What if the problem in your firm isn’t policy… it’s apathy?In this episode we were joined by Nicole Rose. Ex-Big Law employment lawyer turned global compliance program builder who shows how creativity, behaviour science, and tiny daily habits can transform “tick-the-box” into cultures that actually speak up.We cover: early big-firm days in London and the moment Nicole realised she was sketching clients instead of taking notes; shifting into employment law and then compliance/financial crime; why middle management is the real leverage point; the “walk before you run” method for moving people from silence to speaking up; and a simple nudge that took hand-washing compliance from ~15% to ~90%. We also talk self-employment, pricing for long-term value, and why the Self-Employed Lawyers League is building a big-firm impact without needing to become one.Chapters00:00 Intro + the “I drew the client instead of notes” moment05:03 Creativity is not a luxury in law—it’s essential to outcomes08:10 Moving into employment law and working with high-stakes individuals10:40 Into compliance/financial crime; seeing policy vs behaviour up close15:05 Australia pivot: art school, identity shift, and a new direction18:10 Rio Tinto: turning 45-minute trainings into 3-minute animations20:20 Building child-safety culture at Uniting Church; influence over authority25:10 Apathy over opposition: why “not my job” is the true risk30:05 Speaking different languages across the org; surprising learners on the floor35:20 The forgotten power of middle management in compliance rollouts37:20 Lofty’s story on apathy and justice; moving people to act40:05 “Walk before you run”: micro-behaviours that unlock speaking up45:05 The nudge that set a new baseline (hand-washing board)48:00 Why this work changes lives—well beyond the policy binder50:15 Nicole on the League: big-firm effect without becoming one51:30 How to reach Nicole (site, email, LinkedIn, podcast)Guest links• Website: untoldcompliance.com/frame-training-method-workshops/• Email: nicole@untoldcompliance.com• Book: untoldcompliance.com/told-book/• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerose2018/• Search for: The Eight Mindsets PodcastShow notes & resources• Behaviour change in compliance: small daily actions over one big memo• Why middle managers are the true “line one” multipliers• Pricing compliance/legal projects for long-term value (not billable-hour bursts)• The League model: independent lawyers, collective firepower & a rising tide lifting all boatsWork with us and join the League• thesell.life/start-here
What can a coffee roaster teach a lawyer about business development?Plenty if you ask someone like Shafeen Mussa, whose career has taken him from science labs and roasting beans to business development and partnerships at the Queensland Law Society.In this episode, Shafeen joins Lofty in a personal capacity to share how real relationships — not marketing gimmicks — drive sales, referrals, and long-term success.We unpack what “sales equals service” really means, how to build confidence in outreach, and why genuine curiosity beats any script.Note: Shafeen appears in this episode in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are his own and do not represent the Queensland Law Society.Episode Highlights / Chapters00:00 – Introduction & disclaimer02:30 – From Zimbabwe to Logan: Shafeen’s early years and the moment he discovered sales06:40 – Why “sales equals service”09:45 – How to turn rejection into opportunity (and what a 2-in-10 close rate really means)14:20 – The coffee cart story: growing from 6 to 400 cups a day through relationships26:45 – Why people buy from people, not products30:00 – How AI changes sales but can never replace human connection36:40 – Lessons from the Chamber of Commerce and the power of consultative selling42:00 – Why lawyers have a responsibility to sell46:00 – The compounding effect of word-of-mouth and referrals49:00 – Final takeaways: persistence, presence, and being a good humanShow Notes & LinksConnect with Shafeen Mussa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shafmussa/For business development training and tools for self-employed lawyers, visit: https://thesell.lifeRead "Don’t Like Your Boss, Burn the Boats" — the book inspiring lawyers to pursue self employment - search for it on Amazon.
Meet Sarah Burke of SLB Legal —commercial contracts gun, ex-Telstra in-house counsel, and a self-employed lawyer building a practice around family, flexibility, and real-world value.
We cover her path from journalism to law, big-firm beginnings at Maddocks, seven years in-house at Telstra, the “soft launch” of SLB Legal, and why SMEs should think about “outsourced in-house” legal support.
