2 Clauses I added to my client contract this year (and why)
HERE’S WHAT I ADDED DURING MY ANNUAL CONTRACT REVIEW
Every single year, without fail, I do an exercise.
That exercise?
I read my client contract. (The one I send out to clients when we start working together.) Psst. You should, too.
Why do I do this?
Because each year of business, things change! I might change an offering or the way I’m working with clients. And I might have great feedback from my clients in terms of things in my own contract that they might not understand.
So today, I’m sharing the two sections I added to my contract this year.
Verbatim.
I’m Maria Spear Ollis, aka The Lunar Lawyer, and I’m going to shine some light on the two clauses I added to my client contract this year.
Clause No. 1: A Ghosting Policy
What it does
This clause majorly protects my time and sets some boundaries. 98% of the services I offer are flat-rates. So you can see how — if a client disappears for a long time — restarting and catching myself up on a project I haven’t thought about in a month or so would result in extra time spent and a little infringement on my communication boundaries.
Enter: The Ghosting Policy.
Example of what a Ghosting Policy says
Here’s what my Ghosting Policy now says:
You must respond to TLL communications within a reasonable time frame. If TLL does not receive the communications necessary for the successful performance of the Services after twenty (20) calendar days, at TLL's election, this Agreement will automatically terminate. TLL is not responsible or liable for any delay or failure of performance caused either entirely or partially by your delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of your obligations under this Agreement (including the obligation to timely respond to TLL communications). If you choose to resume any flat-rate Services and more than twenty (20) calendar days have passed since your last communication, a restart fee in the amount of $222 will apply and will be added to your invoice, due upon receipt.
Of course, if you’re creating your own ghosting policy, you’ll want to put in your own company name (not TLL — aka The Lunar Lawyer 👋).
Also, what’s your “ghosting” time period? I used 20 days. Yours might be something different.
And finally, the fee. Make sure your fee is in alignment with your time and energy.
Clause No. 2: Digital Communication Policy
What it does
Email, by its nature, isn’t secure. Nor are DMs on Instagrams. Text messages? Debatable. It sounds common sense, but this policy makes these things clear. (And authorizes email communication.)
What my Digital Communication Policy now says
Here’s what my Digital Communication Policy now says:
E-mail and other messaging communications may be intercepted, redirected, or read by third parties, including other parties who may have access to your computer system(s), and individuals who are not intended recipients but who have legitimate access to your computer system. This may occur without the knowledge of either the sender or the intended recipient. You acknowledge and accept the risks that e-mail and direct messaging communications may not always be secure. Unless you request that TLL do otherwise, TLL may communicate with you electronically, including by e-mail or other mutually agreed-upon methods. You agree that TLL may rely on the e-mail address provided to TLL until you notify TLL otherwise, in writing. TLL does not provide legal advice or counsel via Facebook/Instagram messenger or via SMS/text messaging or iMessage.
Again, make sure and adapt this to your preferences (and use your own company name!).
If You’re a Coach or Service Provider
My templates inside The Legal Apothecary already have these clauses built-in! I do the thinking for you and ask a couple of questions so that your contract reflects the ghosting policy and communication policy that aligns best with your business. Check out the Coaching Contract and Group Program Contract.