We provide this website, our associated websites, and our services under the following terms and conditions.
We are consultants who provide custom advisory services—including strategic career coaching, on-demand resume writing and other writing, bespoke resume writing and other writing, and LinkedIn profile optimization. We also offer career-related products in our store—including downloadable pdf books.
Whenever you use this website and our associated websites, or buy or use any of our custom advisory services, or buy or use any of our products available through any of our sites, then you accept these Terms and Conditions (or the Agreement). It is your responsibility to read them carefully.
1. Privacy and Confidentiality
We are committed to client confidentiality and user privacy. We ask you when we need information that personally identifies you (“Personal Information”). Members of the Bryce Legal team with access to your Personal Information are bound by confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
We highly recommend you use personal email addresses and telephone numbers rather than email and phones associated with your employer because you authorize us to contact you via any email address, telephone number, or other contact information that you use to contact us, communicate with us, or otherwise provide us, including in forms. We are not responsible for any loss or damages related to contacting or communicating with you through the channels you provide.
We use your Personal Information to operate our site and services. We may also inform you of our new features, services, and products. Your Personal Information — including that contained in writing samples, resumes, and other documents and information — is not shared with anyone who is not in a confidential relationship with us, except with your permission.
Please read our full Privacy Policy for more information.
2. Guarantees and Accuracy
Our 2018 research shows: 1.34 million U.S. lawyers; 304,000 members of the recruiting industry; 17,500 coaches; and 100+ applicant tracking systems (ATS) in active use. Individual hiring attorneys, legal and executive recruiters, career coaches, resume writers, and others can have radically different approaches and opinions. And that’s okay. There is no single “right way” to be successful in law. However, it does mean that we cannot guarantee that every person will agree with our advice (including writing) and approach. We can help weigh and evaluate different opinions, but only you can decide what works best for you. This website provides a lot of information about our backgrounds, philosophies, etc. so that you can understand how we arrive at the advice we give you. You can choose to use that advice, to reject it, or to do something in-between. (Not surprisingly, even the rare clients who’ve fallen into the second and third categories have told us the process of working through their issues with career experts has been helpful to help them arrive at their ultimate decisions.)
While we stand by our advice and approach, the ultimate responsibility for your success is yours. A resume cannot be effective if it is sent to the wrong employers, for the wrong positions, in the wrong format, or not sent out at all. Your job search cannot and will not be efficient or effective unless you — as the jobseeker and client — drive its process and progress. We have no control over how you use or edit the documents we prepare for you, we have no control over whether or how you implement our advice, we have no control over the legal market, we have no control over individual demands of recruiters and their client-employers, we have no control over individual tastes of hiring attorneys or others, we have no control over which ATS system an employer might use and how they will database conduct searches with it, and we have no control over other factors.
We cannot guarantee specific results, such as a certain number of responses to your resume and career documents, looks on your LinkedIn profile, interviews or inquiries from legal recruiters, a minimum salary, or an offer of employment. The job search, career development, client development, business development, hiring, and other career-related processes can be long and highly competitive. Clients must be more assertive and creative in their efforts. While we provide guidance and strategic advice — as always — you must decide what works best for you.
We rely on information provided by you to complete your documents and to advise you. We do not verify information you provide. You must review all documents for completeness and accuracy. Do not send any documents to employers or other third parties without your thorough review. We are not liable to you or to third parties for any injury, damage, or otherwise related to typos, errors, omissions, false statements, or other inaccuracies.
We incorporate the web page Do You Guarantee Success? into these Terms & Conditions.
3. Payment, Refunds, Rescheduling, and Cancellations
Generally, you can use our online scheduling system to reschedule or cancel your appointments. Further refunds or credits toward other services are at the sole discretion of Shauna C. Bryce, except as may be required by law.
We are consultants who provide custom advisory services. When you hire us, you are paying for our time and advice. Our advice may be memorialized in the form of resumes or other career-related documents. In other words, when you purchase our resume writing and other document writing services, you are still purchasing time for custom advisory services; you are not purchasing a product or commodity. You acknowledge that creation of career portfolio documents, like resumes, is the manifestation of a collaborative process. Its quality is directly related to the information you provide.
