Jim Wilson: Wilson Haynes Solicitors and Business Advisors | EP02

In this episode, host Brett McCallum talks with Jim Wilson, Principle Solicitor at Wilson Haynes Solicitors and Business Advisors. Jim’s been in the business for many years and knows a thing or two about running a successful company and how to navigate the legal landscape. After years of working at high levels across various organisations in Brisbane, Jim decided a change of scenery was in order and in recent years he’s built a successful business on the southern Gold Coast and Tweed region and is enjoying the unique challenges the area brings – as well as the local lifestyle.

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Speaker 0 (0s): This is a pod fire production.

Speaker 2 (7s): This podcast may include explicit themes or swearing and may not be suitable for children. Welcome to the Gold Coast Small Business Podcast, where you get the opportunity to talk about your business. It's all about the Gold Coast. It's all about you. Welcome to the Gold Coast Small Business Podcast. My name's Brett MacCallum and I'm your host today. Today I've got Jim Wilson from Wilson Haynes, solicitors and Business Advisors from Queensland and New South Wales.

Jim's from down on the Tweed and he's allowed back in the state now, so feel pretty happy about that. Hey buddy, how you doing? I'm

Speaker 3 (42s): Very well, thanks. I'm also from, I also live at tele, I've got office.

Speaker 2 (45s): So you're a Queens, are you a Queenslander or a New South Welshman then?

Speaker 3 (47s): I'm a Queenslander with an investment in New South Wales.

Speaker 2 (50s): Oh, see, I'm a blue with an investment in Queensland. That's the opposite, but that's all good, mate. What do you, what do you do?

Speaker 3 (57s): I'm a solicitor and a business advisor. I've been doing it for many, many years. I was previously a CEO and general manager of various industrial companies where I was responsible for, for legal matters. And then a number of years ago, I decided that I wanted to get back into law practice per se. I was previously a partner in a CBD law firm in Brisbane, and because my wife and her family from down here at Cooling Gata, we decided to move to Tall Abuja and I started my own law firm and then I subsequently purchased the current firm from the founder who established it in 1983 and unfortunately passed away nearly eight years ago now.

Oh,

Speaker 2 (1m 37s): Sorry to hear about that. Yeah. So you've gone from being a bigwig in the city to opening your own firm on the coast. That's a big jump.

Speaker 3 (1m 47s): Oh, well, you know, a big wig in the city. Brisbane's a very big place and there are plenty of lawyers around there in that, in that space, both in the suburbs. But I wanted to get into an environment where lifestyle was first. Obviously work hard and service your clients properly where there's good law and there is some very good legal challenges in all facets of law on the Gold Coast, Southern Gold Coast, tweed. So I'm really enjoying it and I think we give a very, very good service.

Speaker 2 (2m 17s): That's excellent. So what university did you go to when you were

Speaker 3 (2m 20s): Young? I went to the TCB TC Burn Law School u, university of Queensland. Okay. Subsequently done courses at New South Wales University and various other, other organizations to sort of keep my skills up. I'm a, I've done a director of family business course, I've also certified chair of advisory boards through the Australian Institute of Advisory Boards, and I've done an advanced level executive coaching course. So I think I understand both sides of the table quite well from the point of view of delivering a service and being the recipient of a service

Speaker 2 (2m 57s): And that that's excellent. That's customer service is what it's all, all about no matter what industry you're in, isn't it? It's making sure that the, the customer feels comfortable that you know what you're talking about.

Speaker 3 (3m 6s): Well, I think that's important, and I don't think our law societies publish that enough and advertise enough what lawyers can do for people and businesses. The most important thing from a lawyer's perspective is you've gotta want to help people. Obviously you've run a business and you wanna make some money, but secondly, you've gotta be patient and listen and explain what it is that you can do, how you're gonna price it, and then most important of all, follow up on that and keep the client informed.

Speaker 2 (3m 33s): So why do you love what you do?

Speaker 3 (3m 35s): I'm in the issues business. I like issues,

Speaker 2 (3m 38s): Solving them, creating them.

Speaker 3 (3m 39s): Oh, well I ask my wife, she'll tell you I've created a view, so my kids, but no, I, I just like solving problems and like making certain that people are, are making the right decisions about their future, their wealth creation, preservation and, and distribution when they pass on. You either dig that or you don't. I've always wanted to be a lawyer since I was in grade nine at school. I've subsequently also done a commerce degree and obviously worked in business. But my core interest and my core value is around helping people to do the best they can for themselves.

