A legal conference with a Conga line? And 3 reasons why you should join us.

Author Sarah Follent

I suspect you might be asking, what do you mean that there is a legal conference with a Conga line? Well, this is a thing and it is happening again this year. The annual Club Retreat is back for 2019 and let me assure you it will be bigger, brighter and better than ever!

Over the past 2 years I have had the pleasure of assisting my boss and friend Clarissa Rayward in designing and co-ordinating a legal conference like no other in what we like to call The Club Retreat! This is no usual legal conference- gone are the heavy papers, black and white powerpoints and branded water bottles! Instead you can be assured of relevant topics on all aspects of running a modern legal practice from experts in and outside the profession. Think ‘TEDX’ for lawyers- our presenters are hand-picked to both inspire and educate through speech.

Here are my 3 reasons why you should join us and what I have observed and learnt from running this event alongside Clarissa, plus the amazing lawyers around the country who have joined us.

1. The community and friendships you will make.

For 2 days you will be surrounded and supported by a group of wonderful, like-minded people in a safe collective, exploring ideas of change and innovation in your career. (Fear not, this will actually go beyond the Retreat!)

The people who attend our event are at the heart of why we have the community in ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life.’ Lawyer or not you are welcome to join us for 2 days of colour, unique education and motivation where you will be inspired to live your best life in and outside of the law.

2. The diverse array of knowledge and experience shared by presenters will have you looking at things differently, thinking 'out' outside the box and implementing your ideas faster.

It is common for us to think that architects and designers are paid to be creative thinkers, but CEOs, lawyers and business owners are not. Well here is a *truth bomb* for you… This is not the case at all.

As a designer and creative thinker I believe that it is a common mis-conception that we are born with ‘creative genes.’ Now I know, you are probably like ‘easy for you to say you are a creative!’ But what I have observed from working alongside lawyers across the county in The Club is that there are so many cool, creative and courageous legal professionals out there challenging the norm of what a lawyer is and what a lawyer does. You guys are great at applying ‘practicality’ to some of life’s most challenging times and from what I have seen once a good dose of ‘creative confidence’ is applied, something really wonderful happens to both the legal process and outcome.

The Club Retreat allows you to see that creative potential and innovation lies everywhere in the things we get to do each day.

3. You will have fun, join that Conga line and leave the 2 days feeling inspired to innovate.

I believe that The Club Retreat is a great way to show you how to take the ‘seriousness’ out of the mundane day-to-day that comes with life in the law and apply fun, colour and energy whilst keeping the importance of what lawyers do intact.

You will be given a safe and inclusive space to start penning your ideas and dreams to bring them to life. I give you my word that Clarissa and the presenters will show you how to effortlessly dance between your creative potential and the pragmatism of the business world and life as a lawyer. (At this point you will be jumping off your chair and joining the visionary that is Ann-Maree David in that Conga line we promised!)

There will be a lot of confronting and thought provoking moments over the 2 days but you will leave feeling a sense of support, inspiration and motivation to keep doing the things you love both in and outside of the law.

On Sunday 30 non-member ‘early, early bird’ Retreat tickets hit the Happy Lawyer Shop Floor and now is your chance to join us!

These tickets are now available but only for this week!

You can learn more about The Club Retreat here or purchase your *extra special* tickets available at a super special price here.

So join us in Kingscliff on the 8th and 9th of November for 2 days of business, law and life learning designed to help you be the best lawyer you can be.

Sarah Follent

Design & Creative Director | Co-Creator | Legal Designer | Blogger | Co-ordinator

Hello! I am Sarah a fun, vibrant and colourful woman. I have an effervescent love of life, colour and energy which is reflected in all I do.

I am a creative, designer, entrepreneur and co-creator. It is actually really hard for me to put into words what I do each day (many will agree) but I will give it a crack.

I currently work in a number of different capacities, relying on my skills in creativity and innovation as well as my experience in coordination and business to be as versatile and adaptable as possible.

Let’s be friends! I would love to connect with you on Linkedin and Instagram!

Why a Designer and a Lawyer are a match made in heaven!

Author Sarah Follent

I wholeheartedly believe that the collaboration (and relationship) of Designers and Lawyers is on the rise and here is why!

Other than the obvious benefits of bringing colour and life into the mostly black, white and grey legal industry, there is so much value in finding your designer counterpart. Whether it be co-creating simple and consumable legal documents for those who find themselves seeking legal services or bringing colour to your personal brand, a designer can help set you apart.

You might be wondering “what would a designer know about legal stuff? Surely there are much more interesting jobs a designer could be working on…”

Let me take you on a trip down memory lane.

