Resources for Lawyers Exploring Retirement & Reinvention
Books, podcasts, organizations, and coaches, documentaries and courses for life after law
Books
Conley, C. Learning to Love Midlife. A guide to navigating midlife opportunities and embracing the role of the modern elder.
Gurian, M. The Wonder of Aging. Explores how aging can be a period of growth, wisdom, creativity, and renewed purpose.
Campbell, J. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. A framework for understanding life's transitions and transformations.
Chittister, J. The Gift of Years. Reflections on aging as a spiritual, emotional, and personal journey.
Vaillant, G. E. Aging Well. Examines the factors that contribute to happiness, resilience, and fulfillment in later life.
Coughlin, J. F. The Longevity Economy. Challenges traditional assumptions about aging and highlights opportunities of longer lives.
Levitin, D. J. Successful Aging. A science-based look at thriving physically, cognitively, and emotionally in later life.
Rauch, J. The Happiness Curve. Explores how happiness often increases in the second half of life.
Schachter-Shalomi, Z. & Miller, R. S. From Age-ing to Sage-ing. A groundbreaking exploration of conscious aging and spiritual growth.
Peters, S. Aging with Agency. Practical tools for approaching aging proactively and cultivating resilience.
Mintzer, D. & Taylor, R. K. The Couple's Retirement Puzzle. Must-have conversations for creating an amazing new life together.
Abbott, I. Retirement by Design. Written specifically for lawyers and professional service providers planning their next chapter.
Collier, R. Lawyers at Midlife: Laying the Groundwork for the Road Ahead.
Warner, R. Get a Life: You Don't Need a Million to Retire Well.
Burnett, B. & Evans, D. Designing Your Life. A life-design methodology for prototyping meaningful future possibilities.
Podcasts
The Midlife Chrysalis — Conversations with thought leaders on aging, purpose, wisdom, and reinvention.
Retirement Wisdom Podcast — Interviews with experts and retirees on creating a meaningful retirement.
Counsel to Counsel (Steve Seckler) — Career advice and transition guidance for lawyers. Interview with Steve Hrman on retirement planning: https://zencastr.com/z/JtLfUBPc
Curated Retirement — Practical and inspiring conversations about designing a purposeful retirement.
The Arthur Brooks Podcast — Insights on happiness, purpose, and flourishing in the second half of life.
How To! — Selected episodes featuring Arthur Brooks on happiness and life transitions.
Brené Brown's Unlocking Us — Conversations on vulnerability, courage, and living wholeheartedly.
On Being (Krista Tippett) — Explorations of meaning, faith, ethics, and the big questions of life.
Organizations & Learning Communities
Modern Elder Academy (MEA) — Founded by Chip Conley. Workshops, retreats, courses, and a global community focused on midlife transitions, purpose, and longevity.
Retirement Wisdom — Founded by Joe Casey. Coaching, workshops, podcasts, and resources focused on life beyond work.
Coaches & Advisors
Ida Abbott — Pioneer in lawyer retirement planning, leadership development, and succession planning.
Stephen Seckler — Former attorney and career coach specializing in lawyer career transitions and encore careers.
Tammy Vigue — Founder of Curated Retirement, offering coaching and community programs for intentional retirement design.
Joe Casey — Executive coach, retirement educator, and host of the Retirement Wisdom Podcast.
Kirsten Meneghello — Retirement coach helping individuals prepare for the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement.
Sue Mintz — Founder of the Jewish Retirement Network and retirement transition coach.
Barb Mason — Retirement coach and educator supporting balanced and intentional retirement.
Dorian Mintzer — Retirement transition specialist working with individuals and groups on life after full-time work.
Richard Leider — Internationally recognized coach and author focused on purpose and life planning.
Bill Burnett & Dave Evans — Stanford educators whose life-design methodology helps people prototype meaningful futures.
Documentaries
Retirement on Trial: Legal Edition — Documentary exploring retirement, identity, and transitions for lawyers. Produced by Steve Herman and Evelyn