We went to law school. We got the license. We built the skills. We worked hard. We got promoted.
Maybe, like I did, you even built the career you once thought you wanted.
And maybe, like me, somewhere along the way, something changed.
The Work Before Courage
A day to step back, think clearly, and decide what you want in 2027.
Working together with Sheila, I felt very tended to, came away with a new perspective on how I approach work & see myself. Honestly – Sheila went above and beyond expectations.
– A Current Legal & Coaching Client (and a badass government legal professional turned creative arts educator and artist!)
Chances are, you became very good at being the professional everyone else needed you to be, but started losing touch with the person underneath the title.
I call this The Big L™ and it explains a lot of what I hear from women and non-binary attorneys: boredom, burnout, feeling successful on paper but somehow still… unhappy. Even the seething resentment of giving so much to a career that doesn’t seem to see or appreciate us anymore.
And then there’s the lingering question we’ve all asked ourselves: “Is this really what I want to do with the rest of my life? Is this all there is?”
So, here’s what I want you to understand… First, you don’t have to decide whether to leave or what to do. Not yet. Because if you make your next career decision without understanding how you got here in the first place, there’s a very real possibility that you’ll bring the same patterns, expectations, and conditioning with you into whatever comes next.
That’s why I created The Work Before Courage™ … it’s a one-day, intimate, in-person, immersive experience for women and non-binary attorneys who are ready for a new perspective, willing to be honest about where they are in life, and who want support around their next decision.
This is the work that happens before the big decision. Before you quit. Before you change firms. Before you start something new. Before you decide to stay.
You don’t have to know whether you want to leave the law behind in order to join us. You may ultimately stay (many of my clients have). You may leave (many of my clients do). You may completely change how you practice (everyone does, let’s be honest). The point is that the next decision can be fully yours and yours alone.
Join us on Friday, November 13, 2026 in New Orleans, and let’s recalibrate the life you want, heading into 2027.
What we’ll do together:
This isn’t a motivational seminar or a conference. It’s definitely not therapy, even though people say it absolutely feels cathartic and therapeutic. It’s also not a superficial, rah-rah room where someone tells you to “just be brave” and “you can do it!”
It’s a day of doing some actual WORK. The stuff you keep saying you’ll set aside time for and never do. Because life be lifing … and the world is burning. We’re all exhausted. But by the end of this day together, my hope is you’ll leave feeling refreshed and hopeful, even excited!
You’ll have a combination of:
- Teaching and perspective
- Individual reflection and writing
- Structured exercises
- Conversation with the other humans with you in the room
- Grounding and centering activities
- Time to pause, process, and integrate what you’re intentionally untangling
You’ll have a bound workbook throughout the day, with space to write, reflect, and work through the material.
I’ve intentionally designed the experience as the cutting-edge educator I am. You aren’t expected to sit in a room and absorb information for hours on end. No one wants to do that.
There will be time to breathe. Time to think. Time to write. Time to talk. Time to laugh. Time to simply be. Your only job is to be curious.
The Before, During & After:
By the end of our day together, you’ll have:
- A clear understanding of where you came from. How you got into law to begin with and why.
- A better compass. A new and improved list of values to use as dealbreakers when making decisions.
- Realistic and reasonable goals for where you are in your life right now. Updated personal and/or professional goals to help you reset your compass for the next phase of your career.
- A different understanding of expectations and reality. An excellent grasp of expectations versus reality and how we cause ourselves a bunch of grief without realizing it.
- Better decision-making. A hypothesis and light framework for understanding how you make decisions and a new lens for exploring what you need to make good ones!
You’re not supposed to – nor are you expected to – leave with your entire life figured out, but you will leave knowing yourself better, what matters to you now, and what needs to happen so the next decision you make will actually feel good, like it’s actually YOURS.
There are two things I’ll ask you to do before we meet on November 13th:
- Complete a short background form – This will give me some helpful context about you, your professional life, and what brings you to us so we don’t have to spend the first part of the day figuring out where everyone is starting. This form also pulls back the curtain a bit, to help me see what you think is great (and not so great) about life right now. Be truthful. That’s it.
- Run your Human Design chart – If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry. You don’t have to believe in Human Design. I’m asking you to be open to another lens for understanding yourself. I use it as a tool for reflection. Your chart will be waiting for you when you arrive. You’ll receive a printed copy to work with during the day. And on the page after you run your chart, you’ll get three simple things to experiment with before November 13th. That’s it.
These two things together create your lens — and then I’ll integrate your lens with mine, bringing together social work, psychology, family systems, working systems, and 25+ years of experience in the legal field. It’ll help you understand why you feel, think, work, and make decisions the way you do.
