Why is being a lawyer so hard — and does it have to be this way?

In this powerful episode of The Wellness Esquire Podcast, Ariella sits down with a former BigLaw attorney who made a bold decision: he walked away from an abusive, old-school law firm culture defined by yelling, public criticism, burnout, and fear-based management.

They talk openly about the mental health toll of practicing law, toxic law firm environments, and the unspoken expectation that lawyers should simply “toughen up.” He shares what finally pushed him to leave — and how he built his own law firm grounded in respect, emotional intelligence, mentorship, and sustainable success.

If you’re a lawyer navigating burnout, firm politics, leadership challenges, or questioning whether legal culture can evolve, this conversation is for you.

This episode explores:
• Lawyer burnout and mental health in the legal profession
• Toxic law firm culture and abusive leadership styles
• Leaving BigLaw to start your own firm
• Building a healthy, high-performing legal workplace
• Redefining strength, success, and leadership in law

The legal industry doesn’t have to run on fear to be profitable. And success doesn’t have to cost you your well-being.

--

Connect with Ariella Cohen Coleman and Ryan McKeen on Linkedin, and check out Ryan's website and podcast.

https://bestera.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-with-best-era/id1760546831

About The Wellness Esquire
The Wellness Esquire is a podcast, Substack, and concept by Ariella Cohen Coleman exploring well-being, identity, and sustainability in the legal profession. Through honest conversations with lawyers and other professionals, the show examines how we work, why we burn out, and what it looks like to build careers that are both meaningful and humane.

Listen & Read More
Subscribe to the Substack for articles, reflections, and episode companions:
👉 https://thewellnessesquire.substack.com

Check out The Wellness Esquire website for more information as well!

Follow the Conversation
Follow The Wellness Esquire on Instagram for episode clips and behind-the-scenes moments, and connect with Ariella Coleman on LinkedIn for writing, updates, and ongoing conversations about well-being in law.

If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and share the show with friends and colleagues! It helps these conversations reach more people who need them.