raquel worked in the high-tech space as a sales representative and climbed the corporate ladder to become a successful executive.
• 04:02 Stafi was founded to help business owners, including law firm owners, grow and scale their businesses without sacrificing personal life.
• 04:36 The challenges faced by small firm law firm owners in finding and vetting talent, and the lack of time and resources to onboard and train new staff.
• 05:00 The importance of delegation and work-life balance, sharing her personal breaking point when her newborn daughter was left unattended due to work commitments.
• 05:20 Stafi aims to provide high-end professionals who are vetted, screened, and trained to support law firms, allowing attorneys to focus on their core responsibilities.
• 06:37 The services offered by Stafi, including paralegals, marketing intake, executive assistants, and project managers.
• 07:08 Stafi's paralegals are experienced lawyers from their home countries, undergoing rigorous vetting and training.
• 08:37 The pricing for a top graduate attorney working as a paralegal is $2,800 per month, including all support and coaching.
• 09:12 The importance of matching the right talent with the right roles, considering personality and soft skills for client-facing roles.
• 10:45 The support provided by Stafi, including ongoing mentoring, training, and coaching for paralegals and other staff.
• 11:06 The importance of mental health and wellness, with in-house psychologists and mindset coaches available to support staff.
• 11:48 Providing task coaches to help with time management and process documentation, ensuring smooth operations for law firms.
• 12:28 The cost-effectiveness of hiring virtual staff, allowing law firms to save time and money while improving productivity.
• 14:48 The recent launch of Stafi's in-person staffing service, catering to law firms that need US-based attorneys and paralegals.
• 15:17 The new service includes mental health and wellness coaching for in-person staff, similar to the support provided for virtual staff.
• 17:04 Raquel’s approach to decision-making, emphasizing the importance of being in a state of joy and trusting her intuition.
• 17:44 Raquel shares her personal productivity tips, including taking deep breaths in the morning and appreciating one's achievements.
• 18:56 The importance of delegating tasks to virtual assistants to free up time for personal and professional growth.
• 19:32 The recent launch of Stafi's in-person staffing service, catering to law firms that need US-based attorneys and paralegals.
• 23:42 Raquel advises against hanging up the phone with qualified leads and emphasizes the importance of scheduling the next step during the initial call.
• 24:40 Have strategies to overcome objections and understand clients' goals to facilitate the intake process.
• 22:52 The importance of qualifying leads and using facilitating documents to streamline the intake process.
• 27:02 She shares her experience of using virtual assistants for personal tasks, such as calling schools and dealing with service providers.

Resources Mentioned

Websites:

1. stafi.cc

Books:

1. "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield

About Raquel Gomes:

Raquel Gomes is the founder and CEO of Stafi, a company revolutionizing law firms with virtual staffing solutions. Raised in Brazil and inspired by her father's entrepreneurial journey, she developed a strong work ethic and determination. Raquel defied societal norms, rejecting the notion that women must choose between career and family. With a degree in psychology and an MBA, she gained experience in the high-tech corporate world while balancing motherhood. This inspired her to create Stafi, a solution born from her personal struggles. Stafi provides flexible staffing tailored to modern professionals, especially women. Raquel is committed to reshaping work standards to help women excel without sacrificing personal well-being.

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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