The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers

Do you feel like your time is constantly slipping out of your control, even when you are trying to stay organized? As a lawyer in private practice, your days are often shaped by competing demands, urgent requests, and shifting priorities. It can feel difficult to create consistency when your work is inherently unpredictable.      In this episode, I explore how to think about time management in a way that allows you to stay focused and effective, even when your schedule is not fully within your control. I walk through four essential elements that support better time management in private practice. This offers a practical way to think about balancing chaos and control in your day-to-day work. Whether you are managing client demands, internal responsibilities, or your own priorities, these essentials can help you create more clarity and consistency.          Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/255           Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol            Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Do your meetings ever feel like they drag on without accomplishing much? As a lawyer, you know how crucial it is to make the most of every moment. Meetings can easily become time drains, but they don't have to be. In this episode, I'll share how to structure a highly productive meeting that helps you achieve your goals efficiently and keep everyone focused on what matters.       Whether you're leading large group meetings, having one-on-one conversations, or simply engaging in informal discussions, these strategies can be applied to any situation. With the right structure, you can ensure every meeting is purposeful and moves you closer to your goals.          Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/254           Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol            Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Are you sitting with a decision that feels heavy or difficult to resolve? In this episode, I talk about what makes certain decisions so hard, especially when the alternatives feel uncertain and the status quo feels safer, even if it is no longer working. Whether the decision relates to your career, your family, or another important area of your life, this conversation offers perspective and support as you think about your next step.      I share three ways to approach decision-making when you feel stuck. I also talk about weighing a decision using more than logic alone, making space for facts, feelings, and the unknown elements that only unfold once a choice is made. If you have been circling the same question for some time, this episode will help you approach that decision with more trust in yourself and a clearer sense of what to do next.      Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/253           Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol            Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

In this episode, I sit down with Allison Wolf, a leadership coach and strategic advisor working with lawyers and law firms across Canada and the United States, with a particular focus on small and mid-sized firms. We talk about the realities of growth for small firm and solo founders, and what can happen when more clients, more files, and more opportunity begin to stretch the systems, people, and leadership capacity of a firm.   This conversation is full of practical insight for founders who want to build intentionally rather than simply react to what growth brings. Listen in this week to hear why hiring support can become essential, how to think about culture in a more concrete way, and what it takes to create a strategic plan that actually guides decisions and gets implemented. Allison also explains the relationship between strategy and culture, and why both matter if you want your firm to grow in a way that is sustainable.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/252        Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol         Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Have you ever bought something online that seemed perfect, only to have it arrive and not quite fit the way you expected? You may have found a role that seemed ideal when you first started, but over time, it feels more like a one-size-fits-none situation. If that's where you are right now, today's episode is all about how to tailor your career to fit you without leaving the role entirely.      In this episode, I share three shifts you can make to customize your current practice or role. These are steps designed to help you assess where you are now, identify what truly matters to you, and create the career you want. Whether you're new in your role or seeking to adjust your current trajectory, these shifts will help you get clearer about the direction you want to go and how to achieve it.        Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/251        Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol         Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

