Brain-based tactics for top lawyers

They say the only constant in life is change, and this week’s newsletter is all about legal shifts—both big and small. We're covering the incremental changes happening as AI companies face legal accountability, plus the mounting challenges facing the ABA. And don't miss today's Q&A; we’re diving into neuroscience-based strategies that help attorneys reshape their habits and reach their professional goals. Whether it’s a major industry development, an evolving legal precedent, or the daily shifts shaping your practice, adaptation is key to thriving in this profession.

In today's newsletter:

• Is ABA membership still necessary?
• Retain top talent and grow your firm’s revenue
• AI lawsuits are rising—what you need to know
• BlueSky marketing: A new opportunity for lawyers

The secret to high-performing lawyers? It’s not what you think

High performance isn’t just about time management or intelligence; it’s about knowing how to operate under pressure without letting stress dictate the terms.

Jennifer Pawlitschek, a neuroscience-based executive coach and leadership trainer, has worked with more than 5,000 clients over 20 years. Before transitioning to professional development, she spent a decade in law firms as a paralegal and legal writer. Now, she helps attorneys bridge the gap between legal skill and mental agility, enabling them to thrive in a profession that demands both.

Raise the Bar spoke with Pawlitschek to get the science behind stress, performance and leadership—including what holds lawyers back and what they can do to move forward. -Bianca Prieto

How does neuroscience-based coaching help lawyers? 

Coaching and training need to be backed by science to actually work. Neuroscience—the study of the brain and nervous system—gives us a clear picture of how the brain functions and, more importantly, how to shift it into a state that supports peak performance.

Lawyers deal with constant challenges that can get in the way of performing at their best, and stress is a big one. Take business development, for example. As their careers advance, attorneys need to start bringing in clients. Research shows the most effective way to do this is to become a “trusted advisor,” someone clients turn to for strategic guidance—not just legal expertise.

But here’s the challenge: how does a busy, stressed-out lawyer focus on growing their business when they’re overwhelmed with casework? It’s not just a time issue—it’s a brain issue. When stress kicks in, the brain shifts into fight-or-flight mode, focusing on immediate tasks. That’s the opposite of what’s needed for networking, relationship-building or big-picture thinking. So the real challenge isn’t about finding more time; it’s about managing your brain state so stress doesn’t take over.

How do you work with clients around this?

First, I teach attorneys what science tells us about how stress affects the brain. Then we develop practical, habit-based strategies to manage their mental state. This gives them the breathing room to start making choices around priorities and time management. These strategies vary by person but often include cognitive reframing, which helps re-evaluate negative or disaster-oriented thinking, and mindfulness techniques to interrupt repetitive thought loops. We also incorporate breathwork and physical exercises that shift biochemistry, helping the brain transition out of fight-or-flight mode. The key is finding the right tools for each client and integrating them into daily routines, so when stress triggers negative thought patterns, they can recognize and shift them in the moment.

How do you help lawyers work on their blind spots, especially in leadership?

Leadership blind spots often come down to emotional intelligence. Here's the thing: lawyers typically get promoted to leadership roles because they’re great at their jobs—especially winning cases. But leading teams and arguing in court require completely different skills.

When I work with lawyers who want to build leadership skills, we start by building emotional intelligence with neuroscience-based, validated assessments. This helps to find their specific blind spots. We use these insights to develop their skills, building leadership strategies that actually work for them. 

Trial of the century. Ninety years later, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial still has legal impact.

It’s raw! Chef Gordon Ramsay revamped a restaurant whose menu was inspired by its owner’s brush with the criminal law system. 

The cost of work/life balance. This lawyer took a $150K pay cut to become “product counsel” at a tech firm. 

Classic #FloridaMan. Lawyer caught using trust account funds to pay for his Mercedes and gym membership. 

The strangest sentence you will read today. Trial starts for three men accused of stealing a 215-pound, solid gold toilet from Winston Churchill’s boyhood home.

Is the ABA losing its grip?

The Federal Trade Commission recently barred its attorneys from joining the American Bar Association. Days later, the ABA voted to “temporarily suspend enforcement of its diversity and inclusion standard for law schools.” In an opinion piece for The Regulatory Review, George Washington University Law Professor Richard J. Pierce, Jr. wonders if the ABA will soon be stripped of its power to accredit law schools. 

Why this matters: Joining the ABA was once just part of doing business. But the organization has been losing members—and bleeding cash—for over a decade. Is being a member of the ABA still an important part of engaging with the legal profession? (The Regulatory Review)

When AI doesn’t live up to the hype

While the Trump administration has signaled it is not going to aggressively regulate the AI industry, law enforcement officials are cracking down on “AI-washing.” As Duane Pozza, FTC regulation practice chair and Nick Peterson, counsel at Wiley Rein, explain; companies that are “exaggerating the use or benefits of artificial intelligence in their marketing efforts” are basically asking to get hit with claims filed under existing laws. 

Why this matters: Most AI fraud suits have been brought at the federal level, but states have their own consumer protection laws on the books. Keep an eye out for suits in states that allow individuals to file a private right of action. (Legal Dive)

Increase revenue by removing roadblocks

Want to increase your firm’s revenue per employee (RPE) but don’t know where to start? This podcast episode from Maximum Lawyer outlines a few possibilities that don’t involve downsizing your staff. But that’s not to say making some personal changes are not on the table. St. Louis personal injury lawyer (and podcast host) Tyson Mutrux suggests one of the best ways to boost your bottom line is identifying the people at the firm who are doing great work, then removing any roadblocks to their success… including other employees. 

Why this matters: Mutrux suggests that managing your best employees well can increase RPE by about 27%. (Maximum Lawyer) 

Judges advised to ignore DOGE request to outline what they did last week

Woman who attempted Graceland foreclosure pleads guilty to mail fraud

California judge on trial for murder admits to shooting his wife

Suit brought against YouTube/TikTok by grieving moms dismissed

Keep track of the various legal challenges to Trump Administration

Building your brand where the sky is blue

Creating yet another social media account is probably not a top priority if you are as app-fatigued as every other attorney we know. But you may want to add it to your to-do list after learning a bit more about Bluesky. The X (formerly known as Twitter)-like app has an engaged and growing legal community thanks to the algorithm’s focus on amplifying meaningful discussion over bot-driven noise. Lawyer Lindsay Hanoski, writing for Attorney at Work, put together a quick-start guide that can get you up and running in no time. 

Why this matters: Whether you’re looking to engage in legal discourse, attract referrals, connect with journalists or simply stay informed on industry trends, BlueSky is now the place to be. (Attorney at Work) 

Thank you for reading Raise The Bar.

Every Thursday, you'll hear from our team about the most pressing issues facing legal practices today. We'll also try to include some quick-hit reads that touch on interesting cases and precedents being set worldwide. 

Have anything you'd like us to cover? Send an email raisethebar@mynewsletter.co

Raise the Bar is curated and written by Joanna Brenner and edited by Bianca Prieto.