The Happy Lawyer Podcast

Law Firm Marketing That Works with Tifiny Swedensky, CEO of Sharp Cookie

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Marketing a law firm isn’t the same as marketing any other business. The rules are different, the timelines are longer, and the strategies that work in retail or tech often flop in law. That’s why Catherine invited Tifiny Swedensky, CEO of Sharp Cookie, onto The Happy Lawyer Podcast.

Sharp Cookie specializes in helping law firms cut through the noise and get real results. In this conversation, Tifiny shares her no-nonsense approach to building visibility, attracting the right clients, and investing in marketing with confidence.

Whether you are a solo lawyer just starting out, running a firm with a modest budget, or scaling toward seven figures, this episode gives you practical guidance to put into action.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Where to start if you have no or very little budget
How much of your revenue should be reinvested into marketing
Why different practice areas (PI vs. family vs. corporate) need different strategies
The channels delivering the best ROI for law firms right now
How to balance referral-based marketing with direct-to-client marketing
The most important metrics and KPIs to track
Where law firms often waste marketing dollars
What’s changing in law firm marketing over the next three to five years

For more tools to help you build a practice that feels aligned and sustainable, visit thehappylawyer.ca
.

And if you’re ready to get clear on the next step for your practice, check out The Practice Compass — my free diagnostic tool that shows you exactly where to focus your energy for the greatest impact. You can access it here: thehappylawyer.ca

From Mid-Size Toronto Firm to Building a Values-First Practice with Faren Bogach

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Faren walks us through the move from a well-known Toronto firm to running her own shop. She explains why she refused to put her name on the door, how she engineered a “maximum billable hours” launch without burning out, and how rigid personal rules at a prior firm pushed her to design real flexibility. We also have some fun with what kids are watching on TV now and why that matters for working parents who are still building serious careers. The through-line is simple. There is a job in law for everyone. Do the work to find yours, then build the structure to support it.

In this episode we chat about:

networking. Start now. Relationships compound over years.
Your own clients = control, security, leverage.
A portable book protects you from firm politics.
Fulfilment drives consistency and better work, which grows referrals and revenue.
Flexibility supports fulfilment: control your calendar, design your week.
Delegate outside your zone of genius to stay on high-value work.
Align files with your values. Say no to the wrong matters.

More tools and the free Practice Analyzer at thehappylawyer.ca

To learn more about Faren head over to https://www.constructlegal.ca/

Building a $300 Million Law Firm with Mike Morse – How Fireproof Systems Transform Your Practice

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast, I sit down with Mike Morse, the visionary behind one of America’s largest personal injury law firms—valued at over $300 million. Mike shares his journey from a struggling practitioner to building a wildly profitable and predictable business, thanks to discovering the EOS/Traction framework.

We dig into:

How Mike Found Traction – and why it was the turning point for scaling his firm without burning out.
The Fireproof Model – the five-step system from his bestselling book, Fireproof: A Five-Step Model to Take Your Law Firm from Unpredictable to Wildly Profitable.
Why Lawyers Struggle with Time and Money – and the mental traps that keep them from breaking through.
The Delegation Problem – why lawyers are notoriously bad at it, and how to finally let go of the work that’s holding you back.
The books that inspire better leadership and living, including Shine by Gino Wickman, Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, and Die with Zero by Bill Perkins — and how their lessons connect to running a thriving law firm.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s never enough time, money, or bandwidth to grow your firm, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership, systems, and your role as an owner.

Resources & Links:

Connect with Mike Morse: MikeMorse.com
Get Fireproof: FireproofTheBook.com
Learn more about Fireproof Performance: FireproofPerformance.com
Learn more about EOS/Traction: EOSWorldwide.com
Take my Free Practice Analyzer and start moving your firm from chaos to calm: TheHappyLawyer.ca

From Chaos to Clarity: What I Did to Improve My Practice Exponentially

Mon, 26 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400

🎙️ The Happy Lawyer Podcast

Episode: From Chaos to Clarity: What I Did to Improve My Practice Exponentially

Description:
In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes journey of how I took my practice from a place of chaos, burnout, and misalignment—and turned it into something intentional, values-driven, and truly fulfilling.