If you are in the thick of it right now, you already know how full life can feel when work, family, and everything in between all happen at once. In this episode, I sit down with Morgan Fowler to talk about what it really looks like to move through that season without losing yourself in the process. We talk honestly about the fog of the early years, the constant shifting demands at home and at work, and why it can be so hard to zoom out when you are just trying to get through the day.     You will hear practical ways to reduce the mental load, make decisions inside real constraints, and think in seasons rather than expecting every week to run the same way. Morgan also offers a powerful reframe of treating your choices as investments in who you are becoming and in the life you are building. If you have been craving perspective, validation, and a better way to approach work life balance, this conversation will meet you right where you are.       Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/250        Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol         Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Have you noticed that you tend to need confidence most when you feel least certain? In this episode, I explore why uncertainty and confidence often feel tangled together, especially in legal work where the stakes are real and the outcome is not fully in your control. I also invite you to notice where you have been treating certainty as the requirement for confidence.      I share several practical bridges you can use when uncertainty shows up, whether you are speaking up in a meeting, pursuing a promotion, preparing for a high-stakes matter, or avoiding a difficult conversation. If you have been waiting to feel sure before you move, this episode will help you take the next step with more steadiness.      Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/249      Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol       Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Are you finding yourself stuck even when you work hard to reach your goals? In this episode, I explore how your self-concept, or the way you think about yourself, can impact your growth and success. Self-concept is more than just how you see yourself in the moment; it shapes the decisions you make and how you approach challenges in both your personal and professional life.      I discuss three scenarios where a misaligned self-concept can hold you back, how to become more aware of your self-concept, recognize when it's limiting you, and take steps to redefine how you see yourself. This exercise can help you break free from old patterns and align your actions with the goals you want to achieve, creating more opportunities for success and growth.      Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/248      Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol       Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Do you feel like your career has stalled just as your capacity is starting to come back? In this episode, I talk about the mid-career plateau I often see mom lawyers experience and why it is both common and understandable. As parenting demands shift and your energy begins to return, many lawyers find themselves questioning whether their current role still fits and what they want next.     I walk through three ways this plateau tends to show up in practice. This episode is about reframing the plateau as an inflection point rather than a failure. Whether you feel ready to make a change or are simply noticing the questions surfacing, this conversation will help you think more clearly about what matters now and what might come next.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/247     Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol      Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

How much time do you spend each week thinking about food, preparing meals, and figuring out what you are going to eat next? For most lawyers, it is far more than they realize. In this episode, I explore why meal planning deserves a place in your time management system and how being intentional about food can free up time, energy, and mental space.   I explain why meal planning is often overlooked in professional productivity conversations, even though food decisions shape how focused, energized, and efficient you feel throughout the day. I walk through three core elements of meal planning. This episode will show you how small, realistic shifts around food can support better focus and smoother days at work.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/246   Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol   Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Do you struggle with planning because you feel too busy, find it tedious, or rely on your memory to hold everything together? In this episode, I walk through three common time management and planning mistakes I see lawyers make and explain why they quietly create more stress, reactivity, and lost time than you might realise. We look at what actually happens when you skip planning and dive straight into your day, why avoiding planning because it feels boring often leads to more work later, and how relying on a strong working memory can overload your brain and undermine your effectiveness. I share practical ways to approach planning that are realistic for busy legal practices and designed to support focus, clarity, and follow-through.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/245   Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol   Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Have you ever noticed yourself doing anything except the work you actually need to do? In this episode, I explore how procrastination can quietly take over, especially during moments of transition, fatigue, or emotional overload. Rather than treating procrastination as a personal failure, I invite you to see it as a signal that something underneath needs attention.   This episode focuses on how to gently rebuild focus and motivation without forcing yourself into productivity mode. I walk through the mindset shifts and practical approaches that helped me regain clarity, reconnect with purpose, and create forward movement when everything felt stuck. If you've been struggling to concentrate or feeling disconnected from your work, this conversation will help you find your way back to momentum.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/244   Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol   Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

Grief can show up in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. In this episode, I welcome Jayne Rossworn, a registered clinical counselor and former lawyer who works with The Lawyer Mindset, to explore how grief affects lawyers both personally and professionally. Whether you're navigating the loss of a loved one, a job transition, a shift in identity, or even a positive change, grief is a universal human experience that deserves acknowledgment and care.   Jayne brings a unique perspective to this conversation, drawing on her background as a corporate solicitor, her work with hundreds of law students in career services, and her experience as an elite athlete and coach. Whether you're experiencing grief yourself or want to better support a colleague who is, this conversation offers compassionate guidance for navigating one of life's most challenging experiences.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/243

How can you take the stress out of meeting your billable hour target? In this episode, I'm sharing how to approach your target strategically, rather than scrambling in the final months of the year. Whether you're already hitting your target or struggling to keep pace, this episode offers practical steps to help you stay on track and finish the year strong.   I'll walk you through six actionable steps to meet your billable hour target, from calculating realistic daily targets to addressing time management challenges. You'll learn how to adjust for vacation days, streamline your workflow, and tackle procrastination. With these tools, you'll be equipped to approach your billable hours with confidence, avoiding the last-minute scramble and setting yourself up for a balanced year.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/242   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