I’ll guide you through all of the muck and yuck in a kind and supportive space, so you can start creating a life that you (and your loved ones) deserve.
I am truly appreciating the work Sheila and I did together. I am so grateful for the time she spent inspiring me to slow down, focus, and grow. In such a short time, I have learned more about who I am and what I bring to the table and I have carved out the services and experience I bring to my clients. I am doing the work that lights me up inside and am beyond motivated to keep going on this path. Sheila is the best investment in your past, present, and future self.
– Current Client, Florida
I joined [Sheila’s community] during a pivotal time in my life, when I faced many important decisions. Being in a group with humans at various stages of their lives revealed strong similarities in our experiences despite our different circumstances. This shared understanding was both comforting and enlightening as we navigated our personal and professional challenges together. Sheila played a crucial role throughout this process, providing consistent support and guidance. She checked in regularly and offered advice whenever needed, helping us visualize and create the future we desire. Her dedication and care have made a significant impact on my journey.
– Amy Mincher, Vermont
I joined [Sheila’s community] hoping to meet new people and gain new perspectives. Initially, I didn’t know what to expect, but I quickly found the people in the group to be relatable. This relatability made me feel comfortable enough to be open and honest, which was a refreshing experience. Sheila, you are GREAT at what you do! If I could award you, it would be with the Inspiration Igniter award. Your guidance and constant encouragement are both inspiring and motivating. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!
– Marleika W., Louisiana
Time to take a breath …
Is this the room for you?
This room is specifically for women and non-binary attorneys who may be:
- successful on paper but not feeling seen or appreciated at work;
- bordering on burnout;
- feeling bored or disconnected from their work;
- questioning what comes next;
- questioning whether they want to continue in the field at all;
- tired of making decisions based on what everyone else expects or needs from them;
- ready for a new perspective;
- willing to be honest with themselves and others; and
- looking for some structure around their next decision.
You don’t have to be falling apart. You don’t have to hate your job. You don’t even have to know whether you want to leave. You just have to know that something needs your intentional attention going forward and you actually care enough about your future to do just that.
🏳️🌈 FYI: This is an LGBTQ+-affirming space. I’m saying this with love. You don’t have to leave any part of yourself at the door to belong in this room. 💗 And if you’re not cool with that, that’s okay. It just means this isn’t the space for you. Feel free to close this window and go on about your day.
Why Now
I’ve been developing this work for years.
I’ve lived it myself as an attorney and social worker, and I’ve watched it play out with hundreds of professionals I’ve worked with and thousands more I’ve taught and spoken to.
This is the first time I’m offering The Work Before Courage™ publicly.
And I’m doing it before the holidays for a reason. I don’t want you to spend November and December holding on for your bonus, surviving the end-of-year chaos, and then promising yourself you’ll figure it all out in January. Chances are you won’t.
If you live in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is February 9th next year (2027), and even if you don’t, we all know that it’ll be March by the time you get your wits about you again after the holiday scramble. And then that’s where my clients always found themselves again and again, saying they’ll just hold on “one more year” for their bonus… and that’s how they stayed stuck.
I want you to set aside the space to think about what you actually want before the holidays gobble up your time and energy.
I want you to walk into 2027 with a clearer sense of what’s on the horizon.
Join us if you’re ready for a legal career that feels great – not just one you got stuck in.
If you’re ready to spend a day stepping out of the slog, looking honestly at where you’ve been, and getting clearer about where you want to go next…
STILL ON THE FENCE?
Here are some common questions:
How do I know if this is for me? What if I’ve tried figuring it out before and it didn’t work?
Great question! 🦄 This only works when you’re ready to be honest about your career and what you thought you’d get out of it, but didn’t. This space focuses on creating an opportunity that actually helps you make decisions with confidence.
This is right for you if:
✅ You deeply care about your work and your people—sometimes too much.
✅ You’re adaptable and always find a way to get things done, even when everyone throws last-minute requests at you.
✅ You’re a natural problem solver who can think outside the box and make magic happen.
✅ You have strong creative instincts—you know your work is valuable.
✅ You’re passionate about your work and want to do right by your clients.
✅ You’re a natural communicator and love collaborating with others.
✅ You believe in giving clients and family a great experience (you want them to be happy).
✅ You’re flexible and can adjust when things don’t go as planned.
✅ You’re adaptable and open to new opportunities.
✅ You genuinely love your work and want to make an impact.
✅ You’re a creative problem-solver who can make things work, even under stress.
✅ You believe in the value of what you do—you know your work and life matters.
BUT
🔥 Your work constantly take longer than expected because things get dragged out.
🔥 You’re saying “yes” to things you don’t want to do (or weren’t paid to do).