2023 was a year of major life transitions and growing pains—personally and professionally. My practice was expanding, but the systems, structure, and people weren’t keeping pace. I hit a breaking point and realized it was time to rebuild from the ground up.

From discovering EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System) and diving into game-changing resources like Traction and Fireproof, to implementing scorecards, redefining our core values, and making tough staffing decisions—I’m walking you through the steps I took to regain control of my business and fall back in love with my practice.

Whether you’re in the middle of chaos or just looking to build something more sustainable and joyful, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Why personal and professional misalignment led to a firm-wide reset
How discovering Ben & Brian Glass helped me find “my people” in the legal world
The power of EOS and how Traction became a foundational resource
The critical importance of core values—and actually living them
Lessons learned (the hard way) about hiring slowly and firing quickly
How tools like the People Analyzer and scorecards created clarity
The impact of Mike Morse’s Fireproof on tracking the right metrics
Why rebuilding your foundation can lead to exponential growth

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Traction by Gino Wickman
10X Is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Fireproof by Mike Morse
Great Legal Marketing
Renegade Lawyer Marketing by Ben Glass
Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

🧩 Want More?

If you’re a lawyer looking to grow your practice and love your life again, this episode is your permission slip to pause, reflect, and rebuild on purpose.

👉 Know a lawyer who needs to hear this? Send them this episode.
📩 Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if this resonated with you.

Always feel free to reach out - info@catherineshearer.ca

Success Depression & The Legal Profession

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I am back with my husband John Shearer to talk about Success Depression. We touch on the following points:

what success depression is
how anxiety and depression go hand in hand
the difference between burnout and depression
how to manage burnout, anxiety and depression
the key to effective self care

If you want to see more of John's content head over to @kickstartmenstherapy on Instagram.

Feel free to reach out to me at anytime! info@catherineshearer.ca

@guelphinjurylawyer (insta)

or Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-shearer-062434a6/

How Core Values Can Help You Live a More Fulfilling Life

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with John Shearer (my husband) of Kickstart Men's Therapy about:

core values and what they are
how you can define them
how they help you in business an life
how to unhook from unhelpful thoughts
living with intention

If you want to see more of John's content head over to @kickstartmenstherapy on Instagram.

Feel free to reach out to me at anytime! info@catherineshearer.ca

@guelphinjurylawyer (insta)

or Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-shearer-062434a6/

Building a Fulfilling Law Practice with Marco Brown

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast Marco Brown and I chat about:

how he build a frim that aligns with his values
the great shower incident of 2015
the 300 list
his zero AR family practice
how to know your value as a lawyer
how not to sell your soul as a lawyer

Feel free to reach out ! info@catherineshearer.ca

@guelphinjurylawyer

or Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-shearer-062434a6/

Oops! I did it Again

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast:

why the podcast went away
burnout and recovery again
what you can expect from the next season

Feel free to reach out ! info@catherineshearer.ca

@guelphinjurylawyer

or Follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-shearer-062434a6/

Elevate your Mindset with Emily Elliot

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Success and Mindset coach Emily Elliot about :

her journey from marketing exec to ND to coaching
what a mindset shift is
why its important to shift a limiting mindset
why feedback is crucial to development
why we are all resistant to feedback
how mindset impacts our marketing, businesses and legal practice

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

To learn more about Emily Elliot and her upcoming coaching experience head to: https://www.kelseyreidl.com/2023 The LEAP program starts May 17th!

UPCOMING FREE EVENTS!

Please join me and co-host Jennifer Germaine for a new webinar series accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for 1.5 hour of professionalism.

Awaken Your Leadership Mindset Friday, May 4, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

Managing Conflict in the Practice of Law, Friday June 2, 2023 at Noon -2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

To register for any of the above events: https://www.breathefireintolife.com/thefulfilledlawyerproject

Eliminate Overwhelm & Simplify Your Practice and Life

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Erin Gerner about:

· Her journey in big law and why she left

· Finding clarity in her chaos

· How to overcome overwhelm & perfectionism

· How to simplify your practice

Join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

To reach Erin go to:

https://www.eringerner.com/

For info on the Retreat:

https://www.eringerner.com/re:treat-texas-hill-country

Money Money Money with Hannah Chapman

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Hannah Chapman about money stories and creating wealth. Specifically we covered:

· What is a money story

· Where does a money story come from

· How do negative money stories hold us back

· How we can all overcome negative money stories to create wealth

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

UPCOMING FREE EVENTS!

