Ep #219: What to Expect When You Set Boundaries (Including the Elephant in the Room)

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | What to Expect When You Set Boundaries (Including the Elephant in the Room)

Do you find it difficult to set boundaries? For many lawyers, the idea of setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable, especially when the thought of saying no brings up feelings of guilt or fear of disappointing others. While most of us know we need clearer limits, enforcing them can often feel daunting. In this episode, I’ll break down what happens when you start setting boundaries in your legal practice and personal life, offering a realistic look at both the benefits and challenges.

 

Drawing inspiration from What to Expect When You’re Expecting, I’ll give you a clear, relatable forecast of what to expect when you begin creating boundaries in your legal practice and personal life. I break down the journey into three chapters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. You’ll get the full picture, helping you make informed decisions that align with what you truly want for your career and life.

 

Ep #218: Giving Constructive Feedback: Tough Message, Gentle Delivery

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | Giving Constructive Feedback: Tough Message, Gentle Delivery

Do you shy away from giving tough feedback? As lawyers, we often find ourselves walking a fine line when delivering constructive criticism. Whether it’s to colleagues, team members, or clients, these conversations can feel uncomfortable, but avoiding them only leads to bigger problems down the line. In this episode, I dive into the art of delivering constructive feedback in a way that maintains trust and promotes growth.

 

You’ll learn how to create a culture of feedback in your practice, making difficult conversations feel more natural over time. With practical frameworks and real-world examples, I explore how to structure feedback conversations that are clear, actionable, and respectful. By the end of this episode, you’ll have tools to address performance issues without damaging relationships, all while building a supportive and high-functioning team.

 

Ep #217: Modern Freelance Lawyering with Erin Cowling

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | Modern Freelance Lawyering with Erin Cowling

Do you love the law but find yourself questioning traditional practice models? Freelance lawyering offers a completely different path for lawyers who love the legal work but struggle with traditional practice models. For those who find themselves questioning whether the partnership track, billable hours, or client management aspects of law practice align with their values and lifestyle, there’s another way to use your legal skills while maintaining control over your career.

 

In this episode, I sit down with Erin Cowling, founder of Flex Legal and author of “The Modern Freelance Lawyer.” Erin shares her journey from Bay Street lawyer to freelance legal entrepreneur, revealing how she discovered a way to practice law that eliminated the parts she struggled with while keeping the intellectual challenges she loved. We explore what freelance lawyering actually looks like day-to-day, who it’s right for, and the practical considerations of making this transition.

 

Ep #216: A Simple Mindset Tool to Beat Procrastination in the Moment

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | A Simple Mindset Tool to Beat Procrastination in the Moment

How often do you find yourself procrastinating even though you know you should be working? It’s a common challenge for many lawyers—staring at a task you know you need to complete, only to find yourself putting it off and feeling frustrated with wasted time. In this episode, I’ll introduce you to a mindset tool that helps you beat procrastination in the moment, whether it’s writing emails, reviewing documents, or handling those difficult tasks that feel overwhelming.

 

This tool works by addressing the thought patterns that fuel procrastination, offering a strategic solution that can be applied right when procrastination strikes. You’ll learn how to identify your procrastination triggers, understand the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and replace unproductive thoughts with more helpful alternatives. This isn’t about eliminating procrastination forever, but having a reliable tool to get back on track when you catch yourself avoiding a task.

 

Ep #215: How to Thrive as an Introverted Lawyer (Without Forcing Yourself to Be an Extrovert)

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | How to Thrive as an Introverted Lawyer (Without Forcing Yourself to Be an Extrovert)

Have you ever felt pressured to be louder, more outgoing, or more visibly confident in order to succeed as a lawyer? The legal profession often seems to reward extroverted behaviors, leaving introverts wondering if they need to change who they are to advance their careers. But there is another way—one that allows you to thrive while staying true to your natural strengths.

 

In this episode, I share insights from my own journey as an introverted lawyer and coach. You’ll learn why striving to become a halfway-there extrovert is far less effective than becoming an accomplished introvert. We’ll explore common misconceptions about introversion, the real differences between introverts and extroverts, and how to embrace your quiet, calm presence as a powerful leadership asset.

