133: Closing the Gap Between Good on Paper and Feeling Good

A lack of mentorship is a common theme I’ve observed among the lawyers I’m in conversation with. Both junior and senior lawyers face the challenge of finding a mentor who supports, inspires, and connects with them on a deep level, and there are a number of reasons why cultivating a mentorship relationship can feel difficult.

If you’re currently seeking out a mentorship relationship but don’t know where to start, listen in this week. I’m offering you a three-phase process that will help you create the mentorship relationships you want and need, questions to ask yourself that will provide clarity on the mentor you’re looking for, and my top tips on being a great mentee.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/147

Lawyers live in a world where we’re expected to be confident. There’s the notion that lawyers are trusted advisors who are practically omniscient and whom other people turn to for answers. We’re expected to embody confidence, but how do we portray that when we operate in an environment with inherent uncertainty?

Hear how uncertainty influences your level of confidence and examples of the inherent uncertainty that exists in legal practice. I’m sharing some of the ways you might be trying to overcompensate for a lack of confidence, how this could create additional problems for you, and seven strategies that will help you cultivate confidence, even in the face of uncertainty.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/146

What makes time management so challenging for lawyers? While the practice of law presents a few unique challenges that make managing your time feel close to impossible, the good news is I’ve got a five-stage roadmap that will help you identify your personal challenges and offer tools that will give you control, confidence, clarity, and a sense of calm around your schedule.

Hear why time management is different for lawyers and what to do about it. Discover how a lack of time management might be manifesting in your life, how to adopt a mindset that’s more aligned with the life and practice you want, and my top strategies and solutions for better managing your time. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/145

You ultimately want to feel calm and confident about your workweek, but the reality is that the lawyers I speak with often feel like they’re at the mercy of their practices, exhausted, and overworked. If you’re ready to learn how to create weeks that align with what you truly want, the truth is you need systems and strategies to make it a reality, and I’m sharing my top tips with you today.

Hear why lawyers struggle to design and implement the kind of workweek that fuels all areas of their lives. Learn how to avoid falling into the trap of serving beyond your capacity, the power of conducting a time audit, and five practical ideas for developing a schedule that works for you. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/144

Whether in your professional or personal life, delegation can bring up a number of challenges and cause you some level of frustration. If all you want is someone to whom you can delegate work with the comfort, safety, and knowledge that it’ll come back exactly the way you want, and this is far from your current experience, today’s episode may help you.

I illuminate why the process of delegation might be driving you crazy, and a new approach that will help you feel more in control and improve your delegation relationships. Learn the factors that are within your control when it comes to delegation, and how harnessing these skills will encourage your team’s growth and help you become the mentor you want to be.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/143

Joining a firm as a new lawyer or a junior lawyer can be incredibly intimidating. There is the legal aspect, where you may be inexperienced in the tasks the firm needs you to do. Then there is the aspect of working in a professional environment which you may never have experienced before. Developing your skills is a must, but how can you do that when you’re brand new to the field or firm?

To answer this question and many others with me, I invited lawyer, coach, and author Adriana Paris onto the podcast this week. Adriana's recent book, Rising Lawyer, is a practical guide for law students and junior associates who want to succeed in the legal profession. In this conversation, you'll hear Adriana’s top dos and don’ts for finding work, how to build connections at the law firm when you don’t know anyone and might even be an introvert, and how to develop the crucial skills you need in your role, like attention to detail.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/142

Over the last six years of my coaching practice, I’ve witnessed many lawyers just like you who are experiencing a feeling of stagnation or plateau in their careers. They question why they’re stuck when it seems like everyone else around them is happy in their practice. If you’re experiencing an internal nudge that something needs to change, you’re most definitely not alone.

I offer the three main themes that may be contributing to your experience of feeling stuck, and a four-step formula for moving forward with clarity and confidence. Hear how to see your stagnation as a positive rather than a negative, what to expect as you commit to getting unstuck, and how to feel empowered moving forward.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/141

The lawyers I work with often commit to a solid docketing practice at the beginning of the year, only to find themselves slipping and playing catch-up by this point in January. They tell me that recording their timesheets feels more challenging than it needs to be, and they find it a painful process that stirs up feelings of dread, resistance, and resentment, leading them to drag their feet.

Establishing a solid docketing practice is something you will eternally thank yourself for, so this week, I’m offering you a framework for recording your billable hours with greater ease and less stress. Learn some of the common obstacles that prevent lawyers from docketing their time and meeting targets, and my top tips for developing a consistent time-keeping system that will make this process feel far more inviting. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/140

Bena Stock is a litigator-turned-counselor for lawyers and the founder of The Lawyer Mindset. Among the many issues she helps lawyers overcome, she’s also been teaching lawyers how to set boundaries for over six years. She’s here today to walk us through how to set boundaries in environments where it’s particularly challenging, and why reinforcing your boundaries matters.

Hear Bena’s wisdom on the power of healthy boundaries, and why many lawyers find themselves violating their own boundaries if they’ve set them. We’re exploring how it’s possible to have a successful legal career while maintaining boundaries, what happens when you operate without boundaries, and practical tips for asserting your boundaries.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/139

One of my favorite New Year’s traditions is to set a word of the year, a practice I've maintained every year since becoming a coach. This process revolves around casting a vision for the energy, decisions, and goals you'll pursue throughout the year, serving as an incredibly helpful guide and anchor.

In picking my word of the year for 2024, I discovered a twist on this process that initially seems counterintuitive but can, in fact, be the thread that keeps you connected to your word of the year. Learn about my non-traditional approach to setting your word of the year and how you can use it to get closer to everything you aspire to in 2024.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/138