When I was 14, I discovered how regular exercise (swimming) transformed my life for the better. After letting it slip for a while, when I became an employment lawyer, I reupped my swimming game because it helped me cope with the stresses of being a lawyer advising businesses on emotionally-charged workplace issues. In 2020, when the pools closed, I started running regularly. At first, I did this alone, but then started acquiring running partners. And then, in early 2023, I joined Pitch and Run, which supercharged my love for running in a community. In a recent article in Law360 (link in comments), I had the opportunity to reflect on how running (with friends) has made me a better lawyer. Among the many benefits discussed in the article, running in a community has strengthened communication and empathy skills. And most significantly, being part of this community gave me unique insights into business trends, which led me to launch two thriving communities for in-house legal teams (In-House Lean Legal Collective and Legal Exec Neural Network (LEN)). It was a thrill to be able to reflect on this time and share my insights with the broader community. What I did not expect was the outpouring of messages in recent days from Law 360 readers who looked me up online and took the time to email me to say they enjoyed my article. This has in turn strengthened and led to new connections (and maybe even new running partners...). Thank you to Law 360 and Katie McNally for launching this impactful series on how hobbies make us better lawyers and the opportunity to contribute! If you are a lawyer with a hobby, comment about it here (and maybe you'll get a chance to write a similar article!?) [Pictured: Sporting my 2024 NYC marathon shirt and medal, sunglasses from our friends at Knockaround who made my marathon run possible, and Greenwald Doherty LLP: Counsel for Employers beanie + the Pitch and Run Marathoners at our meeting spot at Bluestone Lane]
I’m not a lawyer, but the Menlo Masters swim 🏊♀️ team always loves when you come around. ❤️
Nice! The problem is my hobbies change with the season. Winter: I’m skiing and snowshoeing. Spring: running outside. Summer: Hiking and Paddleboarding. Fall: Hiking and camping. I live in Colorado so it’s easy to have one too many hobbies.
I love the insights you share on LI Jess. I know how much effort it takes to regularly update here and it’s appreciated
Congrats!! 🥳
I untangle workplace legal issues for companies
1wLink to the Law360 article: https://www.law360.com/employment/articles/2264586?nl_pk=4d56c16f-65a6-4526-b9e2-a45e7eaf817e&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=employment&utm_content=2024-12-13&read_main=1&nlsidx=0&nlaidx=21