Each of our career experts has a different focus — the areas in which she or he is an expert. We have provided information about each expert’s focus and background so that you can choose the expert who is best for you. While we can assist you in this process, you know your needs best. And so it is ultimately your responsibility to choose your expert carefully, ensuring you and your needs are within the focus of your chosen expert.
You acknowledge our time — for example, our time spent in reviewing your materials, preparing for and conducting client conferences or other client communications, researching and writing of resumes and other documents, and providing all other services — is valuable and compensable regardless of whether you ultimately choose to use our advice / work or not. You further acknowledge our time reserved for you and your services — which includes time taken away from other clients or uses — is also valuable and compensable.
You agree to be prepared and on time for your appointments. If you want or use additional time in your appointment, then you will be charged additional fees based on our “Tack-On” appointment rates. Please ask your career expert about current rates.
If you reschedule appointments three times, then Shauna may require you to pay a Reservation Deposit equal to the cost of your appointment (or a minimum of one hour at your chosen career expert’s base hourly rate) prior to scheduling or rescheduling any appointments. This Reservation Deposit is refundable only if you are prepared and on time for the related appointment; otherwise, it is nonrefundable. If you refuse to pay the Reservation Deposit, then Shauna will consider your refusal to be client delay, failure to provide information, or both, as described below.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time. Should we refuse service after payment, we will issue refunds for our unused time only. You will not receive a refund for time already used on your services.
We do not offer refunds for purchases of products from our store.
4. Additional Refund, Rescheduling, and Cancellation Policies for Non-Bespoke Services
Resume Writing by Screen Share / On-Demand Writing / Resume Crams, LinkedIn Profile Optimization, Strategic Career Coaching, and other non-bespoke services are hourly-based, pay-as-you-go custom advisory services. Our mission is to get done as much as we can during the block of time you purchase. Although it's wonderful when all client goals can be achieved within a single session, that's usually not possible and certainly cannot be guaranteed. Clients are welcome to continue work on their own or to sign up for additional sessions.
Again, generally, you can use our online scheduling system to reschedule your appointments. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at admin@brycelegal.com or 443-569-3656. We know sometimes things come up. Cancelling and rescheduling are sometimes necessary, but cancelling and rescheduling impact our other clients—who have often been waiting weeks for an available appointment time. Cancelling and rescheduling also impact our team members—who spend valuable, compensable time preparing for your appointment and cannot just “shift gears” to other compensable work when clients cancel.
If you cancel your appointment, then the following cancellation refund policy applies. If you cancel:
More than 72 hours before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide a full refund
More than 24 hours and up to 72 hours before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide a 75% refund
More than 4 hours and up to 24 hours before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide a 50% refund
4 hours or less before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide no refund, and you will be charged the full amount for your appointment
If you reschedule your appointment, then the following rescheduling refund policy applies. If you reschedule:
More than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will reschedule the appointment
More than 4 hours and less than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide a 50% refund of the original appointment and require you to schedule — and pay — for a new appointment to get back on our calendar
4 hours or less before the scheduled appointment, then Shauna will provide no refund and require you to schedule — and pay — for a new appointment to get back on our calendar
If you are late for your appointment, then your time will not be extended or otherwise rescheduled, and you will receive no refund for the time you missed. The missed portion of your appointment is considered satisfied and completed in full.
If you no-show your appointment, then you will receive no refund and Shauna will consider the appointment satisfied and completed in full.
If you repeatedly cancel or reschedule appointments, then Shauna may require you to pay a Reservation Deposit as described above. The amount of the Reservation Deposit will be equal to the cost of the service.
5. Additional Refund, Rescheduling, and Cancellation Policies for Bespoke Services
Payments and purchases — including your initial engagement payment — are not refundable or cancellable. Refunds or credits toward other services are at the sole discretion of Shauna C. Bryce, except as may be required by law.
If you require additional appointment time or additional work time time (whether due to missed appointments, failure to prepare for appointments, failure to complete assigned homework, failure to provide requested information, or otherwise), then Shauna may require you to pay additional fees to complete your bespoke service.
You agree that, if our pricing or fee schedules are rejected by a court of law, then such time is alternatively compensable at the rate of US$325 per hour, with a minimum charge of US$325. Such time will further be rounded up to the nearest half hour.
