You’re not trapped by clients. You’re trapped by bad contracts.

I used to think that freedom meant working fewer hours. I really believed that having a lighter workload meant I’d have more liberty.

But that all changed when I jumped in and started my own legal firm. Yeah, I still put in long hours, but this taught me something big.

Real freedom is about more than just managing your time. You also need to have the power of choice.  

Think about it:

- If I want to switch my legal practice from tech stuff like SaaS and Fintech to something totally different - like environmental law - I can totally do that.

- If I end up with a difficult client who won’t stop pushing boundaries and making crazy demands, I can just decide to walk away.

That’s the kind of freedom that actually matters. It's about being able to chart your own course - not just punching the clock.

And it’s important to make sure that freedom is built into your contracts.

What It Looks Like For Other Industries

Now, you could agree to a web development project that’s set to last six months. By two months in, the client starts making endless requests and ignoring the limits you set.

What options do you have? Or imagine this situation:

You’re working on an app for a healthcare company, and halfway through, you realize that what you’re getting paid doesn’t match the amount of work you’re putting in.

But you’re stuck in that contract without a way out. If you didn’t plan for an exit, you could be in a tight spot.

But with the right contractual clauses and strategy in place, you can have a way to back out. And here's what I suggest instead:

1. Termination for Cause:

This lets you exit the contract if the client breaks the agreed terms - like not paying, asking for way too many changes, or making unreasonable demands. Just give them 15-30 days to fix things before you bail.

2. Termination for Convenience:

This clause lets either side end the contract without having to give a specific reason, just a notice period.

This is handy if you find a cooler project or realize halfway through that the workload isn't worth it.

Usually, you’d give 30-60 days’ notice without needing to explain why.

3. Payment Upon Termination:

Make sure you get paid for the work you’ve done up until you terminate.  You can set this up by milestone or hourly, so you don’t walk away empty-handed.

4. Handover Clause:

This ensures that you hand over completed work - like code, design files, or anything you’ve finished - once you get paid.

Just be clear that any unfinished work isn’t included, so you keep your intellectual property safe.

5. Dispute Resolution:

Having an arbitration clause under Indian law gives you a structured way to handle any conflicts. This keeps things professional and minimizes drama.

Plus, be proactive about protecting yourself:

- Keep good notes of all your communications, especially if a client gets tough to deal with. Emails and notes can be key if you need to call upon your contract clauses.

- If tensions rise, refer to the relevant contract parts and stick to the notice period; being patient can often help.

- Make sure you get paid for your work, possibly using an escrow service if your client is slow to pay.

- Once you wrap up the agreed work, get a sign-off from the client to show both sides are happy before moving on.

- If issues still come up, pursue arbitration to resolve things without hurting your reputation.

Always Have An Exit Plan

That’s your exit plan - the pathway to real freedom. So, think about this for a second:

Does your current contract give you the freedom to walk away when you need to?

Or are you stuck in agreements that drain your time and energy?

True freedom isn’t just about choosing your hours. That's not enough. You need to have the freedom to pick who you work with and what projects you take on.