Why do lawyers and law firms or legal departments work with a coach?
- Improved productivity of individual lawyers, practice groups, in-house departments, and the organization
- Grow the practice or in-house contribution
- Retain top talent
- New lawyer and partner orientation and development
- More effective interpersonal skills
- Manage stress and create space for both work and home life
- Implement new skills learned in training programs into the real world of law
- Career transitions and job changes
As both a business lawyer and a certified professional coach, Joyce Kaplan’s experience in private practice and as Director of an in-house law department is an important part of what she brings to her coaching clients. With a solid understanding of the business of law and how to build productive relationships with internal and external clients, Joyce helps her clients design practical actions that improve both the bottom line and their day-to-day enjoyment of legal work.
Joyce was a lawyer in the Toronto firm Harries Houser with a diverse corporate commercial and insolvency practice representing public and private companies, and individuals. She honed her management and people skills by moving in-house as Solicitor in Suncor Energy Inc.’s corporate office, then Director Legal Affairs for its Sunoco Group, providing business-focused legal, environmental and risk management advice for all operations in Ontario and Quebec: refining, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum products.
Intriguing projects included creating a service station divestment protocol; negotiating arrangements for competitors to build and share a major terminal facility; and finding unique ways to collaboratively resolve conflicts and claims.
Drawn to diverse projects and new challenges, Joyce founded her own practice offering legal and project management services. Assignments have included complex business ventures; privacy compliance; and Consultant to the Law Society of Ontario Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Task Force. Through the Task Force research, surveys and focus groups she learned what makes individual lawyers most successful.
Joyce draws on the richness of this learning, together with her experience, to actively navigate her clients to their own best solutions.
Here’s what some of her lawyer clients say about Joyce:
Managing Partner, Ottawa Law Firm
“I hired Joyce Kaplan to coach high-potential associates in areas identified for professional development to prepare them for partnership. With her background as a lawyer and manager, Joyce understood what I wanted.”
Results: “Joyce worked with them to successfully achieve the desired outcomes. These included improved productivity; increased billable hours; better collaboration with assistants and others in the firm; and growing their practices.”
Managing Partner, Toronto Law Firm
“With Joyce’s insight and guidance, I have learned to look beyond the immediate behaviours and to manage and ‘coach’ the actual people.”
Results: Improved bottom line and overall office environment
In-house Counsel, Public Company, Toronto
” Joyce assisted me in establishing milestones and goals and in defining the “how” of achievement in ways that allowed me to be most effective. Beyond this, she offered encouragement and feedback on my success along the way to completion.”
Results: Multiple deliverables successfully completed on time at work and for an LL.M. research paper that was subsequently published in a Law Journal.
Lawyer, Toronto Law Firm
“In only one coaching conversation, Joyce helped me to make sense of the feedback I’d received as an articling student and to practically apply that increased self-awareness to improve both my professional and personal life.”
Results: “I aced my next job interview and am now enjoying a successful law career at a firm that is a good fit.”
Lawyer in Transition from Outside Canada
“Working with Joyce Kaplan has been a valuable investment in my career development. I started the coaching after returning to Toronto from working overseas. I always get answers to the questions I bring to the coaching session, but in fresh, unexpected and motivating ways. I would highly recommend Joyce’s services for any lawyer in a period of career transition or looking for greater professional guidance and feedback.”
Results: “Joyce helped me set long term career goals and plan and execute next steps – including getting a job and succeeding in that new role.”