In this article, I share valuable lessons learned from the experiences of female lawyers, exploring how their unique approaches to power and presence have shaped my own understanding of leadership. Through their resilience, confidence, and strategic insight, these women have shown me how to navigate challenges and command respect in both professional and personal spaces. Join me as I reflect on the powerful lessons that have influenced my journey.
Criminal law is a battlefield. And too often, the first casualty is well-being.
Three weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at Women in Criminal Law’s first-ever well-being event, a space created not for strategy, procedure, or precedent, but for something far more foundational:
- Presence
- Assertiveness
- Empowerment
In a profession where the stakes are high and the pressure is unrelenting, the women in the room reminded me of a powerful truth: well-being is not a luxury; it’s a form of resistance.
The real weight of criminal law
It’s easy to underestimate the emotional load that comes with criminal law.
Every day, practitioners navigate trauma, injustice, and human complexity. It’s not just about facts and evidence, it’s about lives. And that can take a toll, especially when the environment isn’t always built to support emotional resilience.
That’s why this event was so much more than a conversation. It was a recalibration.
We gathered not just to talk about well-being, but to actively practice it. To breathe, to connect, and to reclaim something that’s often lost in the daily churn of legal life: presence.
Here’s what we explored:
- Assertiveness and empowerment: How do we speak up, not just in court, but in rooms where decisions are made?
- Reclaiming space and building confidence: What does it look like to take up space unapologetically, especially in male-dominated legal settings?
- Breath work: Simple, science-backed techniques to calm the nervous system or tap into clarity and energy.
- Honest dialogue: What’s really going on behind the confident exterior? Burnout, imposter syndrome, and the invisible weight of always having to prove yourself.
Presence is power, but it takes practice
The lawyers shared real stories, real experiences, and an understanding that presence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build.
We spoke about the power of saying “no” without guilt.
The courage to pause in a fast-talking room.
The radical act of breathing before answering a question, not rushing to fill the silence, but letting your words land with intention.
In those moments, I saw how presence is not just about confidence. It’s about agency. It’s about choice. It’s about remembering you are not just your role or your robe. You are a human being who deserves to be well, first.
Female lawyers are redefining strength
Too often, the archetype of a “strong lawyer” looks a lot like burnout in a nice suit.
But these women are rewriting that narrative.
They’re showing that strength doesn’t mean shutting off your emotions. It means knowing when to rest. When to ask for help. When to speak gently, and when to roar.
One of the most powerful parts of the event was a conversation about “reclaiming space.” Not just physically, though that’s important too, but mentally, emotionally, and internally.
We talked about how often women are taught to shrink, to defer, to soften their tone or qualify their opinions. And how liberating it is to simply be. To take up the space you need. Without apology.
Why does this matter?
This event wasn’t just a feel-good gathering. It was strategic.
Because in a profession that demands razor-sharp thinking and emotional stamina, well-being is the edge.
Not the soft stuff. Not the extra.
The foundation.
Burnout is not a badge of honour.
Resilience isn’t about enduring more pain.
It’s about having the tools, the community, and the self-awareness to show up fully and keep showing up, sustainably.
Gratitude and momentum
Thank you to the women in criminal law for curating such a grounded and generous space.
You didn’t just organise an event.
You created a pause.
And sometimes, in the speed of legal life, a pause is the most powerful thing we can offer ourselves.
Final thoughts
There’s a new kind of strength emerging in the legal world.
It’s not about being the loudest or the toughest.
It’s about being present, aligned, and well.
This is what female lawyers are teaching us, not just about law, but about leadership, voice, and the future of the profession.
Let’s keep listening.
Let’s keep breathing.
Let’s keep showing up for the work, but also for ourselves.
It’s in you.
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Lisa Sheerin, ICF PCC Executive Coach | Transforming Confidence, Communication & Leadership
Lisa works as an executive public speaking coach, actor, and group fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience. A graduate of a three-year drama school program in London, she began her career in theatre and film, where she faced and overcame imposter syndrome. Today, she empowers others to embrace their authenticity and transform self-doubt into confidence, combining her acting expertise, fitness training, and passion for personal growth. Her mission is to guide others toward a life where they can speak and live proudly.
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