Episode #482: Subscription-based legal services - Interview with Scott Reib

Business Podcast Archive and Shows - The Soul of Enterprise

Ron and Ed are joined by Scott Reib who is known as “America’s Legal Coach.” For the last two decades, Scott is a firm believer that legal advice doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating. His passion lies in changing the way we view legal counsel: from “emergency” situations to “primary care provider” relationships. Scott is shifting this perspective via Access Plan, his groundbreaking subscription-model legal service, where he helps clients understand their legal questions before they find themselves in a legal emergency.

About Scott Reib

Scott Reib (pronounced “Reeb”) is known as America’s Legal Coach. He’s the official Zig Ziglar Small Business Lawyer, a Ziglar Legacy Certified Trainer, and he has over 20 years of experience as an attorney. For the last two decades, Scott has been helping business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, and service providers to “shatterproof” their businesses and succeed in the professional world.

Use these show notes to follow along with the audio:
Segment one

• Scott was in sales during the beginning of his career. He ran into a contract issue and “did what any sane person would do” - he went to law school.

• Scott had a vision in 2012 for a different way to practice law. An on demand system with a set monthly fee so that they could ask any question they want without worrying about the bill. The access plan was born https://www.reiblaw.com/access

• Even though Scott didn’t have a partner in the firm that he “needed to convince” about a subscription billing plan, he did have stakeholders. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned around the idea that he could have communicated the subscription idea better

• People coming back to Scott that made a mistake they could have avoided was his motivation for moving to a subscription model. They thought they couldn’t afford him and didn't ask but ended paying large amounts to “win” in court.

Segment two

• Typically you call your lawyer when your house is on fire (so to speak). Scott wants to shift your thinking to a more proactive role as your lawyer.

• Scott had a mantra a few years ago that will resonate with many of us, “The billable hour is dead. Lawyers just don’t know it yet.”

• “Lawyers are paid not to finish if they are charging by the hour.” —a Verasage colleague

• One of Scott’s biggest advantages: In running a business you are constantly being presented with contracts to sign. You could be making a mistake and, with a subscription based lawyer, there is no additional fee to have a contract reviewed.

Segment three

• Scott’s pricing model as a subscription law firm includes revenue ranges. That’s just a guide to help you understand where your business might fit. More here: https://www.reiblaw.com/access

• I would rather apologize for the price today than for the lack of quality and your unhappiness forever.” —Zig Ziglar

• Our now! “The Shatterproof Entrepreneur: Building an Unbreakable Business Legacy” by Scott Reid with the forward written by Tom Ziglar https://www.amazon.com/Shatterproof-Entrepreneur-Building-Unbreakable-Business/dp/B0CWS84LVV

• Ed referenced “swallowing the fish” today during the show. This link is a good refresher for those that have read the book, Subscribed… https://www.zuora.com/2020/01/23/swallowing-the-fish-a-short-term-reality-for-subscription-businesses/

Segment four

• What are some of Scott’s main KPIs as a subscription lawyer? New members each month, number of paused plans, cancellations, MRR, and projections for the year

• What are some of the technologies Scott uses to run a subscription law firm? Asana for project management, Zapier for connecting various platforms, Slack for internal comms, and Sync as a cloud server

• Is the first 90 days of a subscription business critical? Of course. Scott is focused on making sure that his law firm “WOWS” customers in the first 30 and 90 days. Re-education of customers around new processes is definitely a hurdle.

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits.