What do you get when you reshape one of the world’s most conservative professions with tomorrow’s technology and a new model of working?

An award-winning business.

That harnessing of the new world of online features and applying them to dry legal services has earned You Legal the “best start up” in the South Australian category of the 2015 Telstra Business Women’s Awards last night.

The fast-moving national law firm stood out above competition with its innovative online platform and lean structure.

Its modern and approachable marketing methods include videos which are delivered weekly via social media, and internet memes poking fun at the legal profession’s stuffy image.

CEO Sarah Bartholomeusz started You Legal two years ago after she was made redundant from her job as an in-house lawyer when she was 32 weeks pregnant.

“As a mum of two the traditional law firm model does not work for me, and many other women, and I’m determined to change the status quo for women who love the profession but hate the inflexibility of the old-world model,” Bartholomeusz said.

Bartholomeusz said the firm was established to reinvent the way people engaged legal services and the way people worked for law firms.

“When I set up the company I wanted to create a firm which allowed lawyers to work and live a life they love, with freedom to work as much or as little as they need.”

The company delivers top-tier corporate and commercial legal services and corporate governance support to ASX-listed companies as well as growing businesses at all stages of their life cycle.

You Legal has seen rapid growth of 400 per cent and went from one foundation client to more than 100 clients in its first financial year.

The company now has 14 professional, experienced lawyers who work as online legal counsel or as in-house counsel on retainer.

Bartholomeusz is involved in the Entrepreneur’s Organisation’s EO Accelerator Program and the company is working towards a $1 million turnover this financial year.