We also dig into AI (where it helps, where it doesn’t), systems, and the lonely bits of solo practice—and how the Self-Employed Lawyers League (SELL) fills that gap.
What you’ll learn
- How to pivot into law later (and why life experience helps)
- Firm vs in-house: what actually changes day-to-day
- The “soft launch” model for starting your own practice
- Why SMEs benefit from an “outsourced in-house” lawyer
- A practical take on AI in contracts and research
- Community, referrals, and momentum inside SELL
Chapters
00:00 Intro & why self-employment
00:32 Journalism → law: the pivot
05:20 First role at Maddocks (no clerkship path)
06:43 Discovering contracts over litigation
07:39 Study vs practice (it’s not Suits)
09:10 Moving in-house & secondments
10:45 Telstra years: becoming commercial & practical
13:30 Press pause for family; reassessing career
15:59 SLB Legal: the soft launch
19:27 Building systems slowly (then scaling)
21:18 How SELL helps (community + playbooks)
25:40 AI: where it helps, where it falls short
31:18 Contracts as strategy & storytelling
32:50 “Outsourced in-house” for SMEs
34:50 Why small businesses are inspiring
35:25 How to contact Sarah (site, LinkedIn, phone)
Show notes & links
Sarah’s firm: SLB Legal — www.slblegal.com.au
Connect with Sarah: LinkedIn (search Sarah Burke, SLB Legal)
Call: 1300 091 014
Learn about the Self-Employed Lawyers League (SELL) https://thesell.life
This week on The SELL Life Podcast, we head across the pond to talk with George Mattey, founder of Imprint Consulting in the UK — a boutique IP law firm proving that creative lawyering isn’t about working longer hours, it’s about working on your own terms.After years inside global firms and billion-pound billable targets, George realised the “partnership promise” was an illusion — the hours, the politics, and the pressure were never going to lead to ownership. So he built his own path.In this episode we unpack:- What “Big Law” really looks like in London — and why so many mid-level lawyers feel trapped.- How George turned restrictive covenants and zero clients into a thriving IP consultancy.- Lessons from building a firm that helps startups protect and scale their brands globally.- The mindset shift every lawyer needs before going out on their own.- Why community and collaboration between self-employed lawyers could change the UK legal landscape.George’s story proves that the next generation of lawyers won’t be defined by the firm names on their business cards — but by the freedom they choose to create.🕒 Timestamps00:00 — Introduction: From Aussie convicts to the City of London02:00 — Why George became a lawyer (and why IP law hooked him early)06:00 — The power of brands and creativity in legal practice10:45 — From regional firm to “Magic Circle” culture shock17:00 — The billable hour trap and the illusion of partnership24:00 — Why most senior associates never make partner26:15 — When George realised Big Law wasn’t built for him30:00 — The moment he decided to launch Imprint Consulting32:45 — Starting from scratch: zero clients, two covenants, and six months of savings34:40 — Lessons from the first 18 months: focus, systems, and failing fast39:00 — Could The Self-Employed Lawyers League work in the UK?43:10 — How to connect with George and Imprint Consulting🧭 Show Notes & LinksConnect with George Mattey on LinkedIn (search “George Mattey” — the only one spelled M-A-T-T-E-Y)Search for Imprint Consulting (UK) for IP and brand protection insights.Learn more about The Self-Employed Lawyers League → http://www.thesell.life
