In this episode of The Wellness Esquire, host Ariella Coleman speaks with Cody Hand about rethinking how lawyers practice—and how they value themselves in the process. The conversation explores the growing disconnect between traditional legal structures and what lawyers actually need to build sustainable, fulfilling careers.

Ariella and Cody take a close look at the limits of the billable hour and why many lawyers feel constrained by it. They discuss the shift toward value-based pricing, not simply as a business strategy, but as a reflection of self-worth, autonomy, and trust—both in client relationships and in oneself. Cody shares his personal journey as a lawyer, including the lessons learned through trial and error, recalibration, and the realization that law school does not truly prepare lawyers for the realities of practice.

The episode also explores the idea of starting from yes instead of reflexive no—how fear, defensiveness, and scarcity thinking are baked into legal training, and how redefining value can change the way lawyers show up for their work and their clients. Cody reflects on decision-making, storytelling, and why embracing imperfection is an essential part of professional growth and leadership.

This conversation invites listeners to reconsider what success in law actually looks like, how lawyers can move beyond inherited models that no longer serve them, and why aligning values with practice is critical for long-term sustainability and well-being.

Check Cody Hand out on LinkedIn or connect with him through his websites (as a coach and as a lawyer).

About The Wellness Esquire
The Wellness Esquire is a podcast and Substack by Ariella Coleman exploring well-being, identity, and sustainability in the legal profession. Through honest conversations with lawyers and other professionals, the show examines how we work, why we burn out, and what it looks like to build careers that are both meaningful and humane.

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