In law, long hours are treated as the measure of success. But that doesn’t mean they reflect your true value. This episode unpacks how exhaustion became a badge of honor in legal culture — and what it’s costing women lawyers.
From day one, lawyers are trained to see exhaustion as excellence. Billing the most hours, being always available, saying yes to everything; these aren’t just habits. They’re the unspoken markers of belonging in a profession that rewards sacrifice over sustainability.
But what happens when those badges stop feeling like markers of achievement and start weighing you down?
This episode looks at:
🌱 One key takeaway: Hours are the system’s yardstick, not your worth. Exhaustion doesn’t prove commitment. It just shows how deeply you’ve been playing by rules that were never designed with your well-being in mind.
By the end of this episode, you’ll see how these “badges” were never neutral. They shape how you show up, what you believe you’re worth, and how you define success. And once you spot them, you can start setting them down.
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Full Show Notes, Episode Transcript, Plus More Resources for Women in Law:
017 Why Exhaustion Became a Badge of Honor in Law
https://www.heathermillscoaching.com/blog/017-exhaustion-as-a badge-of-honor-in-law