It is a well-known phenomenon: a corporate lawyer receives carefully drafted advice from a renowned lawyer. Perfectly substantiated legally, including footnotes and references to European law - an absolute masterpiece. The corporate lawyer then wants to share this advice with the rest of the company, but faces resistance. The management is too busy to read it and the sales team is simply not interested.
In order to improve their services, lawyers should consider three important questions with each advice, contract, memo or procedural document: who am I writing this for, what purpose does the reader have and what form is appropriate?
Example 1: process strategy in a complex case
- For whom? The board, which is constantly flooded with information and is busy.
- Goal? Balancing risks and making decisions.
- Shape? Create layering in the information. Start with a detailed and legally robust memo that is read by the corporate lawyer. Then make a brief overview, for example a flow chart with the different legal options and the likelihood of success. Based on this, the board can make a decision.
Example 2: memo about providing general terms and conditions
- For whom? The sales team, which consists mainly of non-lawyers.
- Goal? Achieving behavioral change and reducing risks.
- Shape? Use clear and understandable language. Add infographics to support the text and create an interactive PDF. Make sure people don't have to search for information, but give them exactly what they need.
From thesis to practical advice
Effective communication is essential for the success of legal services. Lawyers should be aware that their advice and documents must not only be legally accurate, but also accessible and understandable to intended readers. By taking into account the target group, the intended goal and the right form in each advice, contract, memo or procedural document, legal professionals can bridge the gap between the legal and business world. In this way, they can ensure that their expertise is actually understood and applied.
Curious about how this approach can work for you? Get in touch with maurits@patroon.nl for an informal conversation.