If you’re an SME founder or a self-employed lawyer wondering when to bring in legal help (and how to afford it), this conversation with Sarah Bradley-McKay of Bradley McKay Lawyers is a masterclass. We trace Sarah’s path from Monash Arts/Law to national firm life, into boutique advertising & marketing law (think trade promotions, ACL compliance, copy clearances), then into television production at NHNZ and Token Group—before circling back to build her own boutique with a fractional in-house model that actually fits how growing businesses operate.We get into:• The real difference between studying law vs practicing law• Why creative commercial drafting beats living in court lists• Trade promotion lotteries, consumer law, trademarks, and copy clearances (practical takeaways for marketers)• How fractional in-house counsel helps SMEs avoid “unknown unknowns” and survive beyond year ten• A candid mid-career pivot: taking your power back at 50, parenting teens, and building a practice on your termsChapters & timestamps00:00 Intro and welcome to Sarah Bradley-McKay02:15 Why law? Arts → Law at Monash; “fours open doors”04:05 Articles at Hunt & Hunt; commercial vs litigation (and court nerves)06:20 Choosing creativity in commercial drafting08:40 Boutique life at Anisimoff: advertising & marketing law12:00 Trade promotion lotteries 101 (chance vs skill, permits, ACL)14:00 Copy clearances: from automotive to FMCG to therapeutic goods15:40 Enter entertainment: NHNZ (natural history TV) → making global content18:30 Back to Melbourne: property/hospitality GC → Token Group & comedy/TV21:40 The pivot: turning 50, power, and choosing self-employment26:40 Building Bradley McKay Lawyers: commercial, entertainment, fractional in-house30:30 Why fractional works for SMEs (and how to structure retainers)35:00 Why I joined the Self-Employed Lawyers League (SELL)37:55 How to contact SarahShow notes & links• Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bradly-mckay-105a85113/• Bradley McKay Lawyers: https://www.bmlawyers.com.au/• Self-Employed Lawyers League (SELL): https://thesell.lifeKeywords (SEO): Sarah Bradley-McKay, Bradley McKay Lawyers, fractional general counsel, fractional in-house, entertainment law Australia, advertising and marketing law, trade promotion lotteries, Australian Consumer Law, TV production legal, SME legal strategy, Monash Law, Token Group, NHNZ, copy clearance, trademarks for SMEs, self-employed lawyers, SELL League.
If you think success in law means fitting into a narrow box, meet the outlier who broke it.
George Paramananthan has spent 30+ years creating in-house legal functions for global companies, leading M&A transitions, and running a fully remote practice so he can hike the Silk Road or work from the base of Everest—and still reply within 24 hours.
We dive into building legal departments that enable revenue (not block it), negotiating like a human, and his “Robin Hood” strategy: take select corporate work to fund low-bono service for for-purpose and arts organisations.
What you’ll learn
How to think (and hire) for skills over “years-in-seat”
Contract negotiation without the adversarial theatre
Designing a 100% remote legal business that actually runs
Pipeline focus for consultants + why “service” beats “status”
Moral rights, appropriation art, and why ideas aren’t copyright
Chapters & Time Stamps
00:00 Welcome + why George’s story matters
03:10 Art → Law: the real origin story and a tiger-mum push
06:30 Articles, rotations, and becoming the department’s “workhorse”
09:55 Masters + first global in-house role → burnout & lessons
18:30 Acting CEO/COO, M&A, and the in-house toolbelt
22:40 Culture clashes: honesty, modesty, and industry gatekeeping
31:05 Hospitality mindset for legal service
32:50 Why in-house should be a speed bump, not a stop sign
35:30 Remote systems, travel, and the 24-hour rule
37:25 Client focus: renewables, R&D, and for-purpose work
40:15 Through-put, three screens, and reviewing fast
41:20 How to work with George + contact details
Links & Resources
Guest site: https://paramco.com.au
Email: george@paramco.com.au
LinkedIn: Search George's name or Jason's name to learn more
Join the Self-Employed Lawyers League: https://thesell.life
About the show
We help self-employed lawyers get more referrals, stand out in a niche, and sell with conviction—because your livelihood depends on it.
In this episode, I sit down with Mohammed Kheir, founding principal of MK Allan Lawyers, to unpack his story of leaving the safety of employment and launching into self-employment in the high-risk world of personal injury law.
