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In this week’s episode of the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast’ I had the pleasure of interviewing a wonderful lawyer from all the way over the other side of the world, Toya Gavin.  I interviewed Toya in the week before this year’s US Presidential election so it sure was an interesting time to be talking and I concluded mid-interview that Toya needs to throw her had in the political ring for the future.  Toya is one smart, articulate and thoughtful person and someone I learned so much from in just this hour.

Toya is of course a lawyer and has a background working in New York in criminal law.  Life in #lawland has not always been easy for Toya and she shared openly with me the impact of many years of hard work culminating in a significant health event that left her managing depression and anxiety.  As is so often the case though, that very difficult period in Toya’s professional life has led to her finding a new string to her career bow and these days she runs a successful online legal practice while also operating a coaching and consulting business, Legally Bold.

This is the perfect interview to see out 2020- it has something for everyone and my podcast silver lining for 2020 has been the chance to move some of these interviews online and connect worldwide with a bunch of amazing legal professionals!

Thank you for your continued support during the very strange year that has been 2020!  I am taking a short Podcast break and will be back on the airwaves in February 2021.  Have a wonderful Christmas Break and I wish you all the best for the New Year.

In this interview, Toya and I also chatted about-

• Toya joined us all the way from Washington DC and we discuss this beautiful city.
• If Toya was not a lawyer she would have been an entrepreneur, which she is now her side-hustle!
• Growing up in New Jersey, about 20 minutes outside of New York City.
• The Black Lives Matter Movement and the impact of living in a country built on slavery.
• Righting injustice and removing the barriers of generational prejudice.
• Entrepreneurs and Toya’s tips for how to make a change in the world.
• Changing the little things is what makes for the compounding difference.
• The truth brings light to everything and I vote ‘Toya for President’.
• Toya completed an engineering undergrad before the social rights aspect of the law drew Toya to study at George Washington Law School.
• The differences between engineering and law school, not only in practice but in the thinking process.
• Toya explains she completed her undergrad of 4 years, and then 3 years of law school ending in a six-figure education bill.
• The differences between Individual Rights and the Collective Rights of our different nations.
• After leaving law school Toya took the bar exam and started working for the City of New York.
• Her time working as a prosecutor on criminal cases with the likes of Judge Victoria Pratt, who brought in the concept for a community court in New York.
• As a criminal lawyer, you meet people in their worst moments and Toya’s time working in the Domestic Violence Court.
• Several years after Toya started her own practice in New Jersey she had a breakdown and moved to Washington to be with her sister and 3 children.
• Toya intentionally took a break and found spending time with children eased her depression and anxiety.
• We discuss the legal field and the impact it can have on your mental health. If you’re not anxious you’re not lawyering- apparently.
• The reason for the culture of overwork, alcoholism and contempt between lawyers, all of which create psychological ill-health in law-land.
• Toya’s tips for managing your mental health being sleep and exercise!
• Seeing the disconnect between law and our personal lives Toya moved into the coaching space to challenge some of this thinking.
• ‘Legally Bold’ and the coaching work Toya has moved into and how she challenges people to question what they want for their lives.
• Navigating the pandemic, discrimination and personal growth all with courage.
• Toya’s Happiness Tip

Sit back and enjoy this interview with Toya Gavin.

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Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa Rayward at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre-  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Listen to last week’s episode here