Lawyers Need Coaches

The legal field is antiquated. Much has changed in the world but it seems the legal profession remains firmly rooted in the 1900s. We see law firms managed by white, male lawyers. We see unattainable billable hour requirements. We see a hesitancy to talk open and honestly about the mental health issues that plague our profession and country. 

Law is based on precedent - cases that supports arguments and a judge's decisions. Case law that dates back to when the United States was newly formed and leaning on a fresh constitution. When we rely on precedent so heavily to do our jobs, it is hard to embrace change within the field. We require legal associates to stay late in the day not because they are more effective by working longer hours, but because that's just the way things have always been. We hire people from the same schools and backgrounds as us for the same reason. It is what we know. Firm culture relies on precedent just as much as the law. 

In order to effectuate change in this field, though, we need legal leaders. We need managing partners, human resource professionals, and other lawyers to recognize this shift in culture and enable new practices in firms. We need lawyer role models who are going to create boundaries between their work place and professional lives and model that behavior for colleagues. We need partners that understand mental health struggles and make space for associates and others to seek treatment for the same. We need women lawyers to ask for the raises they so desperately deserve. We need associates who are interested in a new type of firm where everyone works together for their clients' needs and the firm's wellbeing. 

These ideas require a shift in perspective at all levels. Coaching can expedite this shift. A coach can help a lawyer create a better work-life balance so that he or she is more calm and caring at work and home. A coach can help managing partners and human resource professionals understand the problems young people face today so they foster a more attractive work environment for diverse talent. A coach can help a new firm owner create a culture centered on respect and wellness. A coach can help lawyers identify the right type of law and work environment so that their career aligns with their purpose. 

Change is tough. For a profession that relies so heavily on history, it is even tougher. As a leader in your field, you can effectuate change. You can make an impact on your personal life but also on the legal field as a whole. If you're interested in being an agent of change, please contact me. I want to hear from you but more importantly, I want to support you. 

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