Layman’s Law Course- Launching Soon!

An online law course for small business owners, entrepreneurs and creatives

What is the Layman’s Law Course?

Layman’s Law Course is a short, intensive online training series that teaches you how to think, write and negotiate like a lawyer, in order to protect your 3 biggest key business assets, namely your brand, assets and relationships, in order to gear your business for long term success.

Whether you’re a Start Up (one man band or new to business) or Scale Up (established business owner) but ready to grow, the Layman’s Law Course will challenge you to perform and operate at a different, higher level. It’s designed to provide you with legal skills, resources and information in order to identify and manage legal risk.

What does the program cover?

There are 3 core modules, plus a bonus module where you’ll learn how to protect your brand aka the Intellectual Property of your business!
The modules are as follows:

MODULE 1: Understanding the legal aspects of your business

Every single day, you interact with the law, whether it be by way of entering into agreements, work relationships, managing finances…the list goes on. Sadly too many have a negative association with the law and feel overwhelmed by the system and the high cost of hiring a lawyer. Understanding the legal environment of your business is utterly critical to ensuring that you manage risk and sustain long term growth. In this Module, you’ll clarify the relevant legal considerations to take into account when setting up and running a business, the importance of drafting rock solid terms and conditions and letters of engagement and understanding relevant legislation.

This module will help you to understand, build confidence and validate your business, including its legal framework, so that you’re operating on a strong foundation and genuinely connecting with the people you serve.

MODULE 2: Contracts

Contracts are the foundation of trade, so it’s vital to understand how they are formed and when they arise. In this Module, you’ll learn the key ingredients of contracts, how to record agreements, and make amendments/variations to contracts. We’ll also cover how to avoid costly mistakes and the risks associated with oral contracts, in order to make sure that your contracts achieve your top business goals.

MODULE 3: Communications, Negotiations and Disputes

The key to a long term and profitable business is knowing how to communicate well with your clients and customers. Good communication (including across your social media platforms) and negotiation skills are a must in today’s modern business world. Plus, they’re proven to avoid misunderstandings and potential legal disputes. In this Module, you’ll develop a strategic and achievable plan to stay connected to your audience and learn how to avoid some costly mistakes. You’ll also learn a step by step method to negotiate and avoid potential disputes.

BONUS MODULE 4: Intellectual Property

This module breaks down the different forms of intellectual property, including copyright and trade marks. You’ll learn the basics of copyright law and confidential information, including discussing ideas and when to commit those ideas to a contract and or a written pitch. You’ll also learn the importance of protecting your reputation and business through branding and trade marks, and how to approach someone professionally in the event that you think your intellectual property has been stolen.

Am I a good fit for the Layman’s Law Course?

If you want to learn about the legal environment of your business and how to use legal information to grow and protect your business, the Layman’s Law Course is for you. Our ideal members are:

1. Inquisitive beginners:

Do you want to set up a business and provide products or services? This course will help you get set up the right way and thinking in the right direction in relation to the legal framework of your business.

2. Established business owners:

Hey small business owners! Interior designers, landscape architects, photographers, fashion designers! If you feel ready to deepen your understanding of your agreements and strengthen your customer and client relationships, so that you can protect and exponentially grow your business, the Layman’s Law Course will teach you how —even if you’re terrified of the legal system and/or lawyers!

3. Entrepreneurs and Creatives:

Already running a business? Ready to take it up a notch? These trainings will teach you timeless strategies so you can navigate legal issues with ease.

Can I see any reviews from people who have taken the course?

Sure! See below some stories shared from people like you who have done the course.

Mon Palmer, Landscape Designer

Everyone needs a Rachel - this Rachel - in their life. I honestly do not know where I would be if our paths hadn't crossed. Considering I had been in business for over a decade without a T&C in sight, I was extremely lucky to have had a pretty non-eventful term. I instinctively trusted my clients and trades, believing each party would do the right thing. And it worked, in a fingers crossed and hope for the best way, so I continued on this path.

