Trinnie Houghton An Interview with... Transforming Legal Leadership: Helping Attorneys Thrive in High-Stress Roles 18 LAWYER MONTHLY JUNE 2025 You’ve worked with professionals across industries — what’s unique about coaching lawyers and legal leaders? I believe coaching leaders share many common threads across industries — after all, we’re all human. But what makes coaching attorneys unique is how they’ve been trained and the specific demands of their profession. A coach working with legal leaders needs to understand their context — from how they think and communicate to the values that guide their practice. It’s been a privilege to coach attorneys. In my experience, many legal leaders tend to have a strong sense of duty — they care deeply about doing the right thing and protecting both their clients and their organizations. One thing that stands out is how much attorneys appreciate well-crafted questions. They seem to enjoy thinking through prompts from multiple angles. When appropriate, I also bring in relevant resources or frameworks — they tend to value that kind of rigor and specificity. In the high-pressure world of law, leadership often requires more than just sharp legal skills. It demands clear communication, resilience, and the ability to guide teams through complex challenges. Few understand this better than Trinnie Houghton, a Boston-based executive coach who has spent nearly 15 years helping senior attorneys, partners, and emerging leaders transform how they lead — and how they sustain themselves in demanding roles. With a background as an attorney at top Boston firms and deep expertise in leadership development, Trinnie brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and human insight to her coaching. She has worked with clients across industries and continents, helping them navigate everything from team dynamics and enterprise strategy to mental health and career growth. In this interview, Trinnie shares her insights into the unique leadership challenges facing lawyers today — and how coaching can help legal professionals at every level thrive in their careers while maintaining well-being and authenticity.
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