Friday, September 19, 2025
JOY IN THE LAW CONFERENCE 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025 | San Francisco, CA
Joy in the Law 2025 will be happening on Friday, September 19th, 9:30am to 4:00pm.
Our own Lisette Sell of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is donating her conference room (and drinks!) in downtown San Francisco:
50 California St # 2300, San Francisco, CA 94111.
Click here to email Diana for more information or to RSVP
The Joy in the Law conference aspires to bring together attorneys interested in exploring various aspects of happy lawyering. The conference was founded in 2016 to increase the joy of lawyers who are already happy, and to begin the journey towards career happiness of lawyers who are not. The conference posits that all lawyers can find work that makes them happy most of the time, and maintain a professional life that squares with their values and priorities.
Lunch (with options to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences) is included in the ticket price.
Schedule
9:30 - 10:00am: Arrival and Networking
10:00 - 11:15am: Inner Resourcing
Slowing down so you can go fast. Learn how to cultivate and sustain self care to meet the demands on our time, attention, and energy with appreciation and grace.
11:15 - 11:25am: Break and Networking
11:25am - 12:40pm: The Magic of Conflict
Most lawyers are fluent in conflict (whether they like it or not)—but not always in the skills that make it constructive or energizing.This session will offer practical tools for reframing conflict, deepening connections and shifting the emotional tone of challenging conversations. Presented by John Ford, author of Peace at Work: The HR Manager’s Guide to Workplace Mediation, and creator of The Empathy Set, a powerful communication tool for deepening connection with oneself and others.
12:40 - 2:00pm: Lunch and Open Discussion: Bringing the Spirit of Play into Work
We will discuss how to integrate a spirit of play into our daily lives and practice "playing" with other lawyers for connection and fun. Networking time as well. Coach/Lawyer Elizabeth Bohannon, a past presenter on this topic, to hopefully present. Lunch is provided.
2:00 - 3:15pm: Joy in Leadership Panel
Our panelists will discuss how leadership can be a path to fulfillment as well as what it means to be a leader, and how we can bring clarity, connection, purpose, and joy to our work while leading.
3:15 - 3:25pm: Final Break and Networking
3:25 - 4:00pm: Wrap-up and Closing
We will organize into smaller breakout groups to discuss takeaways and set goals for the future.