We cover:
Growing up in a family of lawyers and the expectations that shaped his path
Why personal injury law is a war of attrition — and how he built resilience early
The turning point that pushed him to leave comfort behind and take the leap
The challenge of starting a PI firm when you don’t get paid for 6–24 months
How “luck” is really goodwill compounding into referrals and opportunity
The importance of freedom — from spending mornings with his daughter to speaking out on causes he cares about
Why he chose the name MK Allan and the deeper story of breaking down barriers around identity and prejudice
His views as a founding member of the Self-Employed Lawyers League — and how community removes the loneliness of running your own practice
Whether you’re a lawyer dreaming of going out on your own or already self-employed and looking for encouragement, Mohammed’s story is proof that conviction, community, and client satisfaction can build a thriving practice — even in one of the toughest areas of law.
Timestamps
0:00 – Intro
1:00 – Growing up in a family of lawyers
3:30 – The unconventional pathway into law
6:00 – Early years and complacency at the family firm
8:00 – The leap into boutique and big firm life
10:20 – Disillusionment with personal injury practices
13:30 – Deciding to start MK Allan Lawyers
16:00 – The financial risk of starting a PI firm
18:00 – “Luck” vs goodwill compounding
22:30 – Freedom, family, and finding true self-employment
27:30 – Mohammed’s take on the Self-Employed Lawyers League
35:00 – The story behind the name “MK Allan”
42:00 – Building accessibility and satisfaction into his practice
47:00 – Closing thoughts
Show Notes & Links
Connect with Mohammed: https://www.mkallan.com.au/
Follow Jason (“Lofty”) on LinkedIn:
In this episode I sit down with Alex Palmer, founder of Adari Consulting and a Self-Employed Lawyers League founding member.
Alex’s story begins with a dream of becoming a vet, but instead she found her calling in law—building a career that took her from Harrods in London to top-tier firm Allens in Melbourne, and then into the boardrooms of global mining giants Rio Tinto and Newcrest Mining.
For decades, Alex was the corporate “firefighter”—stepping in when things went wrong. But as she shares in this conversation, she realised prevention is more powerful than cure.
Today, through Adari Consulting, she helps organisations build integrity frameworks that protect culture, reputation, and people—before the fires even start.
We talk about:
The unexpected path from aspiring vet to employment lawyer at Harrods
What 11 years at Allens taught her about litigation and opportunity
Lessons from leading regulatory investigations at Rio Tinto and Newcrest
Why compliance isn’t about rules—it’s about culture and values
How subcultures, leadership pressure, and growth can erode corporate integrity
Why organisations should start early with governance and risk frameworks
Alex’s vision of building integrity juggernauts—companies that thrive by doing the right thing
Whether you’re a lawyer, business leader, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on culture, governance, and leadership in practice.
Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction & Alex’s backstory
2:00 – From aspiring vet to law school
4:00 – Life at Harrods and early employment law practice
6:00 – Moving to Australia & joining Allens
8:00 – Transition to in-house counsel at Rio Tinto & Newcrest
12:00 – Building global ethics and compliance frameworks
17:00 – How leadership and subcultures shape corporate values
22:00 – The challenge of proactive compliance & governance
28:00 – Accountability, culture, and daily habits of integrity
30:00 – When growing businesses should invest in frameworks
35:00 – Alex’s experience as a founding member of the League
39:00 – How to connect with Alex & closing remarks
Connect with Alex Palmer:
What makes someone leave the “safe” legal career path to create a firm built on values instead of billables?
In this episode of The SELL.Life Podcast, I sit down with Mary Shamaly, a founding member of the Self-Employed Lawyers League and the lawyer behind Grace and Justice.
Mary’s story is one of chance, courage, and conviction:
How a coin toss at 16 set her on the path to law
Why she nearly walked away for architecture
Her years inside the child protection and Legal Aid system
The moment she realised she was “thoroughly unemployable” in traditional firms
What Grace + Justice truly mean in practice — and why the two must co-exist
How imposter syndrome nearly held her back, and why community is the antidote
If you’ve ever felt trapped in a career mould or questioned whether the “safe” path was really yours, Mary’s leap into self-employment will resonate deeply.
Connect with Mary:
GraceJustice.com | mary@gracejustice.com
Connect with Lofty
In this episode of the Self-Employed Lawyers League Podcast, we sit down with Dicky Abraham, founder of Spurling Legal and our very first member of the League.
