The Free Lawyer

Suzanne Shams joins us today to share her wisdom about how we as attorneys can find true happiness as attorneys. We chat about these important topics: -How to overcome physical and  mental health challenges -The importance of accepting ourselves and managing the temptation to always doubt ourselves -Stopping the energy leaks so we can be more productive -Finding fulfillment through service -Remembering we are not alone -The gift of self-compassion -Finding our true place in our profession that is in alignment with our values Suzanne has been an attorney, a professor and now is The Counsel's Coach. She helps stressed and exhausted attorneys become more productive happy and fulfilled. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or at suzanne.shams@gmail.com.

Have you ever had someone really hurt you in your life? Someone who treated you very badly, unjustifiably, for no good reason? And you feel, quite justifiably, resentful of how that person treated you? Who hasn’t been hurt by the actions or words of another? Those wounds can create a reservoir of anger and bitterness, sometimes even vengeance. The key to freeing you from that prison of bitterness is forgiveness. Today I explain what is forgiveness; what is not forgiveness, why we should forgive; hurdles to forgiveness; what are the gifts of forgiveness; and what are the steps to take in forgiving someone who has unjustifiably harmed you. It is time to create that freedom you deserve! Have a listen!

Elaine Godley joins The Free Lawyer today to share her expertise on how to build a life of health and well-being as a lawyer in today's challenging and stressful legal profession. Elaine is a Health and Wellbeing Mentor in the UK who supports lawyers in their journey to have a healthy and fulfilling life.  She shares her tools on these topics: -How to determine your profile so you can be in alignment with your true self -How to manage stress and burnout as a lawyer -The importance of self-awareness and mindfulness -How to improve your nutrition to fuel your wellbeing -How to find personal freedom in your profession Elaine has an extensive background in the legal industry, having been the CEO of several large law firms in the UK. Having overcome numerous personal and health struggles, she now helps transform professional service firms to increase profits and health; she coaches lawyers and other professionals individually to build their well-being and fulfillment. You can connect with Elaine on LinkedIn or by email at elaine@elainegodley.com. 

Lawyers often have a reputation of being smart, confident, in control, and intensely logical. But sometimes, we have the unfavorable reputation of being arrogant, insensitive, and poor listeners. One of the traits not focused on very much in the legal practice arena is compassion. Why is it so critical to be a compassionate lawyer? While it is so important to convey a professional image, we also should still be authentically human in our practice. Today I will talk about what compassion is, how it is different from sympathy and empathy, how to be a more compassionate lawyer, and why it is in our personal best interest and the best interest of our profession to strive for being a more compassionate counselor. You will love this episode!

Christi Disparte, a dynamic in-house counsel, joins The Free Lawyer today to share her journey from a litigator in a law firm to an in-house counsel where she has found true fulfillment. Christi offers some powerful thoughts about how to find fulfillment and a healthy balance in the practice of law. She shares her insights on some of these topics: -How to effectively manage the stress of being a practicing litigator in a law firm -The gift of acceptance in handling those persons and situations that challenge us -Take daily breaks to relieve the stress (listen to learn Christi's special break activity!) -How our obstacles help us to grow and find our true calling -The importance of professionalism and being kind in our practice -Finding freedom by focusing on working to live instead of living to work -Important wellness practices to help us stay balanced, healthy, and happy.  Christi is in-house counsel at AuditBoard. Before joining the in-house ranks, Christi was a litigation associate, where she worked on complex civil litigation matters. Christi loves collaborating with others and enjoys being part of her company's success. Christi supports others by sharing self-care tips and her journey through the legal profession. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or by email at cdisparte@gmail.com.

We all know the importance of tolerance, don’t we? We all believe it’s a great value. Is your workplace genuinely tolerant? Can we make it better? And if so, how? Today I will chat about what tolerance is and isn’t, the benefits of having a genuinely tolerant workplace, and how we can improve our office setting to make it more inclusive and accepting. Here are some essential steps: 1. Lead by example. 2. Encourage open communication. 3. Be respectful to all. 4. Create an atmosphere where staff is listened to. 5. Hold everyone accountable, even the most powerful.  6. Set clear expectations. 7. Encourage all staff to seek help safely.  Please listen as I dive into each of these in more detail!

Being a litigator can be so challenging, can't it? This is particularly true in family law. Managing the emotions of our client, and dealing with an often contentious opposing counsel, can create not only stress for us individually but also an obstacle in resolving our case effectively.  Ryan Kniznik, an incredible family law attorney in Ontario, joins The Free Lawyer today to share his powerful insights into practicing law professionally and effectively while also finding personal fulfillment. Ryan offers hot tips on these topics: -The best way to manage the toxic attorney -The importance of calling opposing counsel to determine together what can be resolved and what is at issue -Respectfulness and professionalism as the keys to a successful practice.  -The benefits of early communication with the other side -How not to engage with the problematic lawyer who only wants to fight -The keys to building an effective relationship with opposing counsel -How to remove emotion from communications and achieve a positive solution for the client Ryan is a family lawyer in Ontario [Canada] who is resolution focused and can settle cases, whether addressing parenting or financial issues. He uses his experience gained from court appearances, mediations, and negotiations to help guide clients through the family law process, help problem-solve and generate solutions, and bring closure. Ryan aims to make the process smooth and less stressful by taking a client and goal-focused approach. Ryan can be reached through LinkedIn or at rkniznik@blaney.com work number: 416-593-3921

Have you ever felt overwhelmed at work? That you simply cannot handle anymore? Although you loved your profession, now you are tired of it and getting frustrated? Have you ever felt burned out? This is, unfortunately, not at all unusual. So many lawyers are overwhelmed, overworked, stressed out, and unhappy. We need to set boundaries between our professional and personal lives. How can we change this? In this episode, I explain why we feel this way, some warning signs, the consequences, and, most importantly, eight tips for successfully navigating these situations. We all have a right to be professionally fulfilled and have a satisfying personal life. Let's see how we can do that together.

Emily Logan Stedman joins us for this blockbuster episode! Practicing for six years in two large firms, Emily shares her powerful tips with young lawyers, including: -Her hot tips for the lawyer who is feeling overwhelmed- remember you are not alone, seek the fulfillment you crave, connect with your tribe, and know you always have choices!! -The importance of mentorship for young attorneys -How to set appropriate boundaries and find time for yourself -Be aware of the stress you feel and share it with your associates -Find fulfillment by focusing on finding solutions for your clients Born and raised outside Atlanta, Georgia, Emily Logan Stedman has called Milwaukee home since June 2013. She obtained her B.A. (Spanish and History) in 2008 from Wake Forest University. In 2010, she enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 2013 and serving 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 as a Senior Associate at Husch Blackwell, where she practices commercial litigation. 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 where she posts regularly on the realities of being a Big Law associate and the need to destigmatize lawyer well-being.

Have you ever felt that you were not as good as other people think you are? Have you ever doubted your ability to achieve what you already have? Do you see yourself as unworthy or not good at what you do, even though others think you are? Have you ever felt you didn't belong? Or even, "what am I doing here?" I know I have struggled with some of those thoughts.  This is often labeled as "imposter syndrome." But trust me, if you have ever felt that way, you are not alone. It affects so many of us and causes us significant problems.  In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will discuss the reality of imposter syndrome, what it is, its causes, how it affects us, and tangible tools to overcome it. Check it out!! Want to learn more about how you can break out of the prisons holding you back? Reach out to me at gary@garymiles.net, and check out my website garymiles.net.