But, as life has it, an unexpected surprise was in store. It wasn't until we undertook our own renovation build on our home that we realised working on trust alone does not cut it. Dotting the I's and crossing the T's was super important.

What I've learned from Rachel, and her easy-to-comprehend content in her Layman's Law Course, is that being prepared and proactive in your business and life when it comes to getting your stuff in order is vital. Instead of having to navigate through a dispute again, which is also thankfully covered in the course, we now have things in place to confidently move through life and business.

Jody D'Arcy, Photographer

I’ve absolutely loved doing Layman’s Law, not because I love learning about law, but simply because when you have an artistic brain like I do, not a business brain, there are lots of things that are avoided because they seem too hard!

Going through the course has highlighted that the bones of a business can absolutely hang on getting everything from the very beginning in order! Layman’s Law has given me the building blocks to go back and doublecheck all I have and red flag things I need to reassess. This is really crucial and so timely, I’m looking forward to having all of this sorted now that I have these very poignant steps and tools to begin the process!

Made all the more understandable, especially for small business, by Rachel's “Layman’s” way of making it clear and less scary! Thank you so much Rachel, I will be recommending this to many!

Kelly Donougher, Designer - 13 Interiors

What an amazing course! And an absolute must for any creative venturing out on their own into small business.

Even as an established business of nearly 4 years, the systems and processes that Rachel explained in her course were such a refresher into what’s critical when dealing with Clients to protect yourself and your Clients.

Rachel really makes each module easy to understand and to follow and guides you step by step without feeling overwhelmed with legal jargon. Thank you so much Rachel for creating such a great course that is really needed in the creative industry. I’ve already reviewed processes and made changes, including updates to my terms and conditions, that were needed. Thank you!

Lisa Quinn-Schofield, Interior Stylist and Artist - Featherhorse Studios

Before completing the Layman’s Law Course, my business of 8 years functioned based on the the notion of trust but as all business owners learn at some stage, things don’t always work out as planned. Discrepancies and misunderstandings can happen, but I learnt that if you have detailed documents in place, there is definitely less room for error. Terms and conditions, letters of engagement and managing disputes are fundamental to running any business and it was great to find out how to actually manage these properly. Acquiring new found tools and resources, I feel confident that I now have the knowledge in how to run my business even better than before. This course has given me a stronger skill set in how to manage my business.

I highly recommend this course to any established small business or if you are a new business, you will be one step ahead if you complete this course. The content and attention to detail is so valuable. Rachel Mounsey is so eloquent & inviting in her delivery of the information that it keeps you well informed and engaged throughout the course. Rachel is also very supportive and invested in helping you with any questions that arise. It’s brilliant!

Elizabeth Reed, Winemaker/Owner - Flor Marché Wines, Head distiller - Ovant Botanical Distillations

I wish that I had completed a course like this before I began my wine business in 2010. Instead I’ve had to bumble through issues at great stress and at times incurring great cost. Some of the biggest issues I’ve had include difficulties registering my name with IP Australia (finally got it through after 18 months of negotiations) and separating the business from a partner as we had no formal business agreement in place.

The module information provides a solid framework – the checklists are great and provide an excellent foundation for people to explore the research required relevant to their industry/business. It is good to be reminded that I can empower myself by jumping onto the ASIC website to review exactly what my responsibilities are and the other resources too.

Rana Everett, Mechanical Engineer, Managing Director - Everett Consulting NT

Being a start-up, I have only just begun to get in front financially, and the 3 years I've been operating my mechanical engineering consultancy, I've run by the knowledge I've gained in life and by checking against online suggestions, never knowing how complete my legal declarations were and my responsibilities.

Since doing Rachel's course, I have a much clearer sense of the legal aspects of my business, including what opportunities there are and my rights and obligations. Rachel supported me to engage a lawyer for the next steps, which included checking they were specific to my industry, and what areas I needed to be covering. I now have a relevant contract and thorough terms and conditions, correctly written declarations that go with my engineered component's reports, a good understanding of copyright, and also trademarking my brand has now become significant.

