If you’ve ever found yourself rewriting an email ten times, hedging every sentence in a memo, or avoiding a hard conversation with a colleague or client—you’re not alone. In this episode, I dive into why communication is one of the most underestimated challenges in Big Law, and how it can make or break your success.

Lawyers are trained for precision and risk mitigation—not for clarity or connection. And firm culture only reinforces that. But when your writing is dense, your feedback is vague, or your tone is overly formal, it’s not just style—it’s a barrier to effective leadership, client trust, and team performance. In this episode, I break down the most common communication traps in Big Law, why even the top attorneys fall into them, and how to shift toward language that is actually helpful, direct, and practical. From speaking up without a fully formed answer to giving (and receiving) better feedback, this episode is packed with specific strategies you can apply right away.

At a Glance:
00:00 Why communication challenges are so common in Big Law
01:20 How legal training encourages hedged, dense, and formal language
02:09 The difference between being technically correct and being useful
03:00 Real examples of communication breakdowns with clients and teams
04:13 The cultural factors that cause lawyers to avoid directness
05:03 Why fear of being wrong leads to silence or delay
05:33 How conflict avoidance undermines feedback and clarity
06:32 Expertise isn’t communication—why tone, context, and structure matter
07:27 What better communication actually looks like
07:51 How to write clearly: start with what the reader needs to know
08:18 The role of senior lawyers in modeling direct, contextual feedback
08:41 What to say (and ask) when vague comments like “fix this” come up
09:06 Why it’s okay not to have all the answers—and what to say instead
09:29 Spotting and replacing gobbledygook language in firm conversations
09:53 How firm hierarchy silences real dialogue
10:15 The importance of regular, real-time, two-way feedback
10:55 How to ask clarifying questions without apologizing
11:44 Why lawyers sound overly formal—and how to sound human again
12:10 Read the room: adjust your tone and delivery to your audience
12:33 Final thoughts: break bad habits, aim for clarity over complexity

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Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast

If you’ve ever left a conference wondering whether it was worth the time, money, and disruption to your client work, this episode is for you. I break down how Big Law attorneys can approach conferences more strategically—before, during, and after—so they actually generate business, deepen client relationships, and build visibility with the right people.

Too often, conferences are treated as obligatory or status-based, without a clear plan for return on investment. But with tight schedules and high expectations, you can’t afford to attend just to check a box. I share the steps I walk through my coaching clients to evaluate which events are worth attending, prepare for targeted interactions, and follow through to maximize long-term value. This isn’t about collecting badges or LinkedIn selfies—it’s about making sure the time you spend translates into opportunities that move your practice forward.

At a Glance:
00:00 Why many Big Law attorneys struggle to get ROI from conferences
01:44 How to choose events that align with your business development goals
03:04 The problem with conferences filled only with other law firm lawyers
04:04 How to assess whether attendees include real decision-makers
05:10 Why smaller, niche conferences can offer greater access
06:08 Hidden pitfalls of vendor-heavy conferences and VIP sponsor tiers
06:55 Mapping a before-during-after strategy for each event
07:44 Defining specific goals for client relationship-building
08:43 Using LinkedIn and firm connections to prep in advance
09:25 What to say when meeting new people—and how to reconnect
10:25 Why personal touches help build rapport faster than a hard pitch
11:04 How to use dedicated time (like meals and coffees) to go deeper
11:43 Smart ways to continue the conversation without being transactional
12:20 Why taking real-time notes is non-negotiable
13:05 Capturing your own visibility as a speaker or attendee
14:00 How to spotlight clients and earn goodwill through social content
14:22 The most common reason great conference connections fizzle out
14:41 The 72-hour rule: blocking time for personalized follow-up
15:05 Follow-up ideas that feel helpful, not salesy
15:24 Coordinating with your firm’s client team on next steps
15:47 Turning one insight into scalable content or broader BD initiatives
16:08 Measuring conference ROI over 6, 12, and 24 months
16:28 Final thoughts on being intentional with your time and brand

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast

Most BigLaw firms offer a broad array of benefits, including to meet important needs for caregiving for children. But there is still a large gap in many firms for lawyers and other professionals when it comes to benefits that assist in meeting broader family needs, including when it comes to caring for parents, adult dependents, spoues and other family members. In this episode, I speak with Thomas Adrian, who leads HR and wellness at Sheppard Mullin, a firm which has adopted one of the most comprehensive programs in BigLaw to address overall family caregiver needs. We talking about how Sheppard Mullin's partnership with HomeThrive helps lawyers and other professional staff to handle real-life carer responsibilities without having to sacrifice their careers.

Thomas walks through how the program works, including how it is structured to avoid red tape, and how it delivers tangible ROI through increased retention, better productivity, and stronger firm culture. For firms that want to lead in talent strategy, and attorneys looking for better ways to share with their firms how to meet this challenge in the marketplace, this episode is worth a close listen.

At a Glance:
00:00 Why adult caregiving needs more attention in law firm benefits
01:46 Key statistics on working caregivers and the impact on careers
03:07 Sheppard Mullin’s motivation to address caregiving needs
04:20 How the firm began identifying caregiving as a wellness priority
07:13 Why Sheppard Mullin chose Homethrive and how the program works
09:46 Real-life examples of remote caregiving support across the U.S.
11:09 The range of support Homethrive offers beyond elder care
12:25 How Sheppard Mullin defines “family” inclusively
14:15 How the program has been leveraged by those who benefit from it
15:16 Impact stories from attorneys and staff who avoided burnout or resignation
16:40 Extending the benefit to all employees—not just lawyers
17:59 Gaining leadership buy-in for progressive benefits
19:23 ROI vs. Return on Value: how the firm measures program success
20:50 Billing more hours thanks to offloaded caregiving logistics
22:07 Vendor collaboration: why integration across wellness programs matters
24:16 How word-of-mouth drives adoption across practice groups
25:11 Why Sheppard Mullin is committed to leading in this area
26:21 Thomas’s personal passion and family experience that inspires his work

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

To reach out to Thomas Adrian for more information about Sheppard Mullin's approach:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomadrian/
www.sheppardmullin.com

To reach out to HomeThrive about the benefits and parternships they offer to law firms and companies:
https://homethrive.com/

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast