The legal industry is at a crossroads. Traditionally defined by rigid hierarchies and established norms, it must evolve to meet the realities of the modern world. Accessibility, fairness, and sustainable career paths are no longer optional—they are essential. For many professionals, particularly women, the legal field remains a paradox: an avenue of influence and advocacy yet still bound by outdated structures that often demand personal sacrifice and force women to channel masculine energy.
“Success does not have to be synonymous with burnout. It’s about leading from a place of authenticity, where ambition and well-being coexist,” says Stacey L. Stevens, a personal injury lawyer and partner at Thomson Rogers LLP, inspirational speaker, and author. She is not just participating in this shift toward a more balanced, inclusive profession—she is driving it. Having forged a non-traditional path to success, Stacey understands the tensions between professional ambition and personal fulfillment. Her mission is to break the cycle of burnout and self-doubt, especially for women in law.
Redefining Personal and Professional Values
Stacey’s journey into law was unconventional and best described as intentional. At 15, she left home with nothing but a few garbage bags full of clothes and a determination to prove everyone wrong: “One day I will be a lawyer”. Despite constant doubt and obstacles, she refused to quit.
In the mid-80’s, she started as a receptionist at a law firm, worked her way up to legal assistant, put herself through night school to become a law clerk, and ultimately, at 40, became a personal injury lawyer, all while raising two sons. Her career was built on grit, not privilege.
Compassionate Legal Representation
Stacey was drawn to personal injury because it’s not just about cases but people. “It’s about helping individuals rebuild their lives after devastating tragedies,” she says. “They’re not just seen as case files but as human beings deserving of justice, dignity, and support.”
This determined mother and grandmother knows a thing or two about how to navigate a world that often told her the odds were against her. But just as she had refused to accept those limitations, she now fights to make sure her clients don’t either.
For Stacey, one of the most fulfilling parts of her work is being a steady presence for her clients, guiding them through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. “I don’t just represent them—I empower them to reclaim their sense of control, their confidence, and their future.”
This philosophy extends into her broader mission: helping aspiring female lawyers develop the skills and strategies that strengthen their confidence and resilience. Stacey is determined to help women lawyers redefine success on their own terms – without guilt, burnout, or losing themselves in the process.
Young lawyers quickly realize the demands of a law practice can be unforgiving. “The messaging coming out of law school is that women lawyers are expected to work harder and show up more than their male peers to achieve the same success,” Stacey says. For many, that means hiding their true authentic selves, ultimately leaving them drained mentally, physically, and emotionally.
In 2023, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada released Phase 1 of it’s Report on the State of Mental Health in the Legal Profession, which found that 67.5% of practicing women lawyers suffer silently with anxiety, depression and burnout. Studies across North America confirm that law values masculine traits like unshakable confidence, emotional detachment, and aggressive communication styles, putting unique stressors on women. This manifests in higher burnout rates and self-care deficits.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Women in Law
Stacey believes imposter syndrome creeps in. “Women often silence themselves in meetings, overanalyze their contributions, and question whether they will ever be enough,” she says. “They absorb the energy that comes from unspoken biases, like being talked over in negotiations or being asked to be the notetaker or get coffee.” These microaggressions often feed women’s inner critics and impact how they show up in their lives, and how they see their potential to become leaders. Over time, it takes a toll.
In 2023, the Law Society of Ontario also released its annual Statistical Snapshot of Lawyers and Paralegals, revealing troubling findings. While more than 50% of law school graduates are female, about 30% of women leave their practice within five years.
“These studies came out at the perfect time,” says Stacey. During the pandemic, she was exhausted, frustrated and at her wits end. “For years, I was managing a successful law practice, commuting to work and home, and then meeting my family’s needs. But I never stopped to think about the impact this had on me; I just pushed through, thinking it was part of the job.” These findings prompted Stacey to do more research and reflect on how societal expectations shaped her values and beliefs.
“I learned that young women (and men) are shaped by societal expectations that ultimately leave them with a set of preconditioned values and beliefs,” says Stacey. “But once they enter the workforce, these learned behavioural traits may no longer serve them.” These include prioritizing others’ needs over their own, minimizing their own needs out of fear of exclusion, enduring hardship in silence and people pleasing.
This can lead women to overextend themselves, micromanage their environments, or sacrifice their own authenticity to meet other people’s expectations. “Women are then expected to excel in a workplace where they are told to “lean in,” despite facing systemic barriers, and show assertiveness that may result in unflattering labels,” says Stacey. “In the end, women lawyers overwork to prove their worth, suppress their authentic selves to fit rigid norms, or burn out from trying to balance impossible expectations.”
Stacey saw herself in the research and realized she had to look at things differently. “I had to question how I was acting as a result of societal norms, and whether my behaviour was hurting rather than helping me.” For years, Stacey followed unspoken rules in the legal world—project confidence, stay competitive, and never show emotion—but was that the true Stacey? As she dismantled old values and beliefs that no longer served her, she created a new set that redefined what achievement and authenticity meant to her. Now, she is still confident and competitive, but in a way that is rooted in collaboration and compassion. She communicates authentically, whether with staff, clients or opposing counsel. She integrates her roles—lawyer, mother, leader, and mentor—rather than rejecting them.
Staying Aligned with Purpose
Two decades ago, when Stacey worked as a summer law student, there was only one-woman lawyer. After articling, she practiced at another firm where she was the only female lawyer. It wasn’t until she joined Thomson Rogers LLP that she began to see a shift in female representation. Today, nearly 40% of Thomson Rogers’ partnership is made up of women. “This is something I am very proud of,” says Stacey. The Law Society of Ontario’s 2020 Annual Report on membership statistics found that women made up only 26% of law firm partners. “It’s important for me to be at a firm where women are at the table, and young female lawyers have mentors to turn to for advice.”
Over the past 24 years, Stacey has mentored many women lawyers, both formally and informally, who’ve found questioned whether they can sustain the profession they once dreamed of. One such lawyer came to Stacey at a breaking point, unsure if she had what it took to continue.
Through conversations, Stacey helped her see that her struggles weren’t a reflection of her capability but of the pre-conditioned values and beliefs that shaped her story. They explored ways for her to rewrite the narratives she encountered every day from others and her own inner critic.
Together, they worked on acknowledging the clash between her feminine energy and traits and the masculine energy and traits required as a practicing lawyer, identifying the impact this had on her, and developing strategies to empower her to be grounded in both. They focused on rewriting her story, reframing old narratives and redefining success in a way that was authentic to her.
Today, this lawyer stands confident and accomplished, leading her career on her own terms. Her transformation is not just personal but proof that when women have the right support, they do not have to choose between success and fulfillment. For Stacey, mentoring was a reminder that “leadership is not about forcing women to fit into systems that are not made for us but about empowering them to build careers that align with their values and aspirations.”
Women who stop chasing impossible expectations and release self-imposed guilt can step into careers built on resilience, balance, and excellence. This isn’t about rejecting ambition but pursuing it in a way that doesn’t require self-destruction.
Stacey’s firm belief in the power of transformation fuels her. Every day, she wakes up knowing she has an opportunity to make an impact in her clients’ and mentees’ lives. Her journey is a testament to the power of authenticity, demonstrating that women can redefine success on their terms—without sacrificing their well-being.
Stacey is not waiting for the system to shift—she is creating the shift. She is showing women that they already have the power to redefine their own success, both professionally and professionally. As she leads by example, Stacey is paving the way for a new generation of lawyers who will no longer equate success with burnout.
