182. Breaking Barriers: Emily Stedman's Path to Partner and Wellness Advocate

In this podcast episode, Gary interviews Emily Stedman, a partner at a major Midwest law firm, who shares her path to partnership and her dedication to helping lawyers manage stress and achieve a balanced life. She discusses overcoming self-doubt, anxiety, and imposter syndrome and stresses the importance of mental health practices like therapy and meditation. Emily advocates for open dialogue on well-being in the legal community and underscores the need for law firms to support mental health initiatives. The episode offers insights into maintaining professional and personal well-being in the demanding field of law. Born and raised outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Emily Logan Stedman has called Milwaukee home since June 2013. She obtained her B.A. cum laude (Spanish and History) in 2008 from Wake Forest University. Next, she taught 5th Grade in Buckeye, Arizona, as a 2008 corps member with Teach for America. In 2010, she enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 2013 magna cum laude and having served as Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi Law Journal.

From 2013-2016, Emily clerked for Judge Pamela Pepper, now Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In 2016, she joined Midwest Big Law as an associate at Quarles & Brady. Since November 2020, she has worked at Husch Blackwell, where she is a commercial litigation partner within the technology, manufacturing, and transportation strategic business unit.

It was joining Big Law that brought on an increase in anxiety and low mood in Emily. After seeking solace with colleagues, therapy, and meditation, she began talking more openly about the need to improve well-being in the law. This started with programming while president of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin, then as a committee chair for the Wisconsin Taskforce on Lawyer Well-Being. Most recently, she has built a platform on LinkedIn and now Twitter/X, where she posts regularly on the realities of being a Big Law attorney and the need to destigmatize lawyer well-being.

Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your own copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

Overcoming obstacles and self-doubt (00:02:16) Emily talks about the obstacles, self-doubt, and second choices she encountered in her academic and professional journey.

Managing self-doubt and anxiety (00:06:01) Emily and Gary discuss strategies for managing self-doubt and anxiety, including therapy, meditation, and self-compassion.

Finding alignment and fulfillment (00:11:42) The conversation focuses on aligning legal practice with personal values, making career decisions, and the importance of being true to oneself.

Maintaining mental health and balance (00:20:06) Emily discusses effective strategies for maintaining mental health, including therapy, meditation, organization, and time management.

Systems and Routines (00:24:07) Emily discusses the need for systems and routines to manage workload and pressure, emphasizing the importance of flexibility.

Maintaining Mental Health (00:26:20) The impact of mental health on individual and client performance, and the negative effects of stress and anxiety in the legal profession.

Coping Strategies (00:29:32) Emily shares coping strategies for overwhelmed lawyers, including taking breaks, prioritizing tasks, and regrouping to find peace and balance.

Handling High-Stress Cases (00:31:29) Emily discusses managing stress in commercial litigation, dealing with difficult opposing counsel, and maintaining a reasonable posture and position.

Community and Mentorship (00:35:02) The critical role of mentorship and community in supporting lawyers through the stresses of the legal profession.