FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL LAWYER
Meet Renee Smith
Renee holds over 8 years of post-qualification legal experience, with expertise spanning Contract Law, Corporate Law, Copyright Law and Intellectual Property. She is also a practising fiction editor and member of the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) – which means she brings a rare dual perspective to every client engagement. Renee knows what it looks like when a contract doesn’t fairly represent a creative professional’s contribution, and she knows how to fix it.
Her mission with WordSmith Legal is simple: to make quality legal support accessible, understandable and relevant for the people who power the publishing industry.
TEMPLATE STORE
Need Something Straightforward?
Start with a Template
Our professionally drafted legal templates are designed with publishing
professionals in mind. Download, fill in and use – it’s that simple.
Step 1 – Browse the template library and choose the document you need.
Step 2 – Purchase securely online – you’ll receive instant access to your download.
Step 3 – Fill in the template with your specific project requirements.
Step 4 – Put it to work – and get on with the work you love.
Template Store Opening October 2026
Your Most-Commonly Asked Questions
This is just a small selection of the most-commonly-asked questions you may have in regards to your business. We’ll have a whole section dedicated to FAQs once we launch, but if you need more detailed information prior to October, you can Contact Us directly.
WordSmith Legal offers services across Contract Law, Corporate Law, Copyright Law and Intellectual Property. We also offer two dedicated services: Contract Review — for when you need a clear explanation of a document before you sign — and Trade Mark Registration, where we manage the full application process with IP Australia on your behalf.
Our services are specifically designed for editors, designers, illustrators, proofreaders and other creative professionals working in publishing. While our expertise is squarely in this space, feel free to get in touch if you’re unsure whether we’re the right fit for your situation.
Yes – our templates are professionally drafted legal documents that, once signed by all relevant parties, form legally binding agreements. However, they are provided as a starting point and are not a substitute for personalised legal advice. If your situation is complex or unusual, we recommend getting in touch to discuss a tailored solution.
Our templates are provided under a single-use licence, which means each purchase covers one use of the document. If you’d like to use a template across multiple client engagements, please get in touch to discuss licensing options.
Generally speaking, the creator of a work is the first owner of copyright in Australia — but this can be changed by contract. Many client agreements include clauses that assign copyright to the client upon payment, which means you could be giving up your rights without realising it. This is one of the most common issues we see in publishing contracts, and one of the best reasons to have your agreements reviewed before you sign.
No. In Australia, copyright protection is automatic — it arises as soon as a work is created, without any need for registration. However, demonstrating ownership (for example, through dated drafts or correspondence) can be important if a dispute arises.
CONTACT
Get in Touch Ahead
of Our Official Opening
Whilst Wordsmith Legal won’t officially commence servicing clients until October, we invite any potential clients to message us, ask questions or find out how we could be of assistance to you ahead of our official opening.