Laura Terrell is an executive coach, general counsel, and former special assistant to the president who has built a career across government, private practice, and nonprofit leadership. In this episode, she shares how coaching helps lawyers advocate for themselves, embrace career pivots, and find clarity in uncertain times.
Former White House lawyer and executive coach Laura Terrell shares how coaching helps lawyers advocate for themselves, navigate career pivots, and find clarity in their professional growth.
Laura Terrell built her career through a diverse range of roles in both the public and private sectors. Licensed in Virginia and D.C., she earned a joint JD/MA in Government from the University of Virginia and went on to serve in federal agencies including the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. She also held senior roles as a political appointee in the White House, giving her unique insight into how law, policy, and national security intersect.
"I really feel that having worked both as a member of the civil service and as a political appointee, I really got a sense of how government lawmaking gets done," shares Laura Terrell on You Are A Lawyer.
Today, Laura is an executive coach and the general counsel of Connect Our Kids, a nonprofit using technology to support foster care and child welfare services. She combines her background as a lawyer with her passion for mentoring, helping attorneys and professionals navigate career transitions, build confidence, and find meaningful roles.
For Laura, law school was a natural next step after studying government and political science. The University of Virginia’s joint JD/MA program allowed her to pursue both her love of law and her deep interest in government.
"Doing the master’s degree helped me also think about the policies behind a lot of the laws that we grapple with," reflects Laura Terrell on Episode 103 of You Are a Lawyer.
Her legal education gave her the grounding to work in both policy and litigation, eventually preparing her for roles in federal agencies, private practice, and beyond.
Laura Terrell stresses that a law degree is not a linear ticket to a single career path. Instead, it’s a foundation for diverse opportunities in and outside of law. She has practiced in government, private firms, and corporate and nonprofit settings, each time learning new skills and adapting to new roles.
"There’s a lot you can do with a legal degree. I don’t think being a lawyer is necessarily one linear path that you choose right out of law school," explains Laura Terrell, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.
Her own journey is proof that lawyers can take their skills anywhere—from compliance to executive leadership to coaching.
Alongside her legal work, Laura built a thriving executive coaching practice. She now works with clients ranging from law firm associates to government lawyers, helping them prepare for promotions, navigate layoffs, or make strategic pivots.
“One of the interesting things about attorneys is we’re really good at advocating for clients. But sometimes attorneys are surprisingly reluctant to advocate for themselves,” shares Laura Terrell in Episode 103 of You Are a Lawyer.
Her coaching practice fills that gap, giving lawyers the tools to ask better questions, push beyond comfort zones, and build sustainable, fulfilling careers.
Laura is licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., and as in-house counsel in Virginia.
This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.
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