Please join me and co-host Jennifer Germaine for a new webinar series accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for 1 hour of professionalism.

Attracting Your Dream Clients Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST: Live on Zoom

Awaken Your Leadership Mindset Friday, April 21, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

Managing Conflict in the Practice of Law, Friday May 19 2023 at Noon -2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

To register for any of the above events: https://www.breathefireintolife.com/events

Instincts, Intuition & the Practice of Law with Laura Hartnett

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with former lawyer turned legal consultant Laura Hartnett about:

· What are instincts

· How can we use instincts in our professional lives

· Why you might want to pay attention to instincts or intuition in law

· Shifting from checked boxes to emotionally aligned decisions

· How to use your “Spidey Sense” intentionally

· Learning to trust your legal practice experience

· How to go from overwhelm to clarity

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

UPCOMING FREE EVENTS!

Please join me and co-host Jennifer Germaine for a new webinar series accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for 1 hour of professionalism.

Attracting Your Dream Clients Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST: Live on Zoom

Awaken Your Leadership Mindset Friday, April 21, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

Managing Conflict in the Practice of Law, Friday May 19 2023 at Noon -2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

To register for any of the above events: https://www.breathefireintolife.com/events

Fulfillment, Core Beliefs, and Healing Core Wounds with David Sazant

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with lawyer and almost newly minted psychotherapist David Sazant about:

· Fulfillment in law and life

· Aligning your career with your values and interests

· Identifying your value systems

· Identifying your core beliefs and core wounds

· Where our core wounds come from

· How core wounds hold us back

· How we can heal core wounds

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

UPCOMING FREE EVENTS!

Please join me and co-host Jennifer Germaine for a new webinar series accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for 1 hour of professionalism.

Creating Fulfillment in Your Life and Practice February 17, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST on Zoom

Attracting Your Dream Clients Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST: Live on Zoom

Awaken Your Leadership Mindset Friday, April 21, 2023 at Noon - 2 PM EST - LIVE on Zoom

To register for any of the above events: https://www.breathefireintolife.com/events

Overcoming Fatigue & Stress with Misty Lucas

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Misty Lucas. Misty left the legal world behind to focus on her own wellness and healing journey. We talked about:

her experience in law
her experience with an autoimmune disorder
why she ultimately left law
her career pivot to helping stressed women
how you can manage stress, fatigue, demanding careers and even autoimmune disease

To learn more about Misty head to: https://www.mistylucaswellness.com/

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support.

How to Manage Mental Health with Doron Gold

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I spoke with Doron Gold The Lawyer Therapist and a Member Assistance Program therapist, which is run through Homewood Health and the Law Society of Ontario. Doron is also a former practicing lawyer. We chatted about:

his journey in law
why he left
how to identify when you need a change
how to identify the type of change needed
top reasons lawyers suffer with mental health
tips on how to be happier in law

To contact the MAP head to: https://homeweb.ca/map

To learn more about Doron head to: http://www.thelawyertherapist.ca/about-doron.html

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support.

Building a Personal Brand with Alex Sinatra

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 15:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with lawyer and business woman Alex Sinatra about:

· Creating a legal practice that she loves

· Splitting her passion between business, law and sports

· How to build a personal brand

· Tools to help identify your core values

To learn more about Alex or to listen to her podcast or read her books head to: yourpotentialforeverything.com

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support

How to be Happier in Law with Kara Hardin

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with former lawyer turned therapist Kara Hardin about:

· Her journey in and outside of law

· The biggest blocks to happiness in the profession

· How we can address these blocks to be happier

· How to identify the right path for you

To learn more about Kara head to https://www.karahardin.com/about-me

Lisa Feldman Barrett on Emotions:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/opinion/brain-neuroscience-stress.html

Paula Davis Lack (on debriefing and burnout): https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Connect/Rotman-MAG/Issues/2021/Fall-2021/Fall-2021-IDEX/F2021-Davis

Shawn Achor:

https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work?language=en

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support.

