Sharp suits, sharper minds, and that gnawing thought: “They’ll figure me out.” We’re pulling back the curtain on imposter syndrome in Big Law and talking honestly about why smart, accomplished lawyers still feel like they’re faking it. Emily sh...

Perfectionism loves to pretend it’s a virtue. In high-stakes environments like big law, it can feel like the price of entry: catch every error, anticipate every angle, never miss a beat. But that mindset often turns into a trap—one that feeds a...

Ambition shouldn’t require a meltdown tax. We’re pulling back the curtain on how high performers—especially in big law—can stop treating self-care like a fire extinguisher and start building small, repeatable habits that actually hold up under ...

What if the strongest move you make this week is the simplest: ask for help. Emily Logan Stedman, a commercial litigator and big law partner, unpacks the high-achiever myth that independence equals competence and shows how it silently drains ti...

What happens when the story you were born into collides with the life you can actually sustain? We open up about growing up on a law-bound track, stepping into Big Law with sky-high expectations, and hitting a wall that looked a lot like burnou...

The pressure to “power through” is strong in big law, but it’s also expensive. We open the year by reframing well-being as the core of competent, ethical practice—not a perk, not an afterthought, and definitely more than a snack table in the br...

Are you saying yes out of ambition or fear? After nine years in big law, I've come to a powerful realization: every "yes" is simultaneously a "no" to something else. Whether you're a new associate afraid to decline assignments or a seasoned att...

Have you ever surprised yourself by falling in love with something you never thought was "for you"? That's exactly what happened when I discovered reading for pleasure as an adult and a busy attorney.Growing up, I was never a "reader" -...

Ever caught yourself daydreaming about a minor car accident just to get a legitimate break from work? That startling thought was my personal wake-up call that I wasn't just stressed – I was experiencing full-blown burnout.Burnout isn't ...

Every attorney knows the feeling: Sunday evening anxiety creeping in as you mentally brace for another overwhelming week. The never-ending deadlines, the constant fires to put out, and that persistent feeling you're always one step behind. But ...

The legal profession's emotional rollercoaster doesn't come with warning signs. One moment you're celebrating a career milestone, and the next you're scrambling to manage a devastating setback. This episode dives into the phenomenon of "emotion...

Perfectionism casts a long shadow over the legal profession, creating a persistent undercurrent of self-doubt that affects everyone from first-year associates to seasoned partners. Drawing from personal experience, I pull back the curtain on wh...

Struggling to let go of control in your legal practice? You're not alone. This candid exploration of delegation dives into the counterintuitive truth that doing everything yourself is actually holding back your career.As attorneys, we'r...

Leadership isn't reserved for those with fancy titles—it's a skill that starts the moment you enter the professional world. In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked art of "managing up and managing down," revealing how these complemen...

Feeling like you're constantly sprinting from one deadline to the next with no time to catch your breath? You're not alone. In this episode, I share my journey from burnout to balance through a surprisingly simple practice: the deliberate creat...

Every litigator knows the anxiety of watching a court deadline approach on the calendar. But what seasoned attorneys understand—and what newer lawyers need to learn quickly—is that the visible deadline is merely the final step in a carefully or...

Season 5 of The Grace Period will explore the moments that shape attorneys' professional and personal lives, diving deep into practical strategies for maintaining humanity in big law. We'll tackle burnout recovery, sustainable wellness habits, ...

Legal practice is evolving rapidly with technological advancements, and generative AI stands at the forefront of this transformation. This eye-opening episode dives deep into practical applications of AI that can revolutionize how attorneys app...

The technological revolution waits for no one—not even lawyers. Generative AI is reshaping how legal professionals work, and understanding its potential could be the difference between thriving and merely surviving in tomorrow's legal landscape...

Ever wondered how to break the cycle of toxic management in law firms? Discover a practical, powerful tool that transforms attorney relationships and sets clear expectations without the mind-reading.Commercial litigation partner Emily L...

Have you ever wondered who's really keeping your law firm running? It's not the rainmakers or the trial lawyers—it's the people handling what I call "professional housework." This invisible infrastructure of scheduling, organizing, tracking dea...

Ever stood in a courtroom or boardroom and thought, "They're all going to realize I have no idea what I'm doing"? That familiar feeling of being an imposter isn't a sign of failure—it's a sign of growth.In this deeply personal episode, ...

Ever wonder if it's possible to take a random afternoon off in Big Law without sacrificing your career? After nine years in the trenches, I've discovered something surprising: strategic breaks aren't just possible—they're essential for peak per...

Making the leap into big law as a summer associate or first-year attorney? The learning curve is steep, but this episode provides the roadmap you've been searching for. We're breaking down the unspoken rules and critical strategies that determi...

Mistakes—the dreaded, anxiety-inducing, but absolutely inevitable part of being an attorney. Despite what your brain might tell you, every legal professional makes them because behind every suit and legal pad is a human being capable of error.<...