Is Kim's coaching appropriate for new lawyers? How about experienced lawyers?

Coaching can be helpful at any level of practice. New practitioners may focus on practice development issues while more experienced lawyers may choose to look at issues more relevant to their established practices.

Is Kim's coaching limited to Collaborative Law practitioners?

While extremely helpful to collaborative lawyers, the coaching services offered by Kim are appropriate for all practice areas. Kim has worked with litigators, corporate counsel, a social security disability lawyer, business lawyers, mediators, and other practitioners to create more satisfaction and healthy productivity in their practices. Some clients are exploring alternative careers and hire Kim's help in transitioning out of law practice. Some discover new ways of finding joy in their current practices.

What do we do in a coaching call?

Each coaching call is different and unique to the client's needs. Especially if you're using coaching for CLE credit in Tennessee, we may have a set agenda for each call as a starting point. From that point, we will explore issues that you are dealing with in your life and law practice. I've had conversations ranging from exploring ways to handle a client matter to issues in a client's sex life. In the safe container of the coaching relationship, anything that is affecting your quality of life is fair game.

In each call, we'll discuss ways of addressing what's up in your life. You're likely to have homework. Also, we will create a structure for how you are going to keep up with your homework to make sure it gets done. Before each call, you will fill out a Prep Form that reports what you said you would do, what you actually did, the challenges and triumphs of the time since our previous call, a whole life check-up, and any specific coaching requests you may have.

What happens between calls?

Depending on what package you have, we will often communicate between our scheduled calls. You can get quick advice or report challenges and triumphs as they occur. If you have documents to review, marketing documents, letters, contracts, articles, etc., you can send them by email for a second opinion and coaching. Most of the time, I will respond to your extra requests within a few hours. If I plan to be traveling and away from electronic communication, I will let you know.

How often should we talk?

If you're working on specific goals, the more often we talk, the more results you're likely to see. Most lawyers work on deadlines and if we are talking weekly, you'll have weekly goals to move your project forward. If your “project” is your life, you'll see more results there with more frequent calls, too.

What kinds of results can I expect?

Coaching is a partnership and most of the work will be yours but I will be there to support you along the way. Your results will depend on what you're taking on. If you're focused on your practice, you might also find your relationships are changing. If you're focused on your life, you may notice that your law practice is changing. Change is challenging and sometimes disruptive at first. Our coaching relationship will help you weather the storm.

What if I miss an appointment?

That depends on your package. I plan my calendar around my scheduled calls so it is important that we keep our appointments whenever possible. With advance notice of at least 24 hours, I'll always try to reschedule with you and if you're on the Platinum plan, we'll make it work even if we have to reschedule outside of normal hours. All three month plans must be finished within 120 days of the first call. That gives us some leeway for rescheduling.

Am I just one of a crowd?

I am very committed to being available to my clients. Some coaches book appointments 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, at 45 minute intervals. I limit my coaching practice to no more than 10 full-time clients at a time. Most of the time, I average 5 clients.

What are the weekly group coaching calls?

I have found that clients find it helpful to know they are not alone and that there are often recurring themes among my clients. I'll schedule a group call each month and whoever shows up will have the opportunity to explore issues together.

Will I get all many benefits in just three months?

Change can happen overnight or it can take years. A lot depends on your current circumstances and how hard you work. Coaching is not a panacea. It is a partnership toward your goals. You will have work to do. We will create assignments designed to empower you in achieving your goals. We will discuss each assignment and whether it is doable under your circumstances. You will be accountable for completing the homework. You'll get better results if you are coachable.