If you must reschedule an appointment, you agree to provide reasonable notice. If you repeatedly reschedule appointments or fail to provide reasonable notice, then Shauna may require you to pay a Reservation Deposit as described above. Alternatively, Shauna may consider the appointment completed in full.
6. Time Is of the Essence
By purchasing our services, you agree that time is of the essence. You also expressly acknowledge and waive the right to cancel your purchase, including any right to cancel under federal, state, local, or other law, other than as outlined above.
Clients can expect services to be delivered within the time frames provided to them, subject to any unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances such as equipment failure, health issues, or other conditions beyond our control.
Clients are responsible for promptly completing their services, and providing us with information we request in order to complete their services.
Clients who delay start of their services by 30 days from purchase, or who delay completion of their services beyond 90 days from purchase, may be subject to price increases or to additional fees to complete their services, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Shauna.
After one year of purchase, your payments for unused services will be considered satisfaction of administrative and other (tangible and intangible) costs associated with your delay, and those payments will not be credited toward other purchases.
Depending upon their service, clients may be required to complete homework or otherwise provide us with information. If you fail to do so, then we, at Shauna’s discretion, will (a) complete your service as best we can with whatever information you did provide, (b) postpone your scheduled appointments or completion of your service until you do provide the information, (c) determine your failure to be waiver of follow up or edits to your document, (d) determine your failure to be client delay pursuant to this Section, and/or (e) require additional payment for completion of your service.
7. Edits for Bespoke Services
Edits must be requested within more than 30 days of initial document delivery. If you wish to make more edits than those included in your quoted fee, then additional writing, rework and/or consultation fees will apply.
Before requesting edits in response to critiques by career service providers like The Ladders and JobFox, you agree to review the following reports and blogs on those service providers and their resume critiques (or, if these are no longer available, we will provide you with an updated list):
http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2009/05/28/the-ladders-scam/
http://joblounge.blogspot.com/2008/05/posting-resume-on-ladders.html
http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/08/27/ved-job-seeker-alleges-jobfox-scam/
8. Electronic Files
We generally deliver client documents in Microsoft Word via email. However, because there are many versions of Microsoft Word and other word processing software, we cannot guarantee the compatibility of our files with your systems or the successful transfer of formatting features. We do not provide uncompensated technical support on document formatting.
We recommend clients retain our delivery emails so that they can re-download their documents as needed. We do not guarantee copies of your electronic or paper files will be retained.
Delivery methods for products in our store are specified on their product description page. Generally, you will be emailed an individualized link to download pdf products.
9. Independent Contractors
Shauna C. Bryce and Bryce Legal Career Counsel have no employees. Bruce Adelson, Kamilah Exum, Niteesha Gupte, Jared Redick, JB Tropp, Julie Cromer Young, H. Simón Bryce, Valerie Madamba, Michelle Glick, Jeanne Goodman, and all other persons currently or formerly associated with Bryce Legal Career Counsel and its brands — other than Shauna C. Bryce — are independent contractors who are unable to legally bind Shauna C. Bryce or Bryce Legal Career Counsel.
Shauna C. Bryce — in her individual capacity — was an employee of the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP ("Steptoe") from 2020 to 2023. Bryce Legal has always been a separate legal entity and work with Bryce Legal is separate from work with Steptoe. Steptoe did not and does not vouch for Bryce Legal or its clients.
10. Referrals to Other Coaches and Writers, as well as to Recruiters
It is your responsibility to determine whether a particular individual or service meets your needs, including reviewing their individual terms and conditions, contracts, pricing, background, philosophy, and terms of service. Bryce Legal also encourages diversity of opinion, so not all of our referral coaches, writers, and recruiters will have the same style or ideas. Your relationship with these coaches, writers, and recruiters is directly with them. They are independent from us; they are not our employees, contractors, subcontractors, or agents. We do not control their offers, pricing, or packaging of services. Your contract or arrangements are with them, not with us. We make no warranties or guarantees about them or about your experience with them.
11. Copyrights
Content on this site is our property and protected by law. The compilation of content on this site is our exclusive property and protected by law. We reserve the right to use our work (including resumes and other work prepared for you) and your questions, comments, and feedback in instructional, promotional, or other material under the brands Bryce Legal, Bryce Legal Career Counsel, How To Get A Legal Job, Ask The Hiring Attorney, How I Got My Legal Dream Job, or other brands associated with Bryce Legal. We will remove your Personal Information from any such material.
