Law Practice Today

In-House Counseling: The New Law Firm Resource

• The Law Practice Division • Season 3 • Episode 38

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0:00 | 19:02

In this episode of the Law Practice Today podcast, Terrell A. Turner, CPA, discusses mental health and self-care in law firms with Adriana Buckingham, Esq, MSW, a Philadelphia-area attorney turned counselor who founded AB In-House Counseling. Buckingham explains how her experience as a litigator led her to seek support tailored to attorneys, prompting her to earn a social work degree while practicing law and then create counseling and coaching services for legal professionals through their employers. The conversation focuses on supporting associates and staff as a firm’s key resource, noting that healthier employees can improve productivity, retention, and client service. They discuss common challenges like time management, delegation, and saying yes to everything, and how reframing can help. Buckingham emphasizes strict confidentiality: firms pay for her time, not session substance.

00:00 Associates Matter Most
00:25 Podcast Intro Disclaimer
01:04 Mental Health Focus
01:54 Meet Adriana Buckingham
02:35 From Lawyer to Counselor
04:17 Balancing School and Practice
05:48 Which Career Feels Rewarding
08:01 Why Firms Should Support Staff
11:01 Common Associate Struggles
13:34 Coaching Not Crisis
15:57 How In-House Counseling Works
17:43 Contact and Closing