Law Firms, Financial Stress, Mental Health and Law Society Interventions with Val Hemminger

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I talk to Val Hemminger about:

· Leaving traditional law to start her own firm

· Financial difficulties and its impacts on her mental health

· Breaking the Rules of Professional Conduct

· Being investigated by the Law Society

· Mental health impacts and a diagnosis of AHDA

· Learning from mistakes and moving forward

If you want to reach out to Val you can reach her at https://www.valhemminger.com/

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support.

All things Law, Side Hustles and Balance with Angela Han

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with lawyer, life coach and fellow podcaster, Angela Han. We talk about:

· Her legal journey

· Challenges faced in her legal career

· Mastering the side hustle

· The importance of coaching

· Impact of perfectionism on lawyers

· Her selfcare routine

If you want to reach out to Angela you can find her at https://www.angela-han.com/ or connect with her on LinkedIn.

And now you can connect in The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391

Innovation in the Legal Industry with Aaron Baer

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I spoke with Aaron Baer about:

· His journey to equity partner

· Why he choose to leave big law

· Tips on how to build your book of business

· The knowledge gap between law school and practice

· How he created 4L Academy to address it

· How legal tech is changing traditional law

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391for peer to peer support.

Ditching the traditional legal model to build a better law firm with Leena Yousefi

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Welcome to season 2 of The Happy Lawyer Podcast!

On this episode I chat with Leena Yousefi founder of Y Law. We do a deep dive into how the traditional legal practice model led to burnout, mental and physical health issues. We discussed how this gave her the courage to start her own firm and how that firm has now boomed. We cover the following:

· Why law firms are stuck in the past

· How burnout has become the norm in the profession and why that must end

· The impacts of stress and burnout on her physical and mental heath

· Why she started her own practice and how it took off

· Why being a mom makes you a better lawyer not a liability

· Transition to a 4 day work week and its success

And now you can join The Happy Lawyer Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/899616490629391 for peer to peer support.

HLP Break Announcement

Thu, 20 May 2021 10:00:00 -0400

The Happy Lawyer Podcast is taking a quick break to regroup for Season 2.

See you all Soon!

Mastering Conflict with Cherolyn Knapp

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Cherolyn Knapp about all things conflict and conflict resolution including:

· Why she left private practice for dispute resolution

· How conflict exists with all relationships

· Why conflict seems negative

· The types of conflict personalities

· How to use conflict resolution skills

If you want to learn more about conflict resolution or related skills you can find Cherolyn at https://knappresolutions.com/

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca

You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Mindfulness in the Legal Profession with UWO Law Professor Thomas Telfer

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with University of Western Ontario Law Professor Thomas Telfer about:

· His personal struggles with burnout & depression

· His experience seeking help

· Where to seek help if needed

· Impact of COVID-19 on lawyers mental health

· How he began teaching mindfulness for credit at UWO law

· Defining mindfulness & provides a guided meditation

If you are an Ontario lawyer looking for any type of support or help please head to the LSO member assistance site at: https://lso.ca/lawyers/practice-supports-and-resources/member-assistance-program-(1)

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca
You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Facing Career Challenges with Jasmine Daya

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I talk to Toronto based lawyer Jasmine Daya about:

· Her law school and unique articling experience

· How she fell into her practice area and loves it

· The difficulties of being a junior lawyer

· Navigating mothering and a law practice

· The why and how of opening her own firm

· How she manages multiple side hustles

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Carving Your Own Path with Erin Cowling of Flex Legal

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Erin Cowling the creator of Flex Legal Network about:

· Her journey from big law to unemployment to creating Flex Legal

· Her struggles with mental health

· How stress impacted her pregnancy

· The importance finding your values

· Identifying what isn’t working in your career

· The importance of creating a network

· How to make networking less daunting & more fun

You can find Flex Legal Network at https://www.flexlegalnetwork.com/

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website https://www.thehappylawyer.ca

You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Finding Passion, Purpose and a Fulfilling Life in Law with Jennifer Germaine

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Jennifer Germaine we talk about finding passion, purpose and a fulling life. We dive into the following topics:

