With the right team in place - at work and home - this lawyer has been able to take the loneliness out of life’s big decisions.
Tell us a little bit about Grevillea Law -
Affectionately known to us as GLaw.
GLaw is a regional, female-led law firm that helps go-getters put legal puzzle pieces together in life and in business, for peace of mind.
Based on the banks of the Macintyre River in Goondiwindi, we help small business owners and families all over Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and even up into the Northern Territory.
A day in the life of GLaw can start with helping someone with their retail business purchase followed by a quick pre-lunch meeting with new clients to help them start their wills and estate plan, and then finishing the afternoon working through the business structure of an established rural business.
With a sprinkle of confetti and a dash of colour, that’s pretty much what makes up GLaw.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of starting your own business?
It is incredibly validating to have a business idea, launch it and then see it develop.
I also find it a thrill to be invited into other people’s businesses as they share plans or struggles with us. The nature of running a business can be lonely and it is a privilege to be part of someone else’s adventure.
What is unique about Grevillea Law?
We work hard on making sure our team is incredibly approachable.
Law firms have a bad rap for being difficult to engage with, having undisclosed fees, and lawyers who don't walk the talk.
Our team is rare, in that we have a combination of legal and business experience.
All our team members share their time between being part of GLaw and being involved in running their family businesses. This helps us bring a practical, down-to-earth and fresh approach to our services.
What advice would you give another woman who’s looking to start her own business?
Make sure you gather a good team around you.
It can be really isolating starting a business, but it doesn’t have to be lonely.
When I started GLaw I couldn’t afford to employ a team, but I could afford to engage contractors for a few hours from time to time. This meant I was able to work with people at the top of their game who injected their genius into GLaw. We now have a team of six employed in the business, but the team member that has been with us from the start still operates as a contractor. It’s about how you set up your team and engage with everyone.
Oh, and get some professional photography done. It really makes a big impact to use your own images to connect with your customers.
Women have long represented the archetype of the ‘juggler’. How do you balance work and life responsibilities?
I don’t very well. I seem to take us to “crazy town” and back regularly. I can sometimes overcommit, hit a wall where I realise it’s not practical and then pare down my commitments so that life isn’t too crazy again.
My husband and I are a real team. We support each other at work and at home. There are times when I’ve been the primary carer for our three children, and then times when Ed has taken the reigns.
I think the key is to have a conversation about what the workload is, and who is doing what. Even if nothing changes, there is recognition of what is involved and the mental load can be shared.
How has your business shifted over time?
In some ways we’ve come full circle.
I started GLaw in 2018, from a home office, doing all the roles. I offered business, wills and estate services - marketed myself as your “local legal GP”. One of the biggest hurdles when I started was finding someone to be the second witness for every will I signed up! It was often Ed.
Since then we’ve niched down – to helping rad boss ladies get their wills done for peace of mind – and more recently, we broadened our services to help clients with their wills and businesses.
The niching worked well while I took parental leave, but we have more resources available now and I’m passionate about working in the business space again.
I feel like GLaw has its training wheels off, sparkly handle streamers flying and I’m excited to be along for the ride.
What’s on the horizon for Grevillea Law in 2023?
We’ve got some big plans this year.
We’re in the process of organising our GLaw Road Trip for the year. We are looking at hosting a larger event in Goondiwindi, later in the year, for regional and rural business owners.
I want to get back to offering training, support and networking events for our GLaw family. It’s definitely something I’ve been looking for, after the last couple of years.
Location: GOONDIWINDI | QLD
Website: glaw.com.au
Instagram: @grevillea_law
Facebook: Grevillea Law
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