Joanna Tall, founder of Off to See My Lawyer on Creating Her Own Business and Making Lawyers Less Scary
To celebrate International Women’s Day, our founder, Joanna Tall tells us why she set up her own law firm, and why she chose to focus on providing legal advice to female entrepreneurs.
I founded my law firm after working in the City and discovering that working part-time as a new Mum was not working as I was still being given the same amount of work to do, but in less time. I even resorted to using my daughter’s scooter to get from Waterloo to work just to save extra time! The stress of trying to get back to nursery in time and do a good job finally got to me and I decided the only way forward was to be my own boss. 
I also wanted to create something that was different and fun. I think we lawyers are feared like dentists and so it was essential to take that fearful element away. Knowing also that most entrepreneurs, especially females, are usually juggling work and family commitments, we offer really flexible solutions, many of which are online such as our ‘Oven- ready document shop’ thus saving clients from travelling and letting them work at a time to suit them.
As an entrepreneur myself, I understand the challenges of running a business and know that people often find the legal aspect daunting. Our mission is to put plain English terms & conditions in place that protect businesses and ensure good relationships with clients and suppliers. This ultimately leads to a happier and more successful business. I specialize in businesses led by women as I feel I speak their language and understand the juggling that goes on behind the scenes!
I love dealing with entrepreneurs and SME’s as each business is different. No two days are the same. Usually, when people come to me, they are really excited at having come up with a brilliant idea and wanting to launch it as soon as possible. There is such a buzz of energy, it is infectious. I love the fact that I and my team are setting them up with strong foundations. Best of all is to see the look of relief on their faces knowing they are protected from a legal point of view.
Jo’s 5 reasons to consult a lawyer before you start your business:
- Lawyers can highlight what your risks are and how to protect yourself.
- Written agreements (as opposed to dodgy handshakes) will spell out all eventualities and avoid misunderstandings e.g. when you expect to get paid!
- You can limit your liability whereas with no terms, your liability is wide open.
- By law, website owners must have certain information and specific terms on their website or else they could face big fines and trouble from Trading Standards.
- You will sleep well at night knowing that all risks have been thought through!