🔥 You’re drowning in revisions, last-minute changes, and unpaid extras.
🔥 You feel like you have to earn respect instead of commanding it upfront.
🔥 You’re constantly explaining (and re-explaining) things that should be clear from the start.
🔥 You feel like some people don’t fully appreciate the work that goes into your process.
🔥 You always end up surrounded by people who don’t respect your time, energy, or talents.
🔥 You say yes to too many things or people, leaving you overworked and overwhelmed.
🔥 You feel trapped in work that’s draining your creative energy and your spark is fading.
🔥 You keep thinking, “Next time, I’ll be more careful”—but next time never comes.
If this sounds like you, join us!
I’m swamped already — how much time will this take?
Good news: this is a one-time event. Expect to spend the day together, broken into manageable chunks with lots of breaks and snacks. You can fit it around your current workload and life if you choose to. Plus, you’ll get tools to save time in the long run by stopping chaos before it starts. (For those practicing in CDC, yes, I know it’s Rule Day – this is an opportunity to set a boundary.) Arrival is around 9:15-9:30, and you can expect to depart around 5:15-5:30.
I’m interested, but I’ve tried groups before and they didn’t work. How will I know this will help me?
I’ve been teaching this content in private, university, and continuing education settings for over 25 years. These topics are my jam. This isn’t a conference – it’s like a facilitated class, and the main topic is YOU. It’s meant to be educational and to give you the structure to put this into action IMMEDIATELY. I want you to have your new direction planned out before the new year!
Do you have sliding scale options? How much does it cost?
There is an Early Bird price and a Regular Access price. In 2026, that’s $397 and $497, respectively. There’s also an option for you to upgrade your experience to VIP Access; this is an additional $300 and includes a private Clarity Call with me, dinner with 6 of us on the evening before we meet, and first dibs access to the full 2027 two-day experience.*
- Not everyone can afford to pay ahead and I do not want to penalize people because their resources are different from someone else’s. Payments will automatically charge your card according to your choice. There are no discounts for paying in full and everyone pays the same – this ensures an equitable experience for everyone.
- There will be one payment plan available (50ish/50ish, a 2-payment option that I call 2xP) to make it easier to join us without stress; there’s no increase or extra processing fees. The 2xP payment is a once-ahead payment, and the second payment is on the same date the next month. On the day you register, you’re choosing when the second payment will be charged. Payment terms will be on your invoices, and are also included in the Special Terms and Conditions on my site.
* When determining the fee, it was important to me to put this in a “hell yes” range so it feels good to you of course, but also, so that it feels good to me as an equitable energy exchange. I also want you to have some skin in the game, but the price is not so high that it feels like you have to choose between your rent and your future.
Will I get any support beforehand?
Absolutely. You’ll have access to a private community where you can ask questions and connect with other lawyers on the same journey. You’ll have access to our session, interactive exercises and journal prompts leading up to the day we meet, and a supportive community of like-minded professionals. Afterwards, you can continue the conversation in our Alumni space and get support through our private Circle community, where you can ask questions, share wins, and stay connected. Additionally, you can upgrade to the VIP Access, and you can always schedule time one-on-one with me here.
Is the investment worth the benefits?
This is an investment in yourself and your future. The insights and tools you’ll gain are proven and transformative; they can lead to significant improvements in your work-life balance, relationships, and overall well-being. It’s about taking actionable steps towards living a life that truly aligns with your values and desires. So, do I believe it changes lives? Yes. Do my clients believe it’s changed their lives? Yes. But only you know your level of commitment to changing yours.
Is there a money-back guarantee or satisfaction guarantee?
Because of the nature of this workshop and its materials, the short answer is no. I believe in the value of this space and am confident you’ll find it helpful. However, if you attend the entirety of the day, do all the homework, implement your plan, and still genuinely feel you haven’t gained any value, reach out in early 2027 and let’s talk. You might be better suited for one-on-one work. Review our Policies about how to request assistance. Payment plans are contractually binding for the full amount you’ve registered for.
How long will I have access to our Circle community?
To incentivize you to have new goals by the new year that you can roll out and start taking action on, access will end on February 5, 2027 (Mardi Gras). That means you still have plenty of time (12 weeks) to implement and review materials and get support.
A friend of mine wants to join, too, but can’t afford it. Can I share my materials with them?
Short answer: NO. Long answer: No, and that’s because the materials in this program are proprietary and confidential. Your enrollment only allows one license – that’s to you. It’s non-transferrable. If they have issues paying, have them reach out to me directly. We may be able to offer a Solidarity Discount.
I’d love for you to do something like this in our law firm. Would you be open to that?
Short answer: YES. Long answer: YES, AND reach out to me directly to discuss your firm’s needs.