Why it's hard to think clearly on your own
When you’re overthinking your career, confused by options or worried about making the wrong move, it’s almost impossible to get clarity on your own.
Most lawyers don’t feel stuck because they lack ambition or ability.
They feel stuck because they’re trying to make a strategic decision while mentally overloaded - and without enough perspective on the problem.
You might recognise this if :
Here you are
going to state the challenges and frustrations
the feeling of being “stuck” isn’t a lack of capability - It’s about a lack of clarity
You feel pulled in different directions
You keep going round the same questions without landing on an answer
You worry about making a move you'll regret
You know something needs to change, but can’t yet define what that is
You're unsure how to make a decision you can stand behind - professionally and personally
What this consultation is designed to do
The Career Strategy Consultation is a one-off, strategic advisory conversation designed to help you understand why you’re stuck so you can decide what to do next.
This is not a motivational conversation.
And it’s not generic career advice.
We don’t jump straight to solutions or tactics. Instead, we slow your thinking down, identify what’s actually driving the uncertainty and work through the decision properly.
The aim is simple: for you to leave the consultation with clarity you can trust - not another set of options to overthink.
Here you are
going to state the challenges and frustrations
Identify the core career issue sitting underneath your frustration
Test assumptions, pressures and internal narratives that may be keeping you stuck
Explore the realistic options available to you - not hypothetical ones
WHAT WE'LL WORK THROUGH
During the consultation, we take a step back to look at the situation in a structured way rather than jumping straight to solutions or tactics
Together we will:
Unpack why your previous thinking hasn’t led to clarity
Clarify what matters most to you now (and what can wait)
Sense-check risks in a grounded, rational way
Move you out of overthinking and into considered decision-making
What you'll have clarity on
by the end of the 90-minute consultation, you will leave with:
A well-defined understanding of the core career issue you’re dealing with
Perspective on whether your next step is to:
- stay and reposition
- move internally
- move externally
- pause and regroup
A short-term action plan (next 30–90 days) to address your immediate situation
Clear language you can use to explain your thinking to others - partners, GCs, recruiters, senior stakeholders or family - and gain the support you need
Confidence in the direction you’re taking because it’s grounded in insight rather than anxiety
Most clients finish the consultation feeling calmer and more confident in the direction they’re taking - not because the decision is easy,
but because it now makes sense
— senior private practice lawyer
I'd never done any coaching before and didn’t really know what to expect - Paula really helped me to
see things from a new perspective
I needed help in deciding between two opportunities which had the potential to take my legal career in very different directions. I had been endlessly agonising over the pros and cons of each, as well as the well-meaning advice of family, friends and professional contacts and I felt completely stuck.
During my consultation with Paula, I was able to take a step back and think about the things that really matter to me and how each of the opportunities fitted into that.
After our session, I felt confident and relieved that I was making the right choice for me.
- Want to think clearly for themselves, rather than be told what to do
- You want an immediate resolution of a long-standing issue such as imposter syndrome or chronic stress
- Are willing to listen and engage actively in the discussion
- Value an experienced, external perspective
- Are open to examining assumptions that may be keeping them stuck
- Want to reach a considered decision they can stand behind
This consultation works best for lawyers who:
Is a Career Strategy Consultation right for you?
- You are looking for someone to make the decision for you
- You need help with an in-depth CV rewrite, interview preparation or promotion business case planning
- You want an immediate resolution of a long-standing issue such as imposter syndrome or chronic stress
This consultation is not designed for you if:
We will, of course, talk about big-picture strategy - including tactics for developing your confidence, defining your personal brand, building sponsorship and making you stand out to recruiters.
However, since this is a 90-minute meeting, we probably won't have time to get too much into the detail of how to implement your plan.
If you want more in-depth support through a recruitment process, promotion strategy, partnership preparation or developing an empowered mindset, you may want to consider working with me through a personalised coaching programme.
ONE MORE THING
I help clients bring clarity and structure to complex career decisions, drawing on my experience of working in law firms, legal recruitment and career coaching, and with 100s of lawyers from private practice and the corporate world.
This consultation is designed to support clear, considered decision-making when the next step isn’t obvious.
a bit about me
I’m a legal career strategist and former lawyer who works with other lawyers at points of transition
Consultation details
format:
Private individual 90-minute consultation
delivery:
Online via Zoom or other video conference platform
Your investment:
£297
preparation:
Light pre-work to ensure the time is used well
after your consultation:
You’ll have clear notes and agreed next steps to support your decision-making
