Paula McMullan Lawyers' Career Coach

THE CAREER COACH FOR LAWYERS

I'm a lawyer just like you. I've struggled with career frustration and a lack of sponsorship - even burnout.

  •  I qualified at a Silver Circle firm as a project finance lawyer. I loved my job, but hit my head on the glass ceiling and so moved into the people side of the profession. 
  • I then ran my first coaching consultancy for 10 years before joining Magic Circle firm Slaughter and May as Head of Recruitment. I then moved to Allen & Overy LLP to set up the in-house career coaching service. 
  • In 2019, I founded the Lawyers Career Mastermind and returned to what I love most - coaching lawyers to build their confidence, authenticity & personal brand. 
  • With more than 25 years of experience in the legal profession, I have a long history of helping struggling lawyers to get their careers back on track. 
  • I've coached 100s of lawyers, from trainees all the way to senior partners, and I know what separates the lawyers who miss out on career advancement from those who succeed. 
  • I take a pragmatic approach to coaching & mentoring, using a combination of inspirational coaching and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to help lawyers find success in the next chapter of their careers.

I'm a lawyer, just like you.
 
After hitting my head hard on the glass ceiling, it's now my mission to help other lawyers to navigate their path successfully through the legal profession

Do you feel stressed? Constantly worrying? Fed up with feeling like you’re missing out?

That's exactly how I felt when I was still practising.

There was no mentorship, no support and no interest in my long-term career development.

I wanted to progress, possibly even go for partnership, but the glass ceiling was very low and there seemed to be unsurmountable barriers to getting what I wanted.

Me, all happy on qualification!

I knew things had to change and decided that I would play my part in making that change from the inside - I moved into talent & development and eventually became an accredited executive coach.

I have advised and attended interviews with partners, recruiting qualified lawyers and future trainees.

I have managed appraisal and performance review meetings, guiding partners, associates and trainees on how to get the best out of those meetings.

And most interesting of all, I have coached 100s of lawyers at all stages of their legal career - from senior partners to trainees - helping them to overcome their fears and insecurities to build their career strategies, secure a promotion, gain new business and to get over many other stumbling blocks that hold lawyers back.

"I did not have a mentor figure in my work environment and I felt that Paula was someone I could trust, learn from and be inspired by.

I am incredibly grateful to Paula for our months together in the Mastermind programme.

I am still working on myself, but I would certainly not be where I am today (both professionally and personally) without her:

I am proud, confident and happy."

Senior Legal Counsel promoted to Partner, shortly after finishing the Lawyers Career Mastermind

So what is coaching, actually?

Coaching happens when a coach helps a client achieve specific personal or professional goals through targeted questions, supportive challenges & guided reflection.

When you work with me, you’ll experience a combination of pragmatic mentoring, inspirational coaching & NLP (neurolinguistic programming) to help you find success in your career.

There may be times when I'm also your mentor, your consultant and your teacher - I will use whatever skills in my toolbox will help to move your forwards as quickly as possible.

Of course, you are ultimately the author of your success which will depend on your commitment to reflecting, planning and taking action in between the coaching sessions.

But I'll be your cheerleader as well as your guide.

With a 25-year background in law and master coach training, you can rest assured you are in capable hands!