Coaching & Mentoring For Lawyers

Today, much of my work through Ippolito Advisory is focused on supporting solo lawyers, barristers and consultant lawyers.

That is a deliberate focus.

However it is not the only work I do here.

For close to a decade, I have also coached and mentored lawyers more broadly on career, professional, practice and business issues.

Over the years I have advised law students, graduate lawyers, employed lawyers, corporate counsel, government lawyers, barristers, senior practitioners and principals of law firms.

I continue to provide that advice where I believe my experience can be useful here through Ippolito Advisory.

You do not need to be a solo lawyer or be planning to start your own practice.

Sometimes you need a mentor or a trusted advisor or simply an experienced and independent second opinion.

That is where we can assist.

How I Can Help

The issues I can assist with include:

• starting out in the legal profession;

• the first few years of practice;

• career development and promotion;

• changing roles or areas of practice;

• transitioning into another legal role;

• professional development;

• leadership and management;

• business development and networking;

• starting a law practice from scratch;

• growing or managing a legal practice;

• practice acquisition, mergers and succession;

• managing employees and workplace issues;

• productivity and profitability;

• managing change;

• goal setting and accountability;

• the future of legal practice;

• using AI;

• work and life balance and integration; and

• transitioning out of being a lawyer into another career

A Trusted Advisor When You Need One

Not every professional issue requires an ongoing coaching or mentoring program.

Sometimes you need somebody independent who understands lawyers, legal practice and business and who can look at the issue objectively.

That may be a career decision or a business decision.

It may be whether to stay, move, start again, change direction or leave the profession altogether.

You may simply want a second opinion before making an important decision.

That is where I can assist as a trusted advisor.

The aim is straightforward - to help you think more clearly about what you need, what you want and what your realistic options are.

Over Four Decades Of Related Experience

My advice comes from more than four decades of collective experience across law, business, management, education, mentoring and professional life.

I have been:

• a counsellor;

• a senior manager responsible for up to 100 employees across six offices;

• a litigation lawyer;

• a lawyer in private practice (still am);

• the founder and principal of my own law firm (still am);

• a business consultant;

• a lecturer in law at The College of Law (still am);

• a teacher of management at Western Sydney University.

• a longstanding mentor with The Law Society of NSW’s mentoring program (still am)

I also have educational qualifications in sociology (under-graduate), policy (post-graduate) and law (undergraduate and post-graduate).

I established Ippolito Lawyers from scratch in 2008 and have operated my own legal practice ever since.

Nowadays it operates separately to this business, Ippolito Advisory

I understand what it is like to start a law practice with nothing, build it, manage people, deal with clients, make commercial decisions and adapt as the profession changes.

I have also spent many years teaching, coaching and speaking with lawyers and graduate lawyers entering the profession.

That combination of legal, business, management and teaching experience informs the way I advise people today.

One Conversation May Be Enough

You do not have to sign up for a long coaching program.

We provide:

• one-off consultations;

• short-term coaching;

• ongoing mentoring;

• career advice;

• second opinions; and

• business and practice advice for lawyers.

Some clients want one conversation about one issue.

Others want somebody they can speak with periodically as their career or practice develops.

You decide what you need.

Sessions can be either 30 minutes or 90 minutes, depending on what you want to discuss.

There are no lock-in contracts.

There are no compulsory courses, packages or extras added for you to buy.

You pay for the advice you want, when you want it.

We are upfront about our fees.

Practical And Direct

My approach is straightforward.

This is not about putting every client through the same coaching program.

The starting point is you, the issue you are dealing with and what you want to achieve.

I provide practical advice, ask questions, challenge assumptions where necessary and give you the benefit of my experience.

I will tell you what I think.

Sometimes that may confirm what you already suspect.

Sometimes it may give you another way of looking at the issue.

“Thanks to Paul for casting a fresh pair of eyes over the workings of our legal practice. It was great to sit down and bounce issues, problems and ideas with someone who has done it all before. Paul’s knowledge and experience made a measurable difference.” - a solo law firm principal

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the coaching and mentoring for?

I work with people at different stages of their legal careers, including law students, graduate lawyers, employed lawyers, corporate counsel, government lawyers, barristers, senior practitioners and law firm principals.

You do not need to be a solo lawyer.

What can we talk about?

Almost anything relating to your career, professional development or legal practice.

That might include starting out, career development, changing roles, promotion, leadership, management, business development, starting or growing a practice, managing change, leaving law for another career or deciding what you want to do next.

You can also come to me simply because you want a trusted adviser or an independent second opinion.

Can you help if I am thinking about leaving law?

Yes.

I can help you work through the issues involved in transitioning out of legal practice and into a different career or professional direction.

The decision is yours.

My role is to help you think through your options, priorities and next steps.

Do I need to commit to an ongoing program?

No.

You can see me once, meet for a period of time or continue with mentoring as and when you need it.

There is no minimum number of sessions and no lock-in contract.

How long are the sessions?

Sessions are available for either 30 minutes or 90 minutes, depending on what you want to discuss.

A shorter session may be enough for a focused issue or second opinion.

A longer session is more suitable where you want to work through something in greater depth.

How much does it cost?

Coaching and mentoring is provided on a fixed-fee basis.

You will know the fee before proceeding.

There are no compulsory programs, courses, packages or additional products you have to buy.

Who provides the coaching and mentoring?

I do.

All coaching, mentoring and advisory work is provided personally by me, Paul Ippolito.

How are sessions conducted?

Sessions are conducted by Zoom.

That allows me to work with lawyers throughout Australia and internationally.

Get In Touch

I do not heavily promote this part of my work anymore because Ippolito Advisory now has a strong focus on supporting solo and independent lawyers.

However I continue to coach, mentor and advise lawyers more broadly where there is a sensible fit.

If you need a mentor, a trusted adviser, practical career or practice advice, or simply an independent second opinion, you are welcome to get in touch.

Sometimes one conversation is all you need.

Contact us here

Paul Ippolito

Sydney, Australia
Working with lawyers globally by Zoom.