Dicky’s journey into law was anything but traditional.
From engineering, to warehouse shifts, to finally discovering a passion for law—he’s now pioneering a new approach to commercial litigation that challenges the outdated billable-hour model.
We cover:
How Dicky went from engineering dropout to successful commercial litigator
The mentors and lessons that shaped his career
Why he left the traditional firm model to launch Spurling Legal
How he’s using AI and tech to deliver affordable, transparent litigation services
Why Spurling Legal doesn’t track billable hours (and what that means for clients)
How the Self-Employed Lawyers League is helping him build community while going solo
If you’re a self-employed lawyer—or thinking of becoming one—this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible in your own practice.
Key Moments:
00:00 – Intro: Why Dicky is our #1 client
02:00 – From failing engineering to finding law
07:30 – First office job and learning professional soft skills
10:20 – Moving states, marriage, and building a career in Melbourne
13:00 – Why he chose to back himself instead of waiting for partnership
15:00 – The story behind the name Spurling Legal
17:00 – Rethinking legal fees: from billable hours to a value-based hybrid
19:30 – How AI helps scope proposals & bring certainty to clients
25:00 – Why Spurling Legal gives SMEs more negotiating power
30:00 – Why the Self-Employed Lawyers League made joining a no-brainer
Connect with Dicky:
Spurling Legal Website
LinkedIn
Connect with Lofty:
In the closing chapter, Jason and Courtney sit fireside with friends, unpacking the final lessons of self-employment. From conquering the fear of leaving a firm, to building a reputare score that drives referrals, this conversation distills everything a lawyer needs to hear before taking the leap.If you’re a lawyer considering self-employment, this is where hesitation ends. Relearning the lessons of the book to:Replace your salary with a handful of clientsBuild a client experience that fuels word-of-mouthProtect your family time while scaling your practiceThis isn’t just theory. It’s a real story about choosing freedom, backed by strategies any lawyer can implement and once you've read it we'd love to help you thrive in your first few months by getting you into the Self Employed Lawyers League. Learn more: thesell.life/start-here
In this chapter we face down the people who once told us we weren’t ready. What follows is a high-stakes mediation that becomes the ultimate test of confidence, preparation, and self-belief.For self-employed lawyers, this chapter is about silencing imposter syndrome and proving to yourself that you are capable of thriving on your own terms. You’ll hear how we prepared, strategised, and turned the tables on intimidation — showing that reputation is built by action, not fear.If you’ve ever doubted whether you’re ready to succeed outside of a traditional firm, this chapter will remind you: you already have what it takes.
In Chapter 11, the reality of self-employment comes crashing in when work begins to overtake the very reason you left your firm in the first place: family. We share the painful lesson of missing school pick-up, bedtime routines, and the guilt that follows when your priorities slip.This chapter is about more than client work or time management — it’s about boundaries, balance, and the commitment to build a business that doesn’t cost you the relationships that matter most. If you’ve ever felt torn between delivering for clients and being present at home, this story will hit close to the bone and show you how to reset.For self-employed lawyers, the wake-up call is clear: your schedule must reflect your values. In this episode, you’ll learn why saying “no” at the right time actually earns respect, and how to design your week so family and freedom come first, without sacrificing growth.Bonus Resource: PRODUCTIVE TIME INVESTOR
Chapter 10 takes you inside one of the most feared moments for any self-employed lawyer: the threat of a lawsuit from your old firm. Jason receives a call warning him that his former boss is furious and ready to sue if more clients follow him. What follows is a masterclass in how to handle fear, pressure, and intimidation when stepping out on your own.This chapter shows lawyers that even when you haven’t poached clients, old firms may try to weaponise fear to hold you back. You’ll learn how to turn the tables with strategy, calmness, and the kind of creative thinking that protects your independence without losing momentum.If you’re a lawyer considering self-employment—or already running your own practice—this chapter is a reminder that the biggest obstacle isn’t always the law, it’s the fear of standing your ground.
