Episode 2: Purpose, take the wheel

Welcome to Legal Off The Leash, the podcast where we take the legal profession out of the box and into a happier, more fulfilling future!

 

In episode 2, we’re talking to Paul Dunn, the co-founder of B1G1 (Buy1GIVE1), where he has created a model that allows businesses to embed giving into their everyday operations, creating lasting impact worldwide.

 

Paul is the author of seminal business books such as The Firm of the Future and Time’s Up, has delivered four TEDx talks, and continues to inspire global audiences on how business can be a force for good.

Paul’s message is simple: When businesses give, the world changes. Through his work, he empowers businesses to move beyond profit and create lasting, positive changes in the world.

 

Important Themes In This Episode

• Purpose Beyond Profit: Law firms should create meaningful impact, not just generate revenue.
• Human-Centred Law: Breathing humanity into law is not a nice-to-have, it's the future.
• Rethinking Success: The traditional model of legal success (billable hours, prestige) is outdated and damaging.
• Mental Health & Meaning: Disconnection from meaningful work is at the heart of the legal profession’s mental health crisis.
• The Power of Giving: Small, purposeful acts embedded in daily transactions can change the world.
• Legacy & Storytelling: The stories we tell and live shape generations to come.

Memorable Quotes

• “Move from standard to stand out, because you stand for something bigger than yourself.”
• “When your vision becomes more powerful than your memory, your future becomes more powerful than your past.”
• “You don’t become a lawyer to fill out six-minute timesheets—you do it to change lives.”
• “Simple scales. Complex fails.”

Important Insights & Actionable Takeaways

• Reframe Your Purpose: Write down why you do what you do. If it’s all about you, rewrite it. Aim for something bigger.
• Kill the Billable Hour: Paul echoes Ron Baker’s tombstone wish: “Here lies Ronald J. Baker, the man who killed the billable hour.”
• Measure What Matters: Stop only measuring tangible outputs. Track joy, connection, and human impact.
• Empathy as a Competitive Edge:
  • Toward clients: "I see you."
  • Toward employees: They’re your first clients.
  • Toward yourself: Stop burning out for free.
• Adopt a Subscription Model: Law firms can and should ditch hourly billing in favour of outcome-based, client-aligned pricing.
• Start Giving Daily: Using platforms like B1G1, firms can embed micro-giving into their services—changing the lives of others with every transaction.

 

You can connect with Paul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulb1g1/