· Her journey from big law to her own firm

· Burnout and how to identify it & address it

· Finding purpose in life and in law

· The importance of a well rounded life

· Setting boundaries in your practice

· Blind spots and fears holding us back

If you want to learn more about Jenn or her podcast you can head to https://www.breathefireintolife.com/

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca

You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Why Lawyers Need Stress Management and Self Care with Elizabeth Mountford

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Elizabeth Mountford former lawyer turned Mindset Coach. We talk about:

· Her journey to leaving law

· Imposter syndrome and overcoming it

· Stress and its physical impacts

· Self care and its amazing benefits

· How to create a self care plan

Out with the Old & In with the New with Quinn Ross

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Quinn Ross the Managing Partner at The Ross Firm about:

· Innovation in the legal profession

· The profitability of happy

· Creating an inclusive culture that fosters wellbeing

· Benefits of 4 day work week in the legal profession

· Wellness in the legal workplace

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Staying Strong with Stephen Roth

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0500

TRIGGER WARNING!!! This episode talks about childhood sexual abuse.

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I speak to Stephen Roth who is an author, former private practice lawyer, and who currently sits several Ontario Tribunals. We talk about:

· The release of his new fiction book

· How childhood trauma inspired the book

· The importance of sharing his abuse story

· When and why he became lawyer

· How he handled tragedies when running his own firm

· How he identified his values and pivoted out of private practice

To get a copy of Stephen’s book head to: https://www.amazon.ca/Evolutions-Magnum-Opus-Innocence-Trial/dp/1635543029

Weight Management and Self Esteem with Amanda Gazzola

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0500

TRIGGER WARNING! This episode talks about eating disorders, weight loss and infertility.

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I speak with author, life coach and personal trainer, Amanda Gazzola about her new book titled Finally A Diet That Works For Me. In this episode we chat about:

· How she found herself in the health and fitness world

· How she crashed and burned through every diet out there

· How she overcame her lack of self confidence and negative body image

· Why she wrote the book

· How her lifestyle changes drastically improved her life

· Why you can do it too

To learn more about Amanda Gazzola head to her website at https://www.reloveandrise.com/

Improving your Emotional Health with Alicia Gillett

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 13:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Alicia Gillett MSW, RSW about improving your emotional health. We dive into the following:

· What emotional health means

· What emotional well-being is

· How to build emotional resilience

· What your ‘wise-mind’ is and how to use it

· Using mindfulness to cope with emotions

· Way to adapt with change in this COVID world

You can find Alicia at https://naturalchoicemedicalclinic.com/our-team/alicia-gillett-msw-rsw/

Unconscious Bias and Unequal Power Dynamics with Louise Pitre and AnnaLise Trudell

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Louise Pitre and AnnaLise Trudell about power, privilege, equality and oppression in the context of law firms and the legal profession. Specifically we talk about:

· What unconscious bias is

· How unconscious bias shows up in law firms

· How this leads to unequal power dynamics

· What social and positional power is

· How this can and does lead to a lack of diversity at the top

· How to combat bias and unequal power dynamics

To learn more about Louise and AnnaLise you can head to www.louisepitreconsulting.ca

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on linkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

How Style Impacts Your Mindset and Success with Melanie Lippman

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with style expert Melanie Lippman about:

•Why lawyers need help with fashion
•The non-verbal messages our clothes send
•How an outfit can impact performance
•How style is connected to mindset
•Showing up and feeling good today
•Video conference fashion tips

You can find Melanie Lippman at https://www.melanielippman.com/

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on LinkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Why Female Lawyers Feel Stuck and Unhappy in Law with Elena Deutsch

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 14:00:00 -0500

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I talk to Elena Deutsch, founder and CEO of WILL - Women Interested in Leaving (big) Law about:

· Why women feel stuck and unhappy in law

· How common it is for women to be unhappy in law

· How to find a fulfilling and balanced career

· Ways to career pivot internally

· When to make an external career move

· When to consider leaving law and what to do first

To learn more about Elena or if you would like to join her community you can head to https://womeninterestedinleavinglaw.com/

Going Solo with Lawyer & Coach Amy Grubb

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Amy Grubb about starting your own firm including:

