Emergence. Leading from the Field — Episode 10: "The Self-Coached Lawyer"

In this podcast episode, Whitney Harvey shares her personal journey into the legal profession and how it ultimately led her to found The Self-Coached Lawyer. Raised by a single mother who encouraged her to pursue law to secure a stable future, Whitney was inspired to enter the legal field after a formative experience visiting a traffic court judge — the father of a childhood friend — which shaped her vision of a successful and influential life.

Over time, Whitney recognized her innate ability and passion for advocacy, not just in the courtroom but in broader contexts. Her path evolved as she navigated career challenges largely on her own, which highlighted the importance of self-coaching and informed decision-making. Early in her legal career, her exposure to a women lawyers’ business development coaching group sparked her interest in the coaching space. This experience, combined with her own professional struggles and growth, laid the foundation for her future work in supporting attorneys through coaching and consulting.

Whitney emphasizes that while legal education prepares students for technical and analytical aspects of law, it often neglects vital skills like emotional regulation, coping strategies, and interpersonal communication — gaps she now aims to fill through her workshops and trainings. She highlights the importance of helping legal professionals reconnect with their sense of purpose, which often diminishes under the pressures of legal practice. By reframing their work — for example, seeing themselves as healers supporting clients through difficult situations — attorneys can regain motivation, resilience, and fulfillment in their careers.

Both Whitney and Artemis stress the need for cultural shifts in legal education and practice to better support lawyer well-being, emotional intelligence, and empowerment, paving the way for a healthier and more sustainable legal profession.

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Whitney M. Harvey, Esq. is the founder and principal of The Self Coached Lawyer, LLC, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to empowering legal professionals to achieve life-work balance, reconnect with their passion for the law, and thrive in their careers. Based in the Greater Phoenix area, Whitney is a practicing attorney, educator, and thought leader committed to transforming professional norms in the legal field.

With nearly 15 years of experience as a successful litigator, Whitney now balances her legal practice with coaching, teaching, and consulting. Her work is inspired by her observations of systemic challenges in the legal profession that impact well-being, career satisfaction, and diversity. She is driven to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and purpose-driven approach to law and leadership.

Whitney employs a transformational step-by-step coaching framework to help legal professionals align their personal missions with their legal careers. Her coaching focuses on managing time and stress effectively, integrating mindful law practices, and fostering innovative approaches to creative problem-solving. At the executive level, she partners with leaders to build inclusive cultures of well-being and craft actionable strategies to achieve both organizational and personal goals.

In addition to her coaching and legal practice, Whitney serves as an adjunct faculty member, where she designed and teaches the course “Legal Aspects of Diversity in the Workplace” in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business. This role reflects her passion for educating future leaders on the intersection of law, equity, and organizational culture.

Whitney holds a Juris Doctor from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in General Psychology with a focus on Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Recognized as a 40 Under 40 Honoree (PHX 2023) and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, she brings a wealth of expertise, innovation, and dedication to every aspect of her work.

Schedule a clarity call with Whitney to explore how her coaching or consulting services can help you or your organization thrive: https://calendly.com/whitneyharvey/clarity-call

Whitney is based in Arizona, USA and you can learn more about her at www.theselfcoachedlawyer.com and you can connect with her on Instagram at Instagram: @theselfcoachedlawyer (also her TikTok handle) and @whitney.m.harvey.esq

To connect with our host, visit www.artemisevangelidi.com