Finding joy: positive reflects from in-house lawyers
Finding joy in the demanding world of in-house legal work can easily take a backseat. But positive conversations from our Community Hub and series of events of this year have shown us that joy is not just a nice-to-have – it’s a must-have that fuels better performance and deeper career satisfaction.
Here, we dive into the moments that bring happiness to legal professionals, proving that even in a stressful field, there’s plenty of room for joy.
Overcoming challenges with resilience
Joy in legal work often emerges not from avoiding challenges, but from conquering them. Philip Young, General Counsel at QA, captured this at Crafty Fest, “Sometimes joy can actually come through the difficulties you go through. It’s thriving through the trials and tribulations that really cultivates joy.”
“If you ask my kids, they’d say: My mummy finds joy in sleeping.”
Shika Soni, Assistant General Counsel, Principal Asset Management on the Crafty Counsel podcast
Fostering professional growth
Many legal professionals find real joy in professional development. Our community has discussed how rewarding it is to tackle tough challenges and see them as opportunities to learn. This shows that learning curves not only help your career grow but can also boost personal happiness.
Creating a supportive environment
A supportive work culture where team members are valued and can thrive is crucial for cultivating joy. Building a supportive environment encourages lawyers to engage fully and bring their best selves to work, enhancing both individual and team performance.
Appreciating the little things
Finding joy in the simple pleasures of daily life can significantly improve the work life of lawyers. It’s this balance that they, like professionals in any field, are often looking for. Zeno Capucci, General Counsel at Docplanner, reminded us of the importance of pausing to appreciate life’s small joys amidst the hustle of legal duties, while speaking at Crafty Fest.
The joy of strategic contributions
Many legal professionals find real joy in professional development. Our community has discussed how rewarding it is to tackle tough challenges and see them as opportunities to learn. This shows that learning curves not only help your career grow but can also boost personal happiness.
“I’m Italian, so actually what brings me joy is a glass of wine and a sunset on the beach. I think it’s important to focus on the little things – like a sunny day, or a cup of coffee.”
Zeno Capucci (General Counsel, Docplanner) at Crafty Fest
Creating a supportive environment
A supportive work culture where team members are valued and can thrive is crucial for cultivating joy. Building a supportive environment encourages lawyers to engage fully and bring their best selves to work, enhancing both individual and team performance.
Other sources of joy for the in-house legal Community
At Crafty Counsel, we regularly speak to members of the in-house legal Community to learn more about them on the Crafty Counsel podcast and other content formats. We like to end these conversations by asking them “What brings you joy in work and life?”. Over the past year, here are some of the answers from the Community:
Shika Soni (Assistant General Counsel, Principal Asset Management) jokes: “If you ask my kids, they’d say: My mummy finds joy in sleeping.” She goes on to say that she finds tremendous joy in curiosity. This manifests in meeting people, travelling and experiencing new cultures, and visiting art galleries.
Harriet Dedmen (Counsel, Tiny) says that she has found joy in work because she has “sought out jobs that I enjoy”. In this conversation, Harriet also shares her story of leaving the legal world for a while to work as a journalist and filmmaker - which ultimately lead to her two Emmy nominations.
Richard Barnett (General Counsel, The National Gallery) finds joy in his children and being part of The National Gallery team when they collaborate to put on exhibitions and buy new art.
Finding joy in children was echoed by Stephanie-Kate Bratton (General Counsel, AgriFutures) who said “There’s nothing like a toddler giggle”. She also finds joy in creating things - such as her children’s book “My Mummy is a Lawyer” - and yoga practice.
Mel Nebhrajani CB (Director General for Litigation with Justice and Security at GLD) describes herself as “naturally quite a joyful person”. She says this down to having purposeful work, an amazing family and group of friends. Mel also finds joy in learning Mandarin, reading, theatre, and walking her dogs.