Many lawyers assume referrals will flow naturally if they do good work. The truth? Word of mouth is random unless you intentionally shape it. In this chapter, we break down how to make referrals predictable, not accidental or by fluke.The lesson is clear: referrals aren’t about luck. They’re about training people to think of you when the need arises. By asking the right questions, giving people the words to introduce you, and staying visible to past clients and colleagues, you can turn referrals into a reliable business-building system.For self-employed lawyers, this chapter provides a blueprint for making reputation work harder. Instead of waiting and hoping, you learn how to orchestrate word of mouth, strengthen your reputare score, and create a steady flow of client introductions.
Most lawyers focus on getting the work done. Few stop to ask whether their service is memorable enough to generate repeat work, referrals, or five-star reviews. In this chapter, we share how we discovered the power of the “Reputare Score” — the true measure of whether your practice will stagnate, survive, or scale.The lesson is clear. Simply doing “good enough” legal work leaves you hustling forever, but small changes in delivery, presentation, and client care can transform one client into many. By tracking your own Reputare Score, you can predict future revenue, decide when to invest in advertising, and build a practice where clients find you instead of you chasing them.This is the foundation of every thriving self-employed practice.Bonus Resource: REPUTARE SCORE TRACKER
For a new self employed lawyer, when the work finally arrives, it rarely trickles in. It comes crashing like a wave. In this chapter, we share the overwhelming rush of new clients and the hard lesson that more opportunity can quickly turn into chaos without systems in place. Success without structure often feels like drowning.The real challenge isn’t getting clients. It’s managing them in a way that doesn’t recreate the same burnout you tried to escape as an employee. By learning to categorise tasks, set clear boundaries, and protect your time, you can ride the wave instead of being pulled under by it. The key lesson is simple: growth is only sustainable if you can control it, and the difference between thriving and drowning is the strength of the systems you build.
Bonus Resource: thesell.life/lm-weekly-task-prioritiser-download
Every self-employed lawyer remembers the moment they signed their first client. It’s exciting, terrifying, and filled with second-guessing. In this chapter, we walk through that turning point and uncover the most important lesson: clients don’t buy your hours, they buy peace of mind.This is where the shift from “billing time” to “valuing outcomes” becomes real. By asking better questions about what’s at stake for your client, you learn how to set fees based on the value of the decision, not the time it takes you to draft or review. That mindset is what separates lawyers struggling for scraps from those building thriving practices.The chapter ends with a simple truth: delivering certainty and confidence is more valuable to clients than the clock you punch. And when you embrace that, your practice starts to scale on your terms.
BONUS RESOURCE: FIXED FEE CREATOR & CALCULATOR
Networking and coffee meetings will only get you so far if potential clients cannot find you online. In this chapter, we explore why your digital presence is often the deciding factor between a polite conversation and a paying client.The lesson is simple: people want to look you up before they trust you. If your LinkedIn profile reads like a job application instead of speaking directly to clients, you are invisible to the very people you want to serve.This chapter shows you how to create a professional presence that builds credibility, attracts referrals, and turns profile views into opportunities. By giving people a place to “stalk” you, you control the story they discover—and position yourself as the obvious choice when they are ready to act.
Bonus Resource: thesell.life/lm-profile-optimisation-checklist-download
Overthinking is the silent killer of self-employment dreams. Lawyers are trained to analyse, predict, and prepare for every possible scenario, but when applied to starting your own practice, this mindset creates paralysis. Chapter 4 explains why trying to plan your way to certainty only delays results and drains momentum.Instead, progress comes from movement. This chapter shows how taking even small, imperfect steps creates clarity, builds confidence, and reveals opportunities you cannot see while stuck in planning mode. The truth is that no amount of preparation will eliminate risk, but action will give you feedback that preparation never can.For any lawyer considering self-employment, the lesson here is simple but powerful: stop waiting until you feel ready.
Overthinking kills action, and action is the only path that leads to clarity and growth.
Bonus Resource: thesell.life/lm-outreach-template-tracker