12. Trademarks and Trade Dress
Bryce Legal Career Counsel, Bryce Legal, brycelegal.com, How To Get A Legal Job, Ask The Hiring Attorney, The Art and Craft of the Legal Résumé, resumegalleria, and other marks indicated on our site (and its previous incarnations or versions) are our trademarks. Our trademarks and trade dress are protected by law. Among other things, they may not be used (a) in connection with any product or service that is not ours, (b) in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers, or (c) in any manner that disparages or discredits us. Other trademarks and trade dress appearing on this site are the property of their respective owners.
13. Risk of Loss
We are not responsible for loss caused by technical difficulties.
14. Service and Product Descriptions
We do not warrant that service descriptions or other content of this site is accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. If a service offered by us is not as described, then your sole remedy is to contact us and allow us to try to satisfy your demands. Bryce Legal Career Counsel, along with its affiliated websites, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and its affiliates.
15. Mutual Non-Disparagement
We take our commitments to you seriously. As always, you are encouraged to contact us with any questions, concerns, etc you may have related to Bryce Legal. You agree that you will not disparage, or encourage others to disparage, Bryce Legal, its officers, directors, employees, or other consultants, including making any negative statement—whether written or oral—about Bryce Legal, its career experts, its services, its products, or its other consultants as relates to their work with Bryce Legal. You will take no action that is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to harm us or our reputation, or which would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable publicity for us. We also agree that we will not disparage, nor encourage others to disparage, you to third parties.
16. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
THIS SITE IS PROVIDED BY BRYCE LEGAL CAREER COUNSEL ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO THE OPERATION OF THIS SITE OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, OR PRODUCTS INCLUDED ON THIS SITE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THIS SITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.
TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF 1) MERCHANTABILITY; 2) FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; 3) EFFORT TO ACHIEVE PURPOSE; 4) QUALITY; 5) ACCURACY; 6) NON-INFRINGEMENT; 7) QUIET ENJOYMENT; AND 8) TITLE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THIS SITE, ITS SERVERS, OR EMAIL SENT FROM US ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES EVEN IF WE WERE ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR WAS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT.
CERTAIN STATE LAWS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY TO YOU, SOME OR ALL OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS, EXCLUSIONS, OR LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS. IF THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH ARE HELD INAPPLICABLE OR UNENFORCEABLE FOR ANY REASON, THEN OUR MAXIMUM LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY TYPE OF DAMAGES SHALL BE LIMITED TO US$50.00.
IN NO EVENT WILL SHAUNA C. BRYCE, BRYCE LEGAL CAREER COUNSEL, THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, EDITORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION COMPENSATORY, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF INCOME OR DATA, LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, AND CLAIMS OF CLIENTS OR THIRD PARTIES ARISING FROM ANY CLIENTS’ REJECTION FROM ANY UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM OR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OF ANY KIND. YOU SUBMIT WRITING SAMPLES, RESUMES, AND ANY OTHER MATERIAL TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS OR PROGRAMS AT YOUR OWN RISK. FURTHER, CLIENTS AGREE TO HOLD US HARMLESS FROM ANY ACADEMIC, ADMINISTRATIVE, CRIMINAL, OR CIVIL PROCEEDINGS. IF A CLIENT IS REJECTED BY COLLEGE, GRADUATE SCHOOL, PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS, OR OTHERS THEN THE CLIENT HAS NO LEGAL RECOURSE AGAINST US. EVEN IF WE WERE ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR WERE GROSSLY NEGLIGENT.
17. Applicable Law and Choice of Forum
Bryce Legal Career Counsel is a sole proprietorship registered in Washington, DC. You agree the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to principles of conflict of laws, will govern these Terms and Conditions and any dispute of any sort that might arise with or related to us. You agree any and all disputes relating to us, our services, or this Agreement must be filed in DC Superior Court. No other choice of forum is permitted without the express written consent of Shauna C. Bryce.
18. Site Policies, Modification, and Severability
We reserve the right to make changes to our site, policies, and this Agreement at any time. Any modifications to this Agreement for an individual client must be made in writing by Shauna C. Bryce, and do not constitute a waiver of any other part of this Agreement. If any of these conditions shall be deemed invalid, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that condition shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining condition.