· How she decided to open her own virtual firm

· The “right” time to go solo

· Common fears and how to overcome them

· Marketing and networking for solo lawyers

· How a coach can help

To learn more about Amy Grubb and the solo small firm community she offers head to https://grubblaw.ca/

An Interview with Axess Law co-founder and CEO Lena Koke

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I talk with Lena Koke the CEO if Axess Law about:

· Why she went to law school knowing she didn’t want to practice

· What her experience in law was like

· How she made the decision to leave and why

· The story behind Axess Law

· How Axess is different than a typical firm

· How to say no and how to delegate

· Important advice for young lawyers

To learn more about Axess Law head over to www.axesslaw.com

A conversation with Epilogue Wills Co-Founders Arin Klug & Daniel Goldgut

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with the co-founders of Epilogue Wills about their journey leaving law to create a company aimed at increasing access to wills. We will learn about:

· The best and worst part of private practice

· Leaving the linear career mindset behind

· Managing stress and expectations

· Inspiration behind Epilogue Wills

· The billable hour as a bar to collaboration

· Why a law degree is a licence to think outside the box

To learn more about Epilogue Wills head over to https://www.epiloguewills.com/

Turnover in the Legal Profession with Dina Eisenberg

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast Dina Eisenberg and I talk about lawyer turnover and onboarding. Specifically we talk about:

· Why there seems to be high turnover for young lawyers

· How to recognize a turnover problem

· Why turnover is so problematic to the organization

· How law firms can attract the right candidate

· How candidates can find the right law firm for them

· What onboarding is and why its important

· Exploring lateral moves

If you want to reach out to Dina you can find her at https://www.outsourceeasier.com/ or email her at dina@outsourceeasier.com

Time Management as a Lawyer with Jamie Spannhake

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Jamie Spannhake about:

· Her journey from big law in Manhattan to being partner in a small firm

· The importance of personal values when choosing a career path

· How she juggles all of her many roles in life and work

· How to avoid overburdening ourselves

· Her personal story overcoming clinical anxiety

· An inside look at her book The Lawyer, The Lion & The Laundry

You can reach Jamie at https://www.jamiespannhake.com/pages/book where you can also find a copy of her book.

Identifying and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Jessie Spressart

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Jessie Spressart, Lawyer Leadership Coach and Managing Director of Optia Consulting. We talk about:

· Imposter Syndrome – what it is and how to identify it

· Different ways Imposter Syndrome can show up in life

· Why its important to address it

· How to overcome Imposter Syndrome

· How to change negative thoughts

If you want to get in touch with Jessie you can reach her at https://www.optiaconsulting.com/

Words of Career Wisdom with Loretta Merritt

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I speak with Loretta Merritt who has been a lawyer at Torkin Manes for 33 years and counting. She shares with us her words of wisdom when it comes to:

· How she established her career and practice area

· How she has maintains work life balance

· The most difficult part of being a lawyer for her

· The best part about being a lawyer for her

· How the industry has changed and needs to change for women

· The importance of autonomy as a lawyer

· Advice for young lawyers on stress and anxiety

A Chat with Sleep Consultant Ashley Fricker of Mountains of Sleep

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 19:00:00 -0400

This episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast is for all of you working parents out there with tiny humans who just aren’t getting the sleep they need. I chat with Ashley Fricker of Mountains of Sleep about all things sleep training. She shares with us her personal story about how her newborn refused to sleep and how that led to her becoming a certified sleep consultant. In this episode you will learn:

· Why I hired a sleep consultant with my son and what it was like

· When you can start sleep training

· Tips on sleep training a toddler

· What sleep regressions are and how to deal with them

· Transitioning to daycare

You can reach Ashley for a consultation at https://www.mountainsofsleep.com/

From Lawyer to Law School Counselor with Andrea Yang

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with former lawyer turned law school counselor and career coach Andrea Yang. We discuss:

· Career pivots as a lawyer

· Transition from law

· Life after leaving law

· The importance of knowing your values in selecting your career

· How to know if you should leave law or leave an environment

· How we each get to decide our own definition of happiness

You can find Andrea at https://www.andreayangcoaching.com

If you want to learn more about your personal values and character head to VIA Character Survey at https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/surveys/takesurvey