I cannot thank Rachel enough for guiding me with her course, for how easy she makes it all seem now! I highly encourage anyone in business to check the foundations of their business law knowledge by doing Rachel Mounsey's Layman's Law Course!

Lulu Cavanagh Photographer, Interior Designer, Creative Director - The Aesthete Collective

I have been running my photography and styling business for 5 years now and I can’t believe I went that long without knowing how to protect myself. I really struggled with the overall picture, especially when it came to contracts, IP and social media. I had no knowledge of law and what my rights and responsibilities were as a business owner. The law can be quite overwhelming and no one teaches you where to begin. With the costs of lawyers and who to choose it can be a lot. Finding relevant information for an Australian creative business owner isn’t easy. Entering into contracts was a big one for me as I tend to go off good faith at times and trust and I now know what can go wrong and how to avoid that.

I now feel confident and prepared moving forward thanks to the Layman’s Law Course. I have reviewed my processes and put measures in place to protect myself, my business and my clients. Rachel has made it easy, friendly, and affordable to learn the basics I needed. This course was easy to navigate, I loved that it felt like a one on one session through Rachel’s use of personable tutorial style videos. Everyone running a business needs to do this course to save themselves from potentially making costly mistakes!

Karina Jambrak, Artist

I’m a creative who has recently started a small business. Before I did this course I had no idea about my legal entitlements in regards to contracts, negotiations, intellectual property and terms of engagement.

The Layman’s Law course has helped me so much. Rachel makes law fun and really easy to understand. I loved the way the modules were broken down and delivered – it’s a great and easy way to learn vital skills without the hefty lawyer fees.

I’m so glad I signed up to do this course.

Couldn’t recommended it highly enough for anyone who is running their own business.

Liz Ralph, Online Learning Manager - Lysander Consulting

I’ve been working in small business for 11 years and the legal side of running a business has always been the biggest unknown – it was something that felt like our biggest risk and greatest black spot. Rachel’s course opened up a whole new understanding of the law and how I could build my own capacity to set up the right processes, grow sensibly and protect our most valuable assets.

It was pitched at the right level – everything was applicable and easy to follow, and the flexibility of the format works perfectly when you have limited blocks of time! I've learnt so much and I can see how valuable it will continue to be. Thanks Rachel, you’ve changed the way I see myself as a business woman and what is possible in the future.

Who teaches the Layman’s Law?

Hi, I’m Rachel. 10+ years experience as a commercial disputes lawyer has helped me start and grow two thriving businesses from the ground up.

After working as a lawyer and running my own businesses for many years, my legal skills (which involve knowing how to strategically negotiate, write and problem solve) never fail to help me produce results. These skills simply and effectively have helped me achieve perfect world outcomes, avoid legal jams, and secure my biggest business assets in order to scale for long term success.

Every day, they help me generate a steady stream of happy clients (because relationships are one of the key assets you need to protect) and profit. They’ve helped me seek justice for causes I believe in and work alongside company giants like BHP.

Over the years, I’ve had the honour of helping many business owners get out of legal jams. But here’s the scary part…

I’ve seen many otherwise strong businesses burn to the ground at the hands of legal mistakes, that could easily have been avoided if they’d been addressed earlier. And it literally breaks my heart.

Which is exactly why I wanted to help. I sat down and created a fail-proof system that shows you step by step how to legally protect your business so that you can scale it for long term success and avoid expensive legal fees…Because it can take just 1 legal issue to bring your otherwise flourishing business to a halt.

How much does the Layman’s Law Course cost?

The course is $999. However, the cost can also be also split into six payments of $189.

Sidekick Guide: A Legal Health Check

Inside this free legal health check, you’ll find my complete roadmap for checking that you’re legally protecting ALL the hard work you’ve put into building your brilliant business.