#563: Beyond the Traditional: Creating Future-Proof Legal Offerings, with Rachel Allums and Allison Harrison

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Jun 5, 2025

Rachel Allums, an estate planning attorney from San Diego, and Allison Harrison, a Columbus-based estate planning and business litigation attorney, discuss their innovative venture, Safe Sendoff. They address the critical need for legal documents for young adults turning 18, pairing essential services with an 'Adulting 101' course. Their collaboration leverages their law firm experiences and emphasizes automated, transparent pricing for quality legal support. They also highlight the importance of shared coaching and effective communication in building a successful legal business.

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INSIGHT

Sudden Legal Independence at 18

Turning 18 triggers sudden legal independence from parents, often before graduation.
Many families are unprepared for this abrupt legal transition and its responsibilities.

ANECDOTE

Adulting 101 Inspiration

Allison shares excitement about adulthood but admits she wasn't prepared for the responsibilities that come with turning 18.
Safe Sendoff includes an "Adulting 101" course to educate young adults on new rights and duties.

INSIGHT

Managing CEO Bottlenecks Together

Two busy CEO ‘bottlenecks’ can cause delays; mutual understanding and grace are essential.
Recognizing shared challenges helps to maintain a healthy partnership process.

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Step inside a real-world example of legal innovation as two Lawyerist Lab members, Rachel Allums and Allison Harrison, reveal how they partnered to create Safe Sendoff, a new company addressing common legal needs for young adults.

Rachel and Allison identified a need for legal documents like powers of attorney and HIPAA releases when young people turn 18. They decided to join forces, sharing costs and leveraging their individual firm experiences to develop a product that serves both young adults and their parents. Beyond providing crucial legal forms, Safe Sendoff also includes an "Adulting 101" course, which educates young people on the responsibilities and rights that come with turning 18, covering topics from employment rules to filing taxes.

Their discussion highlights a new service delivery model offering automated, cost-effective solutions. Rachel and Allison share how their experience running their individual law firms informed their approach to building Safe Sendoff, allowing them to expedite the process of defining their purpose, vision, and ideal client. They also emphasize the benefits of working with a shared coach through Lawyerist Lab, which helped keep them on track. You'll learn about their commitment to transparent, upfront pricing and their focus on delivering valuable legal support through recorded explanations and automated processes, making high-quality legal information accessible at a fraction of the cost.

If this discussion sparks questions about optimizing your firm's operations or identifying new opportunities, consider exploring the "free small firm scorecard" at lawyerist.com/scorecard. It's a quick assessment to help you get a data-driven view of your firm and identify areas for smart improvements as you embark on your own innovation journey.

Listen to our other episodes:

#407: Serving Clients Through Alternative Business Structures, with Mike Payne and Chad Huebsch Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist

#368: Using Strategy Intensives for Your Firm’s Success, with Anne Romanello Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist

#320 A Labster Call, with Aaron Thomas Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist

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Chapters/Timestamps:

9:31 - Introducing Safe Sendoff: A New Venture

11:49 - The "Adulting 101" Component & Why Young Adults Need These Documents 15:14 - The Partnership Journey: Challenges and Synergies

17:48 - Building a Second Business Differently

22:46 - The Business Model: Beyond the Billable Hour

25:24 - Lessons Learned and Advice for Entrepreneurs

28:53 - What's Next for Safe Sendoff: Marketing and Growth