FAQ
Common questions.
About the series, the books, and the Academies. Course-specific questions live in each Academy’s own pages.
What is The Automated Series?
A series of books by Jeff Arnold, each one focused on a single industry and how it automates without losing what makes it work. The series includes The Automated Recruiter, for HR and recruiting teams, and The Automated Law Firm. Each book gets an Academy, a structured course built on the book’s framework.
Who is Jeff Arnold?
Founder and president of 4Spot Consulting, a boutique automation and AI consultancy. He has spent more than 40 years in supervisory and leadership roles, from branch manager to COO to CEO, and more than 20 years as a hands-on automation builder. He speaks internationally on automation and AI, and he still builds the systems himself. More on the About page.
Where can I get the books?
The Automated Recruiter is available now on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover, with a companion workbook. The Automated Law Firm is new for 2026. Preview it here.
What are the Academies?
Each book has a companion Academy. The Automated Recruiter Academy is a flagship certification with eight modules, templates, a certificate, and SHRM PDCs, plus shorter micro-courses. The Automated Law Firm Academy is a set of self-paced micro-courses, each built around a working tool you keep.
Do the legal courses carry SHRM credit?
No. SHRM Professional Development Credits apply to the HR track only. 4Spot Marketing LLC (dba 4Spot Consulting) is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. SHRM Recertification Provider RP10848, which you can verify on the SHRM portal. The legal courses carry a certificate of completion.
Do I need the book before taking an Academy course?
No. The course stands on its own. The book and the Academy cover the same framework from different angles. Reading the book first gives you a head start, but it is not required.
How long do I have access?
The flagship certification includes one full year of access to every module, template, and case study. Payment is one time. There are no subscriptions and no recurring fees.
How do I get in touch?
Use the contact page. Questions about books, courses, bulk orders, and speaking all land in the right place from there.