Work/Career

Small breaks help us mindfully upkeep our well-being throughout the day and encourage long-lasting changes.

The dreaded “billable hour” is played out mercilessly in countless lawyer jokes. Jokes aside, what effect has this unrelenting billing method had on lawyers themselves?

All industries and professions should seize the opportunity to assess the positive and negative impacts of the pandemic on their businesses.

A recent Canadian study found significant stress for lawyers early in their career. Lawyers are learning their areas of law, acquiring knowledge and expertise, and their career trajectory may coincide with the “biological clock” for women, and the life stage where many lawyers want to settle down and have families.

Time is the currency of today’s legal profession and there is a perception that a lawyer’s worth is tied closely with their billed hours stats.

How do we combat the natural feelings of trepidation and uncertainty that so often accompany a significant life change?

In Part 3 of this series, we’ll take a deeper dive into networking and the three types of informational interviews. 

While the decision to make a career change starts on a personal level, the journey itself can and should include a solid support network.

The words “career change” are often accompanied by a whole host of feelings that run the emotional gamut.

Members of the legal profession, particularly in British Columbia, have a long and noble tradition of helping one another.

Becoming a lawyer and establishing a practice takes a great deal of hard work and the realization of various skills...

Imagine you have been asked to participate in an experiment where you are asked to solve a number of puzzles...

Research shows that being authentic and being intrinsically motivated results in higher productivity and greater longevity.

At LAPBC, we honour the sharing of vulnerability, "the courage to be imperfect", and encourage people to connect with their values, strengths and abilities to live from their highest possible selves.

Every firm, whether small, medium or large, has its own culture, as does government, corporate counsel, academia and quasi-legal groups outside conventional law practice.

Ethical atrophy is a term I coined to express my belief that if we do not continually work at exploring and living by our values our ability to do so will diminish.

Sooner or later everyone retires. Thousands of "boomer" lawyers will be retiring in British Columbia in the next 15 years.

Vicarious trauma is much more than merely a "stress or burnout reaction".

Lawyers who are successful in life both personally and professionally have one thing in common: they have learned to set good boundaries.

Procrastination can take a surprisingly high toll on your life, causing stress, illness and low self-esteem.

Take a moment to think about how you spend your time each day.

At LAPBC we have had great success in teaching people about setting healthy boundaries, pursuing excellence rather than perfection and arranging a pattern of work life that it is congruent with personal values.