 

Ep #214: 3 Compelling Reasons to Refresh Your Goals Mid-Year

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | 3 Compelling Reasons to Refresh Your Goals Mid-Year

Is it time to refresh your goals for the second half of the year? While January is often treated as the default for setting goals, the midpoint of the year offers something far more valuable: six months of real-world data. You’ve seen what your practice, your schedule, and your life actually look like, which means now is the ideal moment to reassess what’s working, what isn’t, and what you want to carry forward.

 

In this episode, I explore why mid-year is a powerful time to recalibrate your goals. Unlike the vacuum of January ambition, June gives you lived experience to evaluate which goals align with your values and which ones need to be let go of or reimagined. You’ll learn how to recognize the difference between the wrong goal and the right goal with the wrong support, and how to release the shame of falling short in favor of insight and alignment.

 

Ep #213: My Top Tips for Leading With Calm (Even When You Feel Anxious)

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | My Top Tips for Leading With Calm (Even When You Feel Anxious)

How do you stay grounded when everything feels like too much? Whether it’s a stressful deadline, a difficult conversation, or the dinner-hour chaos at home, it’s easy to get swept up in anxiety and react in a way you didn’t intend. I’ve been there myself. And over time, I’ve developed a set of tools that help me navigate these moments more intentionally and lead myself with calm, even when I don’t feel it inside.

 

In this episode, I walk you through the internal and external factors that tend to trigger a stress response, and how to shift into a more centered, responsive state. From understanding your baseline wiring and physiological cues to reconnecting with your values and priorities, I share a framework that helps me move from reactivity into choice. These aren’t one-size-fits-all solutions—they’re practical approaches you can adapt and practice, in both personal and professional settings.

 

Ep #212: Mid Year Reset: Getting Yourself Back on Track

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | Mid Year Reset: Getting Yourself Back on Track

Do you feel like you’ve fallen off track or out of alignment? The mid-year point offers a perfect opportunity to evaluate where you are and recalibrate your course for the remainder of the year. In this insightful episode, I explore what it means to get “off track” and provide practical strategies for realigning with your authentic goals and values.

 

Many lawyers find themselves pursuing “should” goals – objectives driven by external expectations rather than genuine desires. Through examining the common causes of misalignment, including time constraints, emotional resistance, and societal pressures, we uncover how to recognize when you’ve veered off your intended path.

 

Ep #211: Three Lawyers, Three Paths: Non-Linear Careers in Law with Betta Wishart, Catalina Rodriguez, and Cherisse Friesen

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | Three Lawyers, Three Paths: Non-Linear Careers in Law with Betta Wishart, Catalina Rodriguez, and Cherisse Friesen

Have you considered alternative options in your legal career? In this episode, I’m joined by three accomplished lawyers—Betta Wishart, Catalina Rodriguez, and Cherisse Friesen—who share their candid experiences navigating non-linear career paths across private practice, in-house roles, and public service.

 

Through their combined journeys spanning multiple cities, practice areas, and life transitions, they reveal how stepping off the traditional law firm track opened doors to fulfilling opportunities they hadn’t initially imagined. From moving between sectors to managing young families, their stories offer a real-world look at the personal and professional growth that can come from choosing a different path.

 

Ep #210: Clear, Confident and Connected: Public Speaking for Lawyers with Stephanie C. Mitchell

The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers with Paula Price | Clear, Confident and Connected: Public Speaking for Lawyers with Stephanie C. Mitchell

Do you struggle with public speaking? This is a fundamental skill that shapes every lawyer’s professional reputation and success, whether presenting in a courtroom or speaking up during client meetings. In this episode, professional speaker and communication coach Stephanie C. Mitchell shares essential strategies for delivering clear, confident presentations that connect with any audience.

 

With a background in both law and journalism, Stephanie brings unique insights into the challenges lawyers face when communicating in important situations. She breaks down how to structure presentations effectively, manage speaking anxiety, and create meaningful connections with listeners – even in virtual settings. Through practical examples and proven techniques, she demonstrates how lawyers can move beyond perfectionism to develop an authentic and engaging speaking style.