What if choosing a word could help guide your year, your decisions, and your actions? In this episode, I share one of my favorite year-end traditions: choosing a word of the year. It's become a personal practice that serves as an aspirational anchor, something I can return to when faced with decisions and opportunities throughout the year.   I'll reflect on how my 2025 word, "breakthrough," and you'll hear the word I've chosen for 2026. Whether you've chosen a word before or are new to the practice, I'll walk you through how to select a word that resonates with your goals, and I'll share why pairing that word with a companion word helps you embrace the full experience of the year ahead.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/241   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

What is preventing you from letting go of what no longer serves you? In this episode, I explore the valuable gift of release: letting go of the things, tasks, or relationships that no longer align with your life or goals. Instead of focusing on what we're adding to our lives during the holidays, I invite you to consider the freedom that comes from letting go.   As we approach the end of the year, I guide you through five categories of things you might choose to release, starting with the easiest and progressing to the most challenging. This process isn't about giving up on your goals or dreams, but about releasing pressure, unrealistic expectations, and patterns that may be preventing you from experiencing more joy and ease.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/240   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

What is preventing you from giving the kind of clear, useful feedback you want to give? In this episode, I share three practical strategies that can help you give better feedback and become a more effective leader. Whether you are teaching, mentoring, or managing a project, the ability to communicate what is working and what needs adjustment is essential to supporting the people who work with you.   By the end of the episode, you will have practical tools for catching people doing things well, offering constructive direction without discouraging them, and building feedback into your practice without adding more stress to your week. These skills will help you create a supportive environment where your team understands what excellence looks like and feels equipped to meet it.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/239   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

How would you define yourself as a leader? In this episode, I explore how the Triple Loop Learning model helps you understand the deeper layers that shape your leadership and why defining your identity as a leader creates more meaningful and sustainable change. You will see how each layer contributes to the way you show up as a leader and why change feels different when it begins at a deeper level.   By the end of this episode, you will have a clearer path for designing the kind of leader you want to become and a way to work backwards from that vision. You will learn how to recognise your default patterns, how to strengthen the beliefs that support confident leadership, and how to align your daily choices with the leader you aspire to be.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/238   Webinar on December 12th, 2025: "Lead Yourself Through Change in 2026." Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_naqV0MKuTxWGhNgX6UH0uw   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

Do you struggle with turning your New Year intentions into outcomes you can actually see in your life and practice? Whether you love making resolutions or avoid them because they rarely lead to results, this conversation offers a deeper look at what really carries a goal from January excitement to December achievement. I explore why information alone is never enough and why creating meaningful change requires clarity, structure, and tools that support the way you work in real time.   In this episode, I walk you through the three components that turn a resolution into a result. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of how to create the conditions that make your goals achievable all year long. You will learn how to create time for what matters, follow a process that fits the way you think, and anticipate the patterns that shape your progress. This framework applies to any goal you choose, from hitting your billable target to pursuing a new role to creating more balance in your life.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/237   Webinar on December 5th, 2025: "From New Year Resolution to End of Year Result." Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yyOrp8oxQSefXRZ5ne77zg   Webinar on December 12th, 2025: "Lead Yourself Through Change in 2026." Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_naqV0MKuTxWGhNgX6UH0uw   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026  

Are you struggling to juggle work, parenting, and everything in between? Whether you're returning from parental leave or adjusting to the reality of raising young children, managing your time can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I'm diving deep into time management strategies for new parents, offering practical tools that go beyond the basic quick fixes.   I'll show you how to plan and schedule with your new reality in mind, how to delegate effectively both at home and at work, and how to make the most of small pockets of time, what I call "kettle time." We'll explore how to create a sustainable system that allows you to manage both your career and family without feeling like you're constantly behind. You'll be able to handle transitions with more ease and ensure you're prioritizing the right things, without losing sight of your own well-being.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/236   Webinar on December 5th, 2025: "From New Year Resolution to End of Year Result." Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yyOrp8oxQSefXRZ5ne77zg   Webinar on December 12th, 2025: "Lead Yourself Through Change in 2026." Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_naqV0MKuTxWGhNgX6UH0uw   Learn more and register for the 6-Month Mastermind: https://www.uplevelcpd.com/courses/leadership-for-women-lawyers-2026