And the law offers an amazing opportunity to do that. I mean, I know accountants and people like that can help you save tax and all of

Speaker 2 (4m 21s): That. They don't have personalities though, mate, so

Speaker 3 (4m 23s): That's a big difference. Well, I better be careful what I say cause I rely on a lot of them for referrals. Oh, of course you do. But no, they're good guys. But that's why I do what I do and why I want to continue to do what I do.

Speaker 2 (4m 34s): So my daughter's in year 11 and she wants to be a lawyer. Would you recommend it?

Speaker 3 (4m 38s): Well, it depends. I think she should, you need to do a personality test profile first to see whether you're a se service-oriented person. I don't mean that facetiously. No, no. Of course all of my children who are now in their thirties work in the service industry. One's a financial planner, one's in sales, another one works in hr. And you know, it's really important to look at what you want to do and why you want to do it. Because if you're not happy in what you're doing, then you're gonna come across her.

So if your daughter wants to do law because she's researched it and she got a lot of options in terms of what, what area of law she wants to practice, but she thinks she's gonna be happy doing that, then if she's happy doing that, she's gonna make her customers and her clients happy, which

Speaker 2 (5m 26s): Is what it's all about no matter what business you're in really, isn't

Speaker 3 (5m 29s): It? Well, if it's not fun, don't do it

Speaker 2 (5m 30s): Basically. A hundred percent. Yeah, she's a problem solver. So I think it's, that's one of those things I, I've never heard of a, a lawyer say that they're in the issues business. I love that. That's really, it hits nail on the head, doesn't it?

Speaker 3 (5m 42s): Well, I think so. I think everybody that walks in the door or everybody that you speak to has, has got what they perceive to be an issue and they want that issue addressed. And they need to have clarity of mind and, and and clarity of emotion around having had that addressed in a proper professional way, whether it's a once only discussion or whether it's part of a longer term engagement and, and follow up. And sometimes to solve issues if they become litigious takes quite a while. But that's where the ongoing service component of being a solicitor is extremely important.

And I might add, I don't think the law societies and the, the legal training courses emphasize that anywhere near enough from my perspective. Cuz I think our profession is called into question a lot for the, the quality of the service we deliver. And I know that when I started my articles of clerkship, which it was in those days back in the seventies, my, my master as I had then came in and plunked a whole heap of files on my desk in various areas of the law and said, read those, take notes and come back and tell me how you've handled them differently with the client.

And that was a real eye-opener for me and it's something that's always stuck with me

Speaker 2 (6m 51s): Strong. Something in the deep end of the pool and saying swim.

Speaker 3 (6m 53s): Well the first thing you gotta do if you're a lawyer is learn how to read and interpret things. Fair, cool. Take notes and listen and then be able to express yourself in a articulate yourself both verbally and in writing for your client. Because you've gotta have a symphony for the common person. I mean, not everyone can understand all the terms and all the jargon, so they can't understand it. They won't value it. So our job is part, part of our job is, you know, clearly and in simple English explaining what it is we're going to do, what we think should be done, what it is we're going to do, what it's gonna cost, what the consequences will be and how we're gonna follow that up for the client.

Speaker 2 (7m 27s): They like a translator as well, a translator of legal jargon into common English as well.

Speaker 3 (7m 34s): Oh well, exactly. I mean I think that's a very good way of describing what we do and what we should try to do every day better and better and better for clients. Because at the end of the day, we are dealing with people's emotions fundamentally. Whether you're a business person or whether you're a, a retiree, a pre-retiree, whether you're a wealth accumulator in your thirties and forties who is looking to build wealth. But whether it's as an employee or you've got a business or, or whatever you want to start a business, it's all very much aspirational and aspiration has a lot of emotion in it.

And I think our responsibility as lawyers is, you know, I have a saying the first casualty emotion is common sense. And what we have to do as lawyers is hear that emotion but then dig through that and say, look, here's the plan, here's our advice. This is what we think you should do and why. And bring some calming effect to the, to people's lives. And I, I consider that to be a privilege. I mean we're officers of the Supreme Court, a lot of people don't realize that solicitors are officers of the Supreme Court. So we've, we've got a very, very high duty to uphold.

