Most BigLaw firms offer a broad array of benefits, including to meet important needs for caregiving for children. But there is still a large gap in many firms for lawyers and other professionals when it comes to benefits that assist in meeting broader family needs, including when it comes to caring for parents, adult dependents, spoues and other family members. In this episode, I speak with Thomas Adrian, who leads HR and wellness at Sheppard Mullin, a firm which has adopted one of the most comprehensive programs in BigLaw to address overall family caregiver needs. We talking about how Sheppard Mullin's partnership with HomeThrive helps lawyers and other professional staff to handle real-life carer responsibilities without having to sacrifice their careers.

Thomas walks through how the program works, including how it is structured to avoid red tape, and how it delivers tangible ROI through increased retention, better productivity, and stronger firm culture. For firms that want to lead in talent strategy, and attorneys looking for better ways to share with their firms how to meet this challenge in the marketplace, this episode is worth a close listen.

At a Glance:
00:00 Why adult caregiving needs more attention in law firm benefits
01:46 Key statistics on working caregivers and the impact on careers
03:07 Sheppard Mullin’s motivation to address caregiving needs
04:20 How the firm began identifying caregiving as a wellness priority
07:13 Why Sheppard Mullin chose Homethrive and how the program works
09:46 Real-life examples of remote caregiving support across the U.S.
11:09 The range of support Homethrive offers beyond elder care
12:25 How Sheppard Mullin defines “family” inclusively
14:15 How the program has been leveraged by those who benefit from it
15:16 Impact stories from attorneys and staff who avoided burnout or resignation
16:40 Extending the benefit to all employees—not just lawyers
17:59 Gaining leadership buy-in for progressive benefits
19:23 ROI vs. Return on Value: how the firm measures program success
20:50 Billing more hours thanks to offloaded caregiving logistics
22:07 Vendor collaboration: why integration across wellness programs matters
24:16 How word-of-mouth drives adoption across practice groups
25:11 Why Sheppard Mullin is committed to leading in this area
26:21 Thomas’s personal passion and family experience that inspires his work

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Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

To reach out to Thomas Adrian for more information about Sheppard Mullin's approach:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomadrian/
www.sheppardmullin.com

To reach out to HomeThrive about the benefits and parternships they offer to law firms and companies:
https://homethrive.com/

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast

When you’ve been assured you’re “on track” for partnership, but still don’t have a clear timeline, it’s time to push for specifics. In this episode, I walk through how to navigate one of the most sensitive—but critical—conversations in Big Law: asking WHEN you’ll actually be put up for partner. I lay out the right questions to ask, the right people to approach, and how to handle vague responses or firm-wide delays that stall your trajectory. If you’ve been hearing encouragement without clarity, this episode gives you the tools to stop guessing and start getting real answers. Because timing is everything.

At a Glance:

00:00 The disconnect between “you’re on track” and having real, concrete timelines
02:30 How to initiate a formal conversation and what to say
04:35 Questions to ask when timing remains unclear
06:06 What to do when you’re told “it’s not my decision”
08:22 How to bring mentors and sponsors into the loop strategically
09:29 Using metrics to frame your case with practice group leaders
11:26 When to escalate beyond your group for real answers
12:54 Why in-person meetings matter and how to push through excuses
14:00 What to make of vague delays—and what they reveal about firm culture
16:22 Final thoughts on asking the harder, more important question: when

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast

In Big Law, doing what is asked of you is expected—what sets you apart is how you show up beyond that. In this episode, I talk about the silent missteps that hold many associates back, from treating assignments as isolated tasks to assuming visibility and feedback will come without asking. I walk through real examples of how missed context, lack of sufficient follow-through, and playing it safe can quietly stall your career, even if you’re billing plenty of hours and meeting expectations on paper.

For lawyers early in their Big Law career, who want to move from competent to highly valued, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build momentum, reputation, and trust with senior lawyers. I share exactly what I looked for when I managed associates, and the small signals that showed me who is thinking like a future partner. If you’ve ever wondered whether doing the work and getting good evaluations is enough, this conversation will give you a more indepth view of how top associates stand out—and how to make sure you’re one of them.

At a Glance:
00:00 Why lawyering well isn’t enough in Big Law
01:20 The mistake of keeping your head down and assuming no feedback is good feedback
02:10 Assignments are not tasks, they’re tests of judgment and strategic thinking
03:02 Why doing only what is asked can fail to advance your career
04:04 When failing to raise key issues can suggest you lack judgment
05:09 Why thoughtful questions show strength, not weakness
06:02 The danger of treating assignments like schoolwork with a finish line
06:48 How silence makes you forgettable and how to avoid it
07:09 What asking for feedback really signals to partners
07:51 The growth that only happens when you reach beyond your comfort zone
08:49 Specific examples: secondments, cross-border teams, and fast-moving deals
09:37 The importance of internal visibility beyond billables
10:16 Why Big Law isn’t built for associates who operate in isolation
10:44 How disengagement quietly damages your reputation over time
11:13 Why initiative matters more than raw competence
11:40 Final thoughts: what Big Law actually rewards

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast here!

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast