WILL - Women Interested in Leaving Law

“Do I Even Want This?” Michelle Thompson on the Question Lawyers Rarely Have Time to Ask

July 15, 2026·32 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

“I thought… ‘I’m earning forty thousand dollars a year, working seventy to ninety hours a week… and I’m going to have a heart attack.’”Before becoming a coach for lawyers, Michelle Thompson practiced as a labor lawyer. Fueled by caffeine and alcohol, the years of overwork and financial stress took a tool.  She faced the real “costs” of how she was lawyering. In this honest conversation, Michelle shares her journey from lawyer to PhD candidate to coach. She explains why so many women lawyers stay trapped in survival mode for years longer than they want to. This episode covers:Hidden physical and emotional costs of legal culture.How women lawyers lose touch with what they actually want.Nervous system impacts from chronic stress, overwork, and perfectionism.Burnout, depression, and rebuilding her life.How Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/tapping) can help lawyers regulate stress and reconnect with themselves.This episode is especially for you if you’re a high-achieving lawyer, conditioned to white knuckle and push through exhaustion, and no longer want to live that way. About MichelleMichelle Thompson, JD, PhD, works with women lawyers to build their book of business and/or hit their billable hours without the burnout. She does this through public speaking at Bar Associations and law firms, as well as through coaching programs in Resistant Vision.ConnectLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-thompson-esq-b75317403/ WILLThe WILL- Women Interested in Leaving Law Podcast is hosted by Elena Deutsch, a dedicated legal career coach and catalyst. This podcast is more than a good listen; it’s an invitation to explore new possibilities and shed limiting beliefs. As WILL Alumni and guests share their journeys beyond traditional legal careers, you’ll see that you can leave or love law.Feel stuck, unhappy, or ready to explore your own WILL journey?Book your consultation: https://consultation.womeninterestedinleavinglaw.com/2-step-sales-page-page-4160

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