Hey Reader Welcome to our newest series: The Legal Lifecycle of Your Creative Business. We know the hardest part of protecting your business is that you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s why we created a clear framework that breaks down the contracts and protections you need at every stage of growth (so you don't have to learn the hard way.) Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look at each phase of the Legal Lifecycle and what it means for your creative business: 👉 Phase 1:...
21 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Most creative entrepreneurs don’t think about the legal side of their business… until something goes wrong. Let’s change that. We just released our new (and free!) guide: The Legal Lifecycle of Your Creative Business™ — and it’s everything we wish more founders knew about running a legally sound business. Inside, we break down what contracts and legal protections you need at each phase of business growth. Whether you’re just getting started, hiring your first team member, or...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Let’s talk about the old way of buying a contract template. You buy the contract template. You open the Word or Google Doc. You scan through and try to figure out what each section means. You replace the highlighted parts (hopefully). And then… You cross your fingers and hope you didn’t miss anything important. And if you're a super savvy business owner, you have your attorney review it for good measure. Honestly? That’s how we operated for years. Because it is better than having nothing,...
3 months ago • 1 min read
AI is amazing. But when it comes to legal protection, “amazing” doesn’t always mean “accurate.” Just ask Anthropic. A few weeks ago, one of Anthropic’s own lawyers had to apologize in court after their AI tool, Claude, generated a completely fake legal citation... and the attorney used it. The judge caught it. The citation? A hallucination. Totally made up. [Read the story here.] We don’t share this to pile on. We’re sharing it because it proves something we’ve been saying since day one: AI...
3 months ago • 1 min read
There’s a powerful movement happening. Over the past year, I’ve found myself in more rooms, surrounded by more women who are actively stepping into living in their power than ever before. While women creating community is nothing new, something about this season feels different. There's the power, connection, and authenticity that I've experienced with women in business for year... But there’s also a deeper peace. A stronger sense of inevitability. Last week, I stepped into another one of...
4 months ago • 2 min read
It's officially MAY 💐 If you've been hanging out with us for a while, you know that means one of our biggest sales of the year is right around the corner. And this year's May sale is extra special. Back in 2016, The Creative Law Shop® started with one goal: to give creative entrepreneurs access to attorney-drafted contracts without the $300/hour price tag. For years, that’s what we focused on: peer-reviewed, attorney-drafted templates and accessible legal education. But we knew templates...
4 months ago • 1 min read
When our founder, Paige, started getting calligraphy requests from friends, she didn’t plan to launch a business. But before she knew it, her creative outlet had turned into something real. Thankfully, Paige had something most creatives don’t ... a law degree. While she knew exactly which legal protections her business needed, she also knew that many other creative business owners didn’t even know where to start. And it wasn’t their fault… many of the most important questions weren’t even on...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Reader are you feeling the pressure of tariffs and rising costs? Maybe you're facing cost increases you didn’t plan for, or clients who need to change course mid-project. Often, there isn't a perfect solution or one-size-fits-all answer. But having the right contract in your toolbox can make a big difference. At Creative Law Shop®, we believe an iron-clad contract isn’t just about protecting your business. It’s also about protecting your client relationship. A good contract sets expectations...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Did you know... There’s actually a pattern to the legal side of running a business. Crazy, I know. It might not always feel like it, but every creative business follows predictable legal phases—and knowing which one you’re in can help you make the right moves before problems arise. Let’s talk about Phase 2: Growth & Scaling. You know you’re in Phase 2 when: ✅ Your legal foundation is set. You have an LLC, client contracts, and basic website policies in place.✅ Your business is growing. More...
7 months ago • 1 min read
We’re going to play a game. Grab a set of dice or a deck of cards. (Am I the only one who keeps dice in my purse? 👀) I’ll give you three scenarios. If you roll an even number or pull an even-numbered card, you avoid the problem. If you roll an odd number, pull an odd-numbered card or a face card—the scenario happens to your business. Ready? 🎲 Scenario 1: Someone copies your website homepage word for word.Roll the dice or pick a card. 🎲 Scenario 2: You have a verbal contract with a client… and...
7 months ago • 2 min read