Non-Billable Hours

Why do so many successful professionals feel like they are constantly achieving yet somehow missing out on life? In this episode, host and litigator Odette explores the hidden cost of modern productivity culture and the growing pressure to optimize every moment of our lives.
Drawing on her experience in the legal profession, Odette examines how the mindset that helps lawyers, entrepreneurs, and high-achieving professionals succeed at work can unintentionally diminish meaning, joy, and connection outside of it. From speed-listening to podcasts and audiobooks, to turning hobbies into side hustles, maximizing travel itineraries, tracking personal goals, and measuring every activity by its ROI, many of us have become conditioned to view life through the lens of efficiency and output.
In this episode, Odette argues that some of life’s most meaningful experiences are inherently inefficient. Long walks without a destination, reading fiction for pleasure, daydreaming, experiencing boredom, having unstructured conversations with friends and family, lingering, and simply being present in the moment often produce no measurable outcome - yet they are frequently the experiences that create our strongest memories and deepest sense of fulfillment.
Tune in to discover why not everything valuable can be measured, and how reclaiming inefficiency may be one of the most productive things you can do for your happiness, well-being, and overall quality of life.

What does running a 50-kilometre ultramarathon have to do with practicing law?
More than you might think.
In this solo episode, host Odette reflects on her experience completing her first ultramarathon and the surprising parallels between endurance running and building a legal career. While law school and the legal profession often reward speed, intensity, and constant achievement, both running and practicing law ultimately require something much more important: endurance.
Using lessons learned on the trail, Odette explores why success in law is less about sprinting and more about putting one foot in front of the other, day after day. She discusses the importance of pacing yourself, taking rest and recovery seriously, relying on support systems, navigating setbacks, and resisting the temptation to compare your journey to someone else's.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
• Why a legal career is an ultra marathon, not a sprint• The danger of trying to run every day at maximum effort• How rest and recovery are essential for long-term success• The role mentors, colleagues, friends, and family play as your "aid stations"• What to do when you inevitably hit a wall in your career or personal life• Why comparison can rob you of fulfillment and perspective• The problem with chasing constantly moving finish lines• How to build a sustainable, meaningful career in law
Whether you're a law student, a junior associate, or a seasoned lawyer, this episode is a reminder that the goal isn't simply to survive the race. It's to build a career—and a life—that you can sustain, enjoy, and be proud of over the long haul.
Because in law, as in running, the journey matters just as much as the finish line.
 

What happens when you go to law school… but don’t actually want to be a lawyer?
 
In this episode of Non-Billable Hours, I sit down with Travis Usher - law student turned legal recruiter - to talk about unconventional legal careers, identity outside the law, and building a career on your own terms.
 
We discuss:
• going through law school without a clear passion for legal practice
• transitioning into legal recruiting and entrepreneurship
• the differences between firm and in-house legal roles
• how lawyers can build fulfilling careers beyond traditional expectations
 
Travis shares an honest perspective on what modern legal careers really look like, and why success in law doesn’t have to follow one rigid path. We also chat about personal identities outside of the law, what kept Travis grounded and sane during law school, and why your personal health and happiness should *not* fall by the wayside when you enter the practice of law.
 
Whether you’re a law student, junior associate, in-house counsel, or someone questioning your future in the legal profession, this conversation is for you.
 
Find Travis here: https://www.zsa.ca/our_team/travis-usher/
 
Full video episodes can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/@NonBillableHoursPod/
 
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The Legal Stuff (because obviously): This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. This is a podcast by a lawyer, for lawyers. But I am not *your* lawyer. I’m also not your therapist, your finance professional, or your personal life coach. Nothing in this podcast should be considered legal advice, and any suggestions or recommendations that you decide to undertake of your own accord, those are on you my friend. This podcast is meant to be a place where we can talk about life as lawyers, but at the end of the day, you are the one making your own decisions. Perhaps we can help you make some better ones. We are not liable for any choices you make. But you probably already knew that.

Ever wonder why so many people become lawyers - even when they’re not passionate about practicing law?
In this episode of The Non-Billable Hours Podcast, I sit down with former entertainment lawyer and current creative entrepreneur Jordan Nahmias to talk about the path that led him into law, why practicing never felt right (even after an elite law school education and Big Law experience), and the turning point that changed everything:
Jordan opens up about:• Choosing law school without a clear plan• The pressure lawyers feel to follow a “traditional” path• Identity, and questioning success• Embracing creativity, yoga, and the arts• Building a meaningful career in coaching and speaking that still allows for a meaningful life outside of work
This conversation is for anyone in law who’s questioning whether the life they built is actually the one they want.
Sometimes the career you thought you wanted is just the bridge to the one you were meant to create.
Find Jordan Here:
https://getunstuckconsulting.com/

What if family law didn’t leave people more broken than when they started—but actually helped them move forward?
I recently had a conversation with Mardi Chadwick-Balcom on the Non-Billable Hours Podcast that challenged a lot of assumptions about how we practice family law.
Mardi is a family law mediator, yoga instructor, and someone who is deeply rethinking how we approach conflict. We talked about what it looks like to integrate nervous system awareness, mindfulness, and somatic practices into legal work—not as extras, but as essential tools.
Because the reality is, traditional family law often escalates conflict. And much of that is driven by trauma and dysregulation—on all sides.
With 25 years in practice, Mardi brings a perspective that feels both grounded and forward-thinking.
In our conversation, we explored:• Why conflict so often intensifies in the current system• How the nervous system shapes client behaviour and outcomes• What somatic and mindfulness-based tools can look like in mediation• Practical ways lawyers can reduce stress—for themselves and their clients• What a more humane, effective model of family law could be
If you’re practicing in this space (or thinking about how the profession can evolve), this is a conversation worth listening to.
Find Mardi here:
https://www.integrativedivorcemediation.com/

