In this episode of Lawyer Launcher: Behind the Bar, Susan Van Dyke sits down with leadership coach and former Big Law professional Megan Mallister to unpack one of the most misunderstood success factors in law firms: emotional intelligence.

Law school teaches you how to think. It does not teach you how to navigate personalities, manage pressure, receive feedback, or build trust inside a firm.

Megan reframes “soft skills” as power skills — the capabilities that differentiate lawyers who simply survive from those who thrive.

They discuss:

• What emotional intelligence really means in a law firm environment
  
  
• Why stress is where EQ actually gets tested
  
  
• How to “manage up” and clarify expectations with partners
  
  
• The right way to receive constructive feedback
  
  
• How to create your own development plan as a summer or articling student
  
  
• Why you need an internal “board of directors” instead of just one mentor
  
  
• How to zoom out when early-career pressure feels overwhelming
  
  

If you are preparing to enter your first firm — or trying to stand out in a competitive environment — this episode offers practical tools, scripts, and mindset shifts that will serve you for your entire career.

These are not soft skills.
They are career-defining skills.

EPISODE NOTES:

Megan McAllister Consulting and Coaching: https://www.meganmcallister.ca/

Megan’s LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mcallister/