Beyond Performance: Coaching Lawyers Through Pressure, Purpose & Pivot Points

Ask any lawyer how they’re doing and the answer you will often get is: “Busy.”
Sometimes followed by “Swamped.” Or “Flat out.” Occasionally, “Surviving.”

In a profession built on performance, precision, and pressure, it’s no surprise that many lawyers learn to wear stress like a badge of honour. The long hours, the constant deadlines, the expectation to always be on — it becomes normal. Expected. Even rewarded. But behind the scenes, something else is often bubbling beneath the surface. A quieter, more confronting question:

“Is this sustainable?”
“Is this even what I want anymore?”

These aren’t questions most law degrees prepare you for. Nor do firm structures often create the space to reflect on them.

At university, we’re taught the law — the black letter, the theory, the frameworks. We learn how to think like lawyers. But we’re not taught how to be lawyers in the real world: where value is often measured in six-minute units, where client demands rarely pause, and where your worth can feel tightly tethered to how much you bill.

It’s a culture that rewards productivity over reflection — and over time, that can come at a real personal cost.

Coaching: A Different Kind of Conversation

After more than 25 years in legal recruitment, and a former life as an in-house lawyer, I have had literally, thousands of conversations with lawyers — from Grads to General Counsel to Partners. And no matter the level or title, everyone hits a moment (or five) in their career when they feel stuck, lost, burnt out, or just plain ready for something more, or different.

That’s where coaching comes in.

Not as a luxury, or a last resort — but as a proactive, honest, and structured space to figure out what’s next. Coaching is not therapy, and it’s not advice. It’s a guided conversation that helps you pause the noise, reconnect with what matters, and take intentional action — in your career, your leadership, and your life.

I have seen firsthand how transformative coaching can be for lawyers who are:

• Questioning their next move after hitting Senior Associate or Special Counsel level

• Wrestling with imposter syndrome after stepping into a leadership role

• Feeling burnt out but unsure how to make a change without losing face or financial security

• At a crossroads — torn between comfort and curiosity, success and self.

And yet, despite the growing interest in coaching across industries, there’s little in the way of regular, relevant content that speaks directly to the lived experience of lawyers navigating these inflection points.

Recently, I coached a senior associate who had built a strong, respected practice and was on the well-worn path to partnership. On paper, everything looked perfect — but underneath, they were questioning whether partnership was truly what they wanted. Through our coaching sessions, they realised it wasn’t about walking away from ambition — it was about redefining it. They went on to reshape their role internally, finding a way to lead that was more aligned with their values and energy.

It's moments like these — quiet pivots, courageous clarity — that show just how powerful coaching can be when lawyers are given the space to think beyond the traditional path.

Introducing This Column

That’s why I’m so grateful to Lawyers Weekly for recognising the growing need for a dedicated space like this — one that sits outside of traditional performance metrics and speaks to the human side of being a lawyer. It’s a credit to the LW team that they’re supporting a column like this, and acknowledging that real conversations about leadership, purpose and wellbeing belong in the heart of legal media.

Each month, we will explore themes like:

• Career crossroads and reinvention

• Building confidence and clarity in leadership

• Coaching for in-house counsel

• Navigating burnout and boundaries

• The identity shift from lawyer to leader

• Wellness, values, and redefining success

We will unpack actual coaching tools and frameworks. We will tackle common thought patterns that keep lawyers stuck. And we will look at what meaningful change can look like — whether that means a bold pivot or a subtle mindset shift.

There will also be opportunities for you — the reader — to shape the direction. You are invited to send in the dilemmas, questions, and challenges you would love to see explored. Anonymously, of course. Safe. No judgement. Just honest reflections and insights to support you wherever you are in your journey.

From Surviving to Choosing

Here is the truth: you can be a brilliant lawyer and want more. You can be grateful for your role and feel like something is missing. You can tick all the boxes and still wonder whether you’re on the right path.

Coaching doesn’t assume anything is broken. It simply gives you the space — and the structure — to ask better questions and make better choices.

So, if you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like me,” or even just “I’m curious,” then welcome. You’re not alone. There’s a whole community of lawyers asking these same questions, quietly, behind closed doors.

This column is for you.

Let’s open the door.

© 2025 Joseph Germano

Do you have a topic you would like explored in this column (anonymously of course)?
If there’s a career dilemma, leadership challenge or coaching question you would love addressed, I would love to hear from you. You can submit ideas or questions here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connect with me via LinkedIn.

About the Author
Joseph Germano is an executive coach, former lawyer, and long-time legal recruiter with over 25 years’ experience in the profession. He now works with legal professionals, leaders and teams to help them navigate transitions, lead with authenticity, and reconnect with what matters most. You can connect with Joseph on LinkedIn or learn more at www.jlegal.com.au/executive-coaching