Coaching for Lawyers: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Works
Release Date: 04/01/2025
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info_outlineCoaching is often misunderstood in the legal profession. It’s not about giving advice, cheerleading, or fixing a problem. It’s about creating space for clarity, growth, and meaningful change. In this solo episode, Elise Holtzman shares what lawyers need to know about professional coaching, including how it works, when it’s most effective, and how law firms are using it to support top talent.
In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge, Elise draws on her experience as a certified coach and former practicing attorney as she explains how coaching helps high-performing lawyers overcome both internal and external barriers, sharpen leadership and business development skills, and follow through on the goals that matter most. She also outlines what a typical coaching engagement looks like, what results attorneys can realistically expect, and why experience inside the legal profession makes such a difference in the coaching relationship.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT COACHING FOR LAWYERS
1:14 – Why this episode is all about answering lawyers’ most common coaching questions
2:00 – What coaching really is—and how it helps you clarify goals and overcome obstacles
4:27 – Coaching vs. consulting, mentoring, and training: Understanding the differences
6:25 – The importance of customization and implementation in coaching
7:57 – Is coaching a licensed profession? What credentials actually mean
12:24 – Who coaching is really for, and why top lawyers are increasingly embracing it
14:17 – How coaching engagements typically work at The Lawyer’s Edge
19:37 – What kind of results can you expect from coaching (and what to avoid)
22:30 – Why coaching lawyers requires legal industry experience
26:03 – How to explore coaching for yourself or your team
MENTIONED IN COACHING FOR LAWYERS: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN’T, AND WHY IT WORKS
International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]
The Lawyer’s Edge
SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…
This episode is brought to you by the coaching team at The Lawyer’s Edge, a training and coaching firm that has been focused exclusively on lawyers and law firms since 2008. Each member of the team is a trained, certified, and experienced professional coach—and either a former practicing attorney or a former law firm marketing and business development professional.
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