Goodmoodlawyer

The pinstriped, high-heeled charisma of law is unbeatable. Lawyers look good in their professional attire and clients buy generously into it. (Yes, they used to – my guess is that they will do so again – they like to look in the mirror of crisp success – and the DIY toolkits are a great recipe for badmoodlaw) .Tv stations spice it up with some interesting accessories, far beyond the billable hour. The look makes you feel really good, really professional, just perfectly in control. And those Italian pointy-nose shoes simply change an average male creature into someone to seriously pay attention to.

Maybe it’s just me, but considering the soaring market of blogs and coaches for unhappy lawyers, there are some of us dreaming of the dress down. The Pajama Day, the Doodle Day, the Bad Hair day. The ‘We pay your for your genious legal mind and we love you …. just the way you are’- Day.

Softies, right brain thinkers, women, intuitives and idealists somehow are mixed in the legal tribe. You don’t recognize them at first sight. They cover up nicely, think quite sharp and save their liberal ambitions for future purposes. It works, it may work, for a while. But … mellow is who you are.  If it starts to bother you, and the big leap isn’t quite your thing yet …. and you already tried a job in the social justice realm or insurance business, here is my alternative.

Create a GoodMoodLawyer. Draw. Paint, Glue, PlayDoh, Woodwork, Sew, Dream, Embroider, Compose, Dance. Write. Make one for your manager, your paralegal, your best friend in the firm. Or just for yourself and hide him or her in your drawer or suitcase. Treat him/her well and good mood will be on your side.

The other side of the aisle is home to the hardwired left brain, clean, clear, low temperature, just plain natural born lawyers. Really? Maybe they could use a little softening up, too. If it wouldn’t be voluntarily, maybe for the long term health benefits of stress relief and brain chemicals related to some sort of affectionate experience.

And if it’s not your dream, think about your clients, co-workers, friends and family members. How would they feel about meeting the goodmoodlawyer in you? Be inspired to think about the set of strengths, competencies of a skillful, professional, energizing Goodmoodlawyer.

Are there any other fuzzy stuffed lawyer creations out there? Posting your pictures would be a courageous and compassionate act of support for your peers .. and for the other side of law!

Book tip:

The creative lawyer – Michael Melcher

Blogs

legalsanity.com

www.cuttingedgelaw.com

Royal treatment for legal clients + Free gift: bookmark

Creative visualization or writing exercise for lawyers

Imagine your clients and readers to be a very special guest in your  ideal workspace. Pretend you are a not only a top-lawyer, but a really good host as well: energizing, joyful, interested and dedicated to creating an excellent get-together.

Offer your best chair. The royal one. Serve an exquisite glass of wine or fine cup of green tea. Be perfectionist about the perfect light/ temperature/ sound for the occasion. Smile. Relax. Set your intention to serving this client with your highest level of knowledge, skills and creativity. Aspire to connect all this to the best possible outcome for this client and your sense of well-being in your work.

Allow your guest to settle in, take some time for silence. See your client as a beautiful human being. Here is your opportunity to serve, practice and master your professional passion. Now invite your client to share her story, her concern, her questions. Listen. Hum along. And listen a little more. Breathe. Thank your client for sharing the story. Give a short summary to make sure that you have heard the essence of her concerns. Pull out your bookmark as a reminder. Focus on questions as ‘What does she need to know?’. What does she need to do?’. Allow your legal knowledge, intuition and the genius of silence to collaborate on finding the perfect words.

Now serve your opinion, advice or analysis in a clear, brief and practical manner on a fuzzy velvet purple pillow.
The golden key.
Less words, more insight.
Help your client in her coat.
Offer further guidance  if necessary.

I know … sounds too good to be true? I wish I had come up with this idea when I was a practicing attorney and corporate lawyer. I wish I would have had the awareness, courage and self-mastery to do this. In real life or in imaginary thinking. Quite the contrary. But … it’s never too late. Even when the ‘Mother of your Brother-in-law tells you about her Dreadful Legal Issue on a Birthday Party of your Little Nephew’ you could still give it a try. Or your Biggest Demanding Pushing Rushed Powerful Corporate Client. Play with it. You might have some fun. You might practice some really good listening skills. You might find unique solutions. You might get so into it, that you are transforming into a highly attractive lawyer/consultant. At least you are chipping in some Good Mood Law charm in the commonly perceived reality of the muddy legal puddle.

Now, take a break and sit back in this royal chair yourself. Law is good. Life is good.

Legal gift wrap

Festive moments in life call  for celebration and gifts. Big moments in life usually involve some sort of commitment. To a new partner.  A new baby. A new job. A new house. A new car. A new loan. A new invention. A new business.

The intention of wonderful bliss and success. Infinite trust in the gods. Most of all: unwavering knowing that some invisible legal system has worked out the details. And the legal net will gracefully catch you if you fall, bouncy but safe. As long as you don’t have to READ it. IT? Yes, the fine print of this life event.

Dear lawyers, here is your chance to have fun with the very annoying practical lawyer-side of you. The game-breaker. The party-buster. The other side of the coin. Beyond the surface. Reality bites. Wave the warning flags. Play it serious!

Legal gift wrap. Legal infographics on one side of the paper. A print of real rules on the festive occasion. On the other side a decorative gift wrap pattern of matching icons.

Use the Dutch version for a new baby – designed as a promotional item for Legal Visuals. You can send me an email to receive a PDF in new-business theme, or a new job theme, or to get information on a custom design. Or make your own, I would love to see a copy.

Visual Wayfinding in Contracts

Most consumer services and standardized B2B transactions come with an unpleasant side-effect: some form of fine print, a large set of unattractive terms and conditions.

Let’s assume the content of the contract is strong, indispensable, and written in plain language. It seems like the legal components of the deal have slipped by the marketing and communications departments, or missed the packaging station at the assembly line. So what we usually get is fancy packaging and catching copywriting on every element of the product or service, but a medieval document with the legal essence of the deal. Wouldn’t there be a better way to respect the information processing habits of users as well as lawyers?

I proudly present my ‘packaging’ solution, displaying user’s logic instead of lawyer’s logic : a multi-layered interface, a visual entry point, and signage in the form of a set of icons. The icons link to keywords and to the full legal text. Dowload the flyer from www.legalvisuals.nl for more information.