And I think it needs to be explained more that our duty is about service as much as about technically appreciating the law and getting people to abide by it and to use it judiciously around how they advance their lives. So,

Speaker 2 (8m 51s): So you cover off business law, deceased state's, family law will and power of attorney property leasing litigation. That's a big long list, isn't it? Well

Speaker 3 (9m 1s): It's a big long list because the law, because people have a lot of issues. The only, the only area in which I've chosen not to have our practice offer a service is in personal injury where we outsource it in, in conveying where we outsource that because that's a transactional based thing. It's not really a advice based as far as I'm concerned. I consider that lawyers need to focus more about being advice houses rather than transaction creators and completers.

Speaker 2 (9m 28s): Yeah, a hundred percent.

Speaker 3 (9m 29s): And we don't do crime either. We refer that out as well. And our clients don't mind that. They know that they're going to specialty areas there and we get good feedback from the people that we give them a few names that they can go and see and we follow up and make sure that those people are offering a good service and are, are still as shall I say, keen to service the client. So we are refer cuz fundamentally they're our client. At the end of the day, we're a, we're an advice house and we want to, whether we're giving advice ourselves or whether we are advising people to see others, we, we wanna make certain that our clients are well looked after.

Speaker 2 (10m 2s): And you must see customers, clients at their highest and at their lowest. And so you like a bit of a counselor in the middle there as well. You must, you must see some some different things every single day of your life.

Speaker 3 (10m 13s): Oh, and that's why I personally enjoy being a lawyer. I see all sorts of different issues and people in different states, states of emotion. I mean, yeah, well we see them in Queensland and New South Wales. Two

Speaker 2 (10m 24s): States. Two

Speaker 3 (10m 24s): States. But yeah, there's the old saying, Stephen Covey said, seek first to understand then be understood. If everyone, if anyone has never read the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, they should by Stephen Covey, one of his key tenets of human existence is, and it's immutable, he believes. And that is, you know, to be effective, you have to seek first to understand then be understood. So firstly, we have to listen as lawyers and let people get it all out. And then we have to, I suppose, exercise some behavioral psychology in terms of getting people to understand that that emotion has to be moved away by us and we have to try and help, help them apply some common sense with our advice.

And that therein lies that I think the majesty of what we do as lawyers, it's, you know, it's a, it's a great privilege to get a client to that position.

Speaker 2 (11m 13s): Well mate, I feel I'm a pretty well educated bloke, but I've learned a lot about listeners today and I'm really happy about that song I do appreciate for, for passing that on to me. How do people get in touch with Wilson Haines? What's the best way to get you?

Speaker 3 (11m 24s): Well we, on Facebook and LinkedIn, our phone number's oh seven five three six three oh five and our email is admin wilson haines law.com.au and as I said, we willingly service and will travel to service. Our main draw area is probably from Nang Ravina down to Pottsville in the Tweed. So that's 250,000 odd people. That's a big enough, big enough pond for there to be a lot of issues for people.

We have clients in Sydney and, and all over the place up in Brisbane and all of that. But if you're asking me where our main drawer area is, it's that, that particular region. But where, as I say with the covid as well, people have been disinclined to sort of come to offices. So we're offering the service of where I, as the principal will go after a telephone call or a, or a FaceTime call or whatever might be the case if necessary. I'll go to see them at their, at their place of business or their home.

And that's been much appreciated and I'll will continue to do that for as long as that's as is required.

Speaker 2 (12m 31s): I think it's the new normal mate. I think we're gonna be changing the way we all do business.

Speaker 3 (12m 35s): That's right. So instead of doing 25,000 kilometers a year and, and your vehicle is a principle of firm, you, you're probably gonna be doing more like 50,000. But, and that's fine. I mean, if it gets people there and gets their wheels done and gets their, their shareholders agreements and their partnership agreements done so that they can get on with a clear mind, then well that's what we exist for. And I'm sure people will appreciate us continuing to do that.

Speaker 2 (12m 59s): That's sensational. Jim, thanks so much for joining me today on the Gold Coast Small Business Podcast. Go to wilson hayes law.com au for more details and we'll see you again soon. Thanks Jim. Thanks

Speaker 3 (13m 11s): Very much for having me. All good bye.

Speaker 2 (13m 13s): Thanks for listening to the Gold Coast Small Business Podcast. If you're interested in getting your business on this podcast, please contact us at HQ g c or.