Simply put, I am Sarah, fun, vibrant and colourful. I have an effervescent love of life, colour and energy which is reflected in all I do. I am a designer, baker and co-creator. I completed a Bachelor in Design (Interior) in 2013, in over 5 years experience in many design roles (and all-sorts), I have developed a multi- faceted and distinctive understanding of design across the board. I enjoy the interlacing that design and life experiences bring and how these bring opportunities of evolving design to a beautiful expression. And now for the fun part….

I met the trailblazing lawyer Clarissa Rayward in 2012 through my friend and at the time “housemate” Freya Gardon. Clarissa was on the hunt for new staff for her cafe Ma Belle Amie in Albion, Brisbane. I remember getting the heads up from Freya for my interview with Clarissa “she is like no-other lawyer, wear something colourful and just be you.” At that time little did I know what a fruitful constellation this meeting would be! Naturally I got the job and worked in the cafe for 3 years whilst finishing my studies. I eventually left work at the cafe to explore a role in Interior Design however I was never far. Fast forward a year and I was back with Clarissa, Ollie and London. (There is much more of a story here but I won’t waffle on anymore.)

And so, today you will find me designing and co-creating alongside my friend (and boss) Clarissa Rayward on all things Happy Lawyer Happy Life, The Happy Family Lawyer, Brisbane Family Law Centre & our soon to launch project Amicably. Clarissa has graciously allowed and supported me to develop a specialised expertise in (and fondness for) brand development, identity, strategy and digital design execution.

So back to the chase. Here are my 3 key reasons why a designer and a lawyer are a match made in heaven and why I think you should go out and explore this relationship too.

1. Co-creating simple and consumable legal documents

First and foremost, designers allow the work of a lawyer to evolve into attractive consumable legal or non-legal documents and outcomes. How people consume and find service based industries is forever changing. Therefore it is essential that your legal firm evolves too! The way you curate and convey your work and business messaging must at the end of the day resonate with those “humans” who will ultimately need and use your services. A designer is able to help create alluring visual solutions, map out, cut out and co-create with you the “actual” words, documents and messaging your firm may need to stay ahead of the game in “law land!”

Inject joy where-ever you can. It truly has a ripple effect!

2. Shifting focus to creating and not the result

Easier said than done, I know! However, designers will guide you in introducing concepts like play into a design task and force you to take things outside “the box!” Something I always come back to is when I am inspired by something or get an idea from something I’ve seen I like to spend another 30 hours on it. Giving something space to evolve is the beauty in any design process or creation.

3. Guide and support your brand's "tone of voice"- aka the language and words you want to use to convey your message

Lawyer talk is hard to wrap your head around when you are removed from “Law Land.” It has taken me 4 years, much eaves dropping and approx. 6 of Clarissa’s Collaborative Practice Training Workshops to understand what and why anyone would need a consent order or some such. So having someone in your firm and on your team that needs things explained like a million times is useful to see what language can and cannot stay. Non-lawyers, like myself need simple, honest and straight to the point dialogue. No amount of Acts, heavy binned papers or legal terms will help me or your clients understand the law. So give it a whirl!

Working and supporting the wonderful lawyers running firms, in house lawyers, corporate counsel, senior associates, and even Barristers in “The Club” – such as the likes of Megan Sweetlove (I just had to drop that name in there just for the pure fact that there is a Family Lawyer with the name “Sweetlove”, it’s just amazing!) has allowed me to see (and understand) the great potential the collaboration of a lawyer and a designer can bring to the legal services industry. Back track 5 years ago my Interior Designer self would have never dreamed of being a designer co-creating alongside a trailblazing lawyer like Clarissa but here I am today and it is a dream come true. I even get to practise my Interior Design skills at time thanks to the creative, colourful, craziness that is Clarissa Rayward and her many projects!

So in a wrap… Inject joy into the profession with colour, words, changing the way we are with one another and welcome the idea of collaborating with a designer today!

Sarah Follent

Design & Creative Director | Co-Creator | Baker | Blogger | Event Co-ordinator

Hello! I am Sarah a fun, vibrant and colourful woman. I have an effervescent love of life, colour and energy which is reflected in all I do. I am a designer, baker and co-creator.

It is actually really hard for me to put into words what I do each day (many will agree) but I will give it a crack.

Most days you will find me designing and co-creating alongside my friend (and boss) Clarissa Rayward on all things Happy Lawyer Happy Life, The Happy Family Lawyer, Brisbane Family Law Centre & our soon to launch project Amicably. On other occasions you will find me caring and playing with my little soul sisters London and Daisy, baking loving, healthy, yummy and vibrant food at Baked Livingness or organising and coordinating events at Happiness Hub.

Let’s be friends! I would love to connect with you on Linkedin and Instagram!