A conversation with Kim Gale on Law School Outside of Canada and Opening Her Own Firm

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Kim Gale about:

• Going to law school outside of Canada
• The difficult & lonely accreditation process upon returning
• How she started her own law firm right after being called to the bar
• How she started the NCA network, an incredible resource for foreign trained lawyers
• The why and how behind Law Blog for Millennials
• How she deals with the stress and chaos of running a law firm, a law blog and the network for foreign trained lawyers

***PLEASE NOTE*** the time lines and deadlines in this episode are no longer accurate. Please visit NCA Network for more info. https://ncanetwork.com/

An interview with Law Practice Queen Katie Lipp

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Katie about:
•How she went from partner to starting and growing her own firm despite serious doubts
•The importance of finding your practice area
•How to be afraid and make changes anyways
•How she addressed her own issues with depression and anxiety
•The importance marketing and networking in growing your practice
•How supporting each other in the pursuit of goals helps everyone

You can reach out to Katie on Linkedn : Katie Lipp, you can find her on Instagram @lawpracticequeen or you can head to www.lawpraticequeen.com

As always, if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach out to me on linkedIn: Catherine Shearer, or you can connect through the website www.thehappylawyer.ca You can also find me on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer

Why Lawyers Need Relationship Help with Rachel Coll

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I chat with Rachel Coll, lawyer turned relationship coach about:
•how she went from being a lawyer who liked her job to a relationship coach
•why lawyers need help with relationships
•tips for those who are currently searching for love
•the importance of letting go of dating expectations
•the importance of focusing on what you want in a relationship
•a quick dip into my dating past to share some lessons I learned
•tips for those in relationships
•and finally, we learn why your partner is not your problem to solve.

If you are interested in coaching with Rachel you can find her at: https://www.rachelcollcoaching.com/

And if you have any questions about your legal career you can reach me at: thehappylawyer.ca

A Chat with Ryan Osbourne on Aligning Your Practice with Your Values

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I host our first of many, male guests! Ryan Osbourne joins me to discuss:

· His trying law school admissions process

· Life at Osgoode Hall Law School

· The good and the bad in big law

· How he found himself over-stressed and out of sync

· What he did to over come that

· Embarking on a solo career as a mediator and collaborative law practitioner

· The importance of self care and

· The importance aligning your practice with your values

Part Two with Danielle Marks on the Realities of Being a Women in Private Practice

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 19:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast we discuss
•The importance of encouraging parental leaves not just maternity leaves
•Challenges in Parenting and lawyering and pushing back against traditional gender roles
•Parenting During Covid-19
•Work life balance for all, not just women, not just parents
•Defining work life balance realistically
•Discrimination women face in the legal profession
•Reflections on the discrimination and harassment we have faced in our legal careers

Part One with Danielle Marks on Leaving Big Law and Dispelling the Toronto-Centric Myth

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 19:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I speak with Danielle Marks about:
•Career pivots - from big law to boutique firm to a small firm outside the GTA
•Dispelling the myth that law outside of Toronto or Big Law doesn’t exist
•Navigating maternity leaves as an associate and as a partner
•Practical impacts of taking any type of leave from work
•The importance of flexibility in the workplace and the value women add to the workplace
•Why making deep connections will have positive impacts for both employer and employee

Talking All Things Fertility with Dr. Kelsey Duncan ND

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I talk to Dr. Kelsey Duncan ND about fertility. We chat about:

· How lawyers and other high achieving professionals seem prone to infertility

· The significant impact of stress on fertility for both women and men

· Lifestyle factors that negatively impact fertility

· How being 35 or older can impact fertility

· Secondary infertility

· Simple steps to take to help increase fertility

· When to reach out for help during your conception journey

For all questions about hormones and fertility feel free to reach out to Dr. Duncan ND. She can be reached at http://kelseyduncan.com/ or you can join her free Facebook group called Be Hormonally Confident http://kelseyduncan.com/?page_id=30

If you liked today's show please leave a 5 start review to help others find this resource.

