The Power Of Creating Legals By Design® | Why your business needs more than a template
I've been working for some time on articulating in a succinct and clear way how it is I do what I do when I work with my clients, and how it is that I create legal documents that work for small business owners.
I have now finalised the work I have been doing around refining and finessing how I communicate this. I am sharing in this blog what Legals by Design® is, and how this is my signature approach for the work I do with my small business clients.
The Genesis of Legals by Design®
Legals by Design® is something I have developed throughout the course of my more than 20-year career. It has evolved significantly over the last five years, and for the past 12 months I have been dedicated to articulating my signature approach and explaining it in a meaningful way.
Legals by Design® is a unique blend of my knowledge and expertise, combined with the insights and implementation I deliver when collaborating with my clients. It captures the essence of what I do and the depth of what I deliver for clients when developing legal documents for businesses that truly work.
The Passion Behind the Process
I have a deep passion for developing what I refer to as ‘legals’ for small business. The terms ‘legals’ refers to a range of legal documents for business that are key in reducing a business’ risk – this includes variety of essential contracts and agreements, tailored to a business’ industry, operation and risk.
Whilst I accept that many people find these topics either boring and dull, or overwhelming and complex, for me this is hand-on-heart a passion interest of mine. I love designing documents for businesses that I know work. I have drawn in my experience and knowledge gained throughout my career – including more than 12 years as a litigation lawyer where we challenged contracts every day of the week – when developing my signature approach to legal documents for business, to launch a framework that will support business owners when they need it the most.
The Four Elements of Legals by Design®
Let me dive in and share with you the four elements that comprise Legals by Design®. I'll explain what they are and how this approach makes my signature approach so unique.
1. Client-Centric Approach
The first element of Legals by Design® is my client-centric approach. My focus is empathetic and centred around the client. Clients come to me because they want to work with me to support them, in the way that they need (not in the way that works best for me). My approach is fluid, flexible, and tailored to meet the client where they're at. Every business has different needs; they are all at different stages on their business journey, all experiencing different challenges. I respect this completely, and I have the ability to meet clients where they are, explain what they need, and deliver accordingly.
My legal practice billing is centred around a fixed-fee pricing and value-based model. I don't hide behind a broad range or scale of possible fees, I don’t charge in 6-minute increments, and I don’t itemise my billing by charging clients more the more they communicate with me.
I am aware of the value I deliver and I stand behind my value-based model with absolute confidence. It’s been a refreshing change for so many of my clients, and it is welcomed by every business owner I work with.
2. Better Communication
The next element is Better Communication. From the feedback I've received, clients find me accessible, easy to understand, and down to earth. My superpower is making the complex simple. I dive into legal complexities, digest them, understand them, and then explain them in a way that clients can understand and feel empowered by.
I believe effective collaboration requires crystal-clear communication, flowing both ways. Clients need to be comfortable asking questions and reaching out, ensuring they understand and are confident in what they’ve been told. I encourage open communication with my clients, and I know from first-hand experience how valuable Better Communication really is.
3. Richer Outcomes
Richer outcomes mean tailored legals that are branded and work specifically for a business; contracts and agreements that are an extension of a business and that reflect that business’ values.
Legals are not one-size-fits-all documents. Legals by Design® delivers documents that are relevant, current, and comply with a business’s legal obligations, containing practical terms a business owner can understand and apply. This approach not only ensures business owners are confident and proud of their documents, which reflect their professionalism and serve as a continuation of their business's touch points, but it ensures the documents are fair and enforceable, and will be worth their weight in gold when a business needs to rely on them.
4. Implementation
The final element is implementation. Bringing everything together is crucial. It's not enough to just develop legal documents; they need to be implemented properly to ensure they work.
This step is often missed by other practitioners, but it’s an essential part of my signature approach. My background in litigation and dispute resolution has allowed me to see what can go wrong when documents are not implemented properly, I use that knowledge to ensure documents are set up to avoid common pitfalls and to withstand challenges.
Implementation involves working closely with clients, reviewing their setup, and making sure everything is correctly applied.
The Unique Value of Legals by Design®
My signature approach, Legals by Design®, is holistic. It has taken time to refine and share because it is important to me to be able to articulate clearly how it is I do what I do. I think it’s important for business owners to be able to understand what goes on behind the scenes in developing legal documents that work.
To recap, Legals by Design® is a blend of my knowledge and expertise, coupled with the insight I share and the implementation I deliver when collaborating with clients. The four elements are a client-centric approach, better communication, richer outcomes, and implementation. This signature approach is near and dear to my heart, and I’m so pleased to have introduced you to it.
If you are interested in hearing more, tune in Episode #169 of my podcast, Rise Up in Business, where I talk more about my signature approach.
Interested in speaking with me now that you have learned about Legals By Design®? Be sure to reach out here and let’s explore how I can support you and your business.
