Beyond the Billable Hour: Lessons from Anne Brafford [Part One]

In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Andrew explores the complex intersection of identity, ethics, and meaningful work with Anne Brafford, a former Big Law partner turned well-being consultant and researcher.
Drawing from her two-decade career as an employment lawyer and subsequent academic work, Brafford shares her insights about how personal values, professional identity, and moral courage shape our experience of meaningful work.
Brafford illuminates how lawyers find meaning in their work beyond the traditional narrative of public service, highlighting the importance of moral exemplars and ethical decision-making in corporate law. She also shares encouraging examples of how some law firms are evolving to create more inclusive, purposeful work environments in response to recent social changes.
Key Takeaways:
• Meaningful work influences how different individuals experience purpose in similar roles
• Moral exemplars in professional settings can help others navigate ethical challenges while maintaining meaningful engagement
• Local, everyday meaning can be as important as broader purpose in creating fulfilling work experiences
About Our Guest:
Dr. Anne Brafford (JD, MAPP, PhD) is a leading voice in lawyer well-being and workplace engagement. As the owner of Aspire, an education and consulting firm for the legal profession, and a founder of the Institute for Well-Being in Law, she brings both practical experience and academic rigor to her work.
Previously an equity partner at one of the nation's largest law firms, Anne now focuses on helping the legal profession build engaging workplaces where people and businesses can grow and succeed together. She holds a PhD in positive organizational psychology from Claremont Graduate University and a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Her research and consulting work centers on the intersection of inclusion, engagement, and well-being in professional settings.
Resources Mentioned:
• Book: Positive Professionals: Creating High-Performing, Profitable Firms Through the Science of Engagement (aspire.legal/a...) by Anne Brafford
• Article: "Judges' Well-Being and the Importance of Meaningful Work" (lawyerwellbein...) (Court Review)
• Article: "Five Ways to Foster Meaningful Work and Boost Lawyer Well-Being" (www.texasbar.c...) (Texas Bar Journal)
• Lawyer Well-Being TH-cam Channel ( / @lawyerwell-being4380 )
• Institute for Well-Being in Law (lawyerwellbein...)
• The Good Work Project (www.thegoodpro...)
Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Tune in next week for Part 2, where Anne and Andrew dive deeper into Self-Determination Theory and its practical applications for creating meaningful work environments.