Burnout, attrition, doubting thirty-somethings, and a profession changing at lightning speed due to AI. In the latest episode of Lawyerlinq Talks, host Marijn Rooijmans talks with Sonia Jager: former lawyer, breathwork coach, and trainer of legal professionals. The conversation strikes a chord: how do we ensure the legal profession remains future-proof — without losing the human behind the lawyer?
The forgotten middle phase
According to Sonia, there is a major gap in the development of lawyers. In the early years, there is still attention for training and guidance, and coaching often returns towards partnership. But it is precisely the group with about five to seven years of experience — the 'mid-career' lawyers — that often falls between the cracks.
“Then suddenly you just have to start building your practice. And you kind of have to do it on your own.”
It is precisely in this stage that doubt, attrition, and mental overload arise.
Burnout is rarely just about workload
Sonia openly shares her own burnout in 2016. Not because she didn't enjoy her work — on the contrary — but because she had never learned to recognize her boundaries.
“I loved everything, got energy from it, but I completely ran myself into the ground.”
According to her, stress is rarely just about being busy. It is often about deeper questions: Am I doing this because I want to, or because I think it is expected of me?
The new generation asks different questions
While partnership used to be the obvious ultimate goal, Sonia now sees something different among thirty-somethings in the legal profession.
“I hear more and more: ‘I don’t want to become a partner at all.’ That used to be unthinkable.”
Meaning, impact, and autonomy are playing an increasingly important role. And that requires action from organizations.
Psychological safety as a prerequisite
According to Sonia, a future-proof law firm is not a soft concept, but a strategic necessity. Retaining talent means creating space for vulnerability, reflection, and diverse career paths.
“It is also simply good entrepreneurship to take care of your people.”
Breathwork: from alternative to essential
Perhaps unexpectedly, breathing plays a key role in this. Not as a vague wellness idea, but as a practical tool to regulate stress and feel boundaries.
“You always have your breath with you. It’s actually strange that we never learn how to use it.”
The fact that this is highly relevant is proven by her breathwork workshop for lawyers: completely fully booked within 24 hours.
The legal profession is changing. Because of technology, because of generations, but above all because of a growing realization that peak performance cannot exist without humanity. As Sonia aptly sums it up: the mind remains important, but the body is allowed to participate again.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here.