When you think of leadership in the legal world, what words first come to mind? Strategy? Authority? Responsibility? Maybe even stress?
What about joy? Naaaah.
For many lawyers, “joy” isn’t the first thing they associate with leadership, it’s the last. Yet, creating a joyful work culture is, I would argue, one of the key things that distinguishes a great leader.
Someone once told me: “The shortest distance between two people is a laugh.” Having a good time at work is what helps people feel community with their co-workers, and it balances out the inevitable difficulties that arise in even the healthiest workplaces. Sending the message that we are here to enjoy what we do lays down a framework of collaboration, light-heartedness, and a focus on the big picture, as opposed to fostering competitiveness, stress, toxicity, and achievement for its own sake.
Why Joy Matters in Leadership
Joy isn’t about being cheerful, or at least not solely about that. It’s about cultivating a sense of purpose, connection, and authenticity that others can feel. In a profession that often prioritizes billable hours and bottom lines, joy is the great antidote to living life like we are on a productivity mill. It sends a message to employees that work is about a lot more than making money. The irony is that a joyful leader doesn’t just get results; they inspire others. People want to work with (and for) leaders who truly enjoy what they do, and are committed to others enjoying their work lives as well. It gives employees something to aspire to that actually feels good, as opposed to expecting that a paycheck will make up for whatever is bad about work.
When leaders show up with joy, it’s contagious. A lawyer who leads with joy projects confidence, clarity, and care which are all qualities that build trust.
How To Lead With Joy
Joy in leadership starts with resourcing yourself: finding those practices and routines that ground you, energize you, and remind you why you chose this path. Whether it’s five minutes of quiet in the morning, a mid-day walk, or a quick check-in with a mentor, those little practices matter.
What Joyful Leadership Looks Like
So what does it mean to lead with joy in a legal setting? Here are a few hallmarks:
Authenticity over perfection. Joyful leaders aren’t afraid to show vulnerability. They admit mistakes, laugh at themselves, and lead with honesty. Inspiring leaders have a good relationship with their own faults. They know their strengths and their weaknesses, and are perfectly open about it. They want feedback, lots of feedback, even when it is hard to hear or they don’t agree with all of it. Feedback is priceless information about how a leader’s work and persona is landing, and if it is not landing well, a good leader urgently wants to know so she can take responsibility for changing things. If leaders themselves aren’t humble and perfectly open to feedback, even hard to hear feedback, how can they expect their employees to be that way?
Celebrating wins (big and small). Acknowledging progress boosts morale and creates momentum. Offering specific praise about what an employee did well and why that was such a positive thing is praise that sticks with someone and helps them understand what work behaviors to repeat.
Creating space for others to thrive. Joyful leadership isn’t about spotlighting yourself; it’s about making sure your team, colleagues, and clients feel supported and valued.
Finding meaning in the work. Even in the toughest cases, reconnecting with why the work matters infuses it with purpose and satisfaction. If you don’t have this, you don’t have anything.
Joy as a Leadership Strategy
Joy in leadership isn’t fluff. It’s strategic. It helps retain talent, reduce burnout, and create healthier workplaces. And in a profession known for its intensity, weaving joy into leadership is less about “being happy all the time,” and more about building resilience and fostering connection. Because in the final analysis, giving employees the gift of looking forward to coming to work is the best thing a leader can do.
If you want to hear more about how to lead with joy, come to our Joy in the Law conference in downtown San Francisco on September 19, 2025. You can sign up for the conference here.
Author: Diana Maier, Partner. Diana is a Spanish-speaking mediator and workplace investigator, as well as a seasoned employment lawyer. Diana’s specialty is resolving employment and business dispute litigation, as well as interpersonal conflict in the workplace.
