Kimberly Fine On Leveraging The Power Of Outsourcing
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You’ve built an incredible career across law, business, and education. What sparked the idea behind ex judicata, and how has the journey evolved since its start?
Kimberly Fine: Ex Judicata is the second start-up that Neil Handwerker and I have built. We began as a destination for lawyers considering, or already committed to, transitioning from the practice of law to a non-legal business role. Over the past three years (the first in stealth mode) Ex Judicata has evolved into The EXJ Community, a first-ever platform for non-practicing lawyers. The EXJ Community unites a professional business category that has never before been brought together in a cohesive group. This peer-to-peer community is a crucial resource and strikes at the core of the ex judicata vision – no more unhappy lawyers. Not only does the Community provide excellent benefits, content, and networking for its members, it serves as a sea of opportunity and mentorship for lawyers seeking a pivot to nonlegal business roles.
Having co-founded Fulcrum and now ex judicata, what lessons from building your first venture shaped how you lead today?
Kimberly Fine:
“The fundamentals of entrepreneurship remain the same: one must be totally clear on one’s vision and mission, have guts, fortitude, and an unwavering commitment.” – Kimberly Fine, Co-founder, Ex-Judicata.
What has changed between Fulcrum (founded in 1995) and Ex Judicata (founded in 2022) is exponential. We now live in a digital world. The speed of work is 1000 times greater. Technology allows us to manage a dramatically increased number of tasks compared to the pre-digital days. Technology also allows working with BolsterBiz as a valued partner. In the past, it was full-time in-office employees. Now we can lean into business partners and 1099s anywhere in the world!
You’ve worked with some of the most popular companies in the legal world. How have you seen career paths for lawyers change over the years?
Kimberly Fine: The law business is ever-evolving. Whether it be within the law firms or corporate legal departments. Today’s legal world requires technological sophistication and savvy. Legal technology and legal operations are evolving at a rapid pace.
Having subject matter experts to reply upon is of ever-increasing importance. This confluence is creating an increased number of opportunities for JDs to move into legal adjacent business roles.
Data and education are central to ex judicata. How do you think data-driven insights can help legal professionals make better career transitions?
Kimberly Fine: I love this question because I am a data friend. Understanding data enables all humans, in both their personal and professional lives, to make more informed, balanced, and well-founded decisions.
Continuing education encompasses both qualitative and quantitative data. We study, we learn, we add to data sets, rinse and repeat.
Tying the two together with a team of PhDs. We created a proprietary career diagnostic tool for lawyers seeking a career transition. The final output is a list of five nonlegal business areas, each with an associated probability of career match success. Our EXJ Diagnostic serves as an essential tool for lawyers embarking upon a career transformation.
Outsourcing has become a big part of modern operations. From your perspective, how can outsourcing support innovation in law and business?
Kimberly Fine: Outsourcing has significantly reshaped the way law and business operate today. It’s no longer just about cost efficiency. It’s about access to expertise, agility, and innovation that help companies grow faster and smarter. For instance: The BolsterBiz – Ex Judicata partnership is so seamless that I do not view our working relationship as outsourcing.
“I view the BolsterBiz team as an essential part of the EXJ team and believe this is the key to finding a successful outsourcing partner.” – Kimberly Fine, Co-founder, Ex-Judicata
Seek out a team that is 100% invested in your mission, vision, and values, a team with the ability to become part of the fabric of your organization. For us, this is BolsterBiz.
Lastly, how has your experience been working with BolsterBiz, and where do you see outsourcing adding the most value for organizations like yours?
Kimberly Fine: Oftentimes, The BolsterBiz team is a truly trusted partner. We have been working with BolsterBiz since the inception of ex judicata. Their insights, professionalism, depth of experience, and ability to manage projects large and small are the building blocks of an invaluable partnership.
Summary
In this exclusive conversation, Kim discusses how ex judicata is reshaping opportunities for lawyers seeking non-traditional paths. From data-driven education to community-based learning, she explores how innovation fuels career transformation. Kim also highlights the growing importance of outsourcing services in scaling modern businesses efficiently. Her insights reveal why trusted partnerships, like the one with BolsterBiz, can drive sustainable growth and operational excellence in the legal industry.
About Kimberly Fine
Kimberly Kappler Fine is the Co-founder and Chief Connectivity Officer of ex judicata, a pioneering platform empowering non-practicing lawyers to build meaningful business careers. A seasoned leader in the legal industry, she previously co-founded Fulcrum Information Services and held senior roles at ALM and LegalTech. With a strong background in law, business, and education, Kim is passionate about innovation, data-driven insights, and building communities that transform legal careers.