Mindfulness, stress management, and practical tools to avoid burnout in a legal career
In this episode Odette interviews Claire E. Parsons, a practicing school lawyer, mindfulness teacher, and author of How to Be a Badass Lawyer. Claire shares how she began meditating one minute at a time during a stressful period after childbirth and how the practice helped her manage perfectionism, anxiety, and overthinking.
They discuss practical, lawyer-focused mindfulness: starting small, increasing practice gradually, the value of compassion and community, and using mindfulness to make better decisions rather than trying to solve anxiety with thinking. Claire also talks about her books (including a children’s book and a novel in progress), teaching, and tips for getting started.
👤 About Claire E. Parsons
Claire E. Parsons is a lawyer, mindfulness and meditation teacher, and author of How to Be a Badass Lawyer. She works in civil litigation, employment law, school law, and municipal law, and is actively involved in wellness initiatives for lawyers.
Find Claire here:
* Book: *How to Be a Badass Lawyer* https://www.amazon.ca/How-Badass-Lawyer-Development-Mindfulness/dp/B0BLR3JDQR//
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claireeparsons/
* Claire's Website & Blog: https://www.brilliantlegalmind.com/

Host Odette interviews Hannah O'Donovan about shutting down a multi‑six‑figure business after severe burnout and rebuilding a life and business rooted in nervous system regulation, somatic practices, and aligned ambition.
They discuss signs of burnout, practical tools (orienting, breathwork, transition rituals), redefining success as full‑body wealth, and how high achievers - especially women - can move from survival to sustainable, embodied success.
Find Hannah here: 💻 https://www.somasoma.ca/
📽️    / @somasomawithease  
 
💗 Hannah's free gift to our audience: http://somasoma.podia.com/thereturnjo...
➡️ Female leaders are releasing anxiety & self-doubt in less than 10-minutes a day with this new devotion to self method -- The Return Journey

What happens when a successful lawyer leaves practice to build something new? Melissa Kluger shares how she transitioned from law to launching Precedent Magazine, now thriving nearly *20* years later.
Melissa Kluger is the Publisher and CEO of Law & Style Media Inc. and the creator of Precedent Magazine and the Precedent A-List.
Odette sits down with Melissa to learn the story behind her career transition from law to entrepreneurship, and how she went from law school and articling (for a Bay Street firm and Canadian criminal law icon Edward Greenspan) to launching one of the most influential publications for lawyers in Canada.
She explains why she left traditional legal practice, the risks and challenges of starting a legal magazine, and how Precedent grew into a platform that highlights innovation, leadership, and diversity of culture in the legal profession.
Odette and Melissa also discuss:
• The transferable skills lawyers might not even know we have
• The financial realities of independent journalism in the legal industry
• How Precedent has helped make the legal profession more transparent and inclusive
• Melissa's much-deserved receipt of the Law Society Medal from the Law Society of Ontario in 2025
Melissa also shares the story behind the Precedent A‑List, including plans for its relaunch and how supporting the A-List helps sustain Precedent’s journalism. Melissa is an absolute light, filled with insight and inspiration.
Her story might inspire you to think of your skillset in a new and interesting way and to reflect on how you want to write your next chapter.
If you're feeling generous, please give us a like and a subscribe! It's free for you and it really helps this little channel grow 📈
Find Melissa & Precedent here:
https://www.precedentmagazine.com/
https://a-list.lawandstyle.ca/
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/nonbillablehourspodcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@nonbillablehourspodcast 
https://www.youtube.com/@NonBillableHoursPod

Burned out from practicing law? You’re not alone.Former bankruptcy lawyer Patrick Patino shares how repeated burnout pushed him to “fire himself” and completely redefine life as a lawyer.
Host Patrick Patino of The Newfangled Lawyer shares his journey from burning out practicing bankruptcy law, to a life shaped by creativity, community, and clear boundaries. He discusses repeated burnout, the decision to "fire himself," and how community-driven gatherings—like pottery classes, tattoo events, and honest conversations—helped him redefine what it means to be a lawyer.
Takeaways include setting firm boundaries (no weekend work or late-night emails), prioritizing well-being, creating meaningful community connections, and embracing authenticity over conformity in the legal profession.
Our video podcasts are also on YouTube!
What Happens When You Fire Yourself?  This Lawyer was Sick of Being Tangled Up in the Grindhttps://youtu.be/1iZIkXVOCKM
Find Patrick here:
http://newfangled.net

In this week's solo episode, Odette speaks candidly about experiencing grief while working—covering when to ask for leave, how to tell a trusted colleague, managing deadlines, and accepting that your best may look different during this time.
Compassionate, practical guidance for lawyers, law students, and professionals balancing work duties and personal loss, with reminders to protect your privacy, seek support, and give yourself grace.