If you have any questions about your legal career please feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or you can send me an email through the contact page https://www.thehappylawyer.ca/contact-2/

Chasing After Your Dream & Going Out on Your Own with Debbie Stanley

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:00:00 -0400

Debbie Stanley is the founding partner of ETP Canada. She had the courage to go out on a limb and leave her secure big accounting firm job to start her own business. In this episode you will learn about:

her journey
how she came up with the business idea
what to do when you pitch a business plan and the answer is no
how to make the hard decision to go out on your own
how she has dealt with the challenges she’s faced
the importance of networking in building her career
tips /advice if you are thinking about going out on your own

If you like the show please give a 5 start review so that others can find the show.

If you are looking for advice or informal mentoring please feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or you can send me an email through the website at www.thehappylawyer.ca

Lessons Learned Over 3 Decades in Private Practice with Diane Squires

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast I speak with Diane Squires, partner at SV Law. We chat about her nearly 35 year career in private practice, how she navigated 3 maternity leaves when she was in the thick of her career, her experience as a managing partner and about the importance of having a long term perspective when to comes to your legal career.

Diane provides her advice on how a private practice can be a very flexible and rewarding career that can accommodate a healthy work life balance.

Diane also provides amazing advice to young lawyers on networking, marketing, and navigating a maternity leave of your own.

If you want to learn more about The Happy Lawyer Podcast head over to http://www.thehappylawyer.ca

You can also reach out to me at http://www.thehappylawyer.ca/contact-2/if you have questions about your legal career, looking for a peer to peer mentor, or have an idea for a show.

Please give a 5 Star rating on Apple Podcast to help others find the show.

Happy Listening

Navigating Your Legal Career with Mavis Butkus

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast Mavis Butkus, managing partner of McKenzie Lake Lawyers shares with us:

· The importance of finding a practice area you enjoy;

· Managing children and pursuing a legal career;

· The importance of changing the traditional definition of success in a law practice;

· How the practice of law has changed for women over her career ; and

· How being a lawyer is often quite different from how you envisioned it

If you want to learn more about The Happy Lawyer Podcast head over to http://www.thehappylawyer.ca

You can also reach out to me at http://www.thehappylawyer.ca/contact-2/if you have questions about your legal career, looking for a peer to peer mentor, or have an idea for a show.

If you like the episode please give a 5 start review to help others find the show!

A Conversation on Leaving Law with Meghan Smith

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 20:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Happy Lawyer Podcast, Meghan Smith, a former lawyer turned life coach, shares with us her journey to finding a career she is passionate about.

She shares with us how she discovered law just wasn't for her, how she listened to her intuition and took the leap. She also shares with us practical tips on how to manage work life integration, parenting, and remembering to ask for help when you need it. She also shares some of the benefits of working with a life coach.

Feel free to reach out to Meghan if you are looking for some assistance. You can find her at https://www.meghansmithcoaching.com/

If you want to learn more about The Happy Lawyer Podcast head over to http://www.thehappylawyer.ca/

You can also reach out to me at http://www.thehappylawyer.ca/contact-2/ if you have questions about your legal career, looking for a peer to peer mentor, or have an idea for a show.

My Journey | Making Law Work for Me

Wed, 13 May 2020 19:00:00 -0400

In this episode you will learn about my journey in law so far. You will learn how I went from being constantly stressed, anxious and seriously considering throwing in the towel with my legal career to loving my career as a lawyer and finding happiness with work and life.

This episode covers:

my path to where I am now
what my practice looks like and how I achieve balance
my 7 major takeaways from my experience

Welcome to the Happy Lawyer Podcast

Tue, 05 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

This episode is an introduction to the Happy Lawyer Podcast which is aimed at illuminating issues that lawyers face such as extreme stress, burnout, depression, attrition rates and the advancement of women in law.

You will learn about some of the saddening statistics about mental health, attrition, and advancement of women in law.

You will hear a little bit about my story, how I went from seriously considering leaving law to loving my job.

You will also learn more about the direction of this podcast, which is to interview other lawyers, lawyers who left law,and successful business people on how they overcame the challenges they faced to find happiness in their career and life.

The Happy Lawyer Podcast is designed to provide you with tools to help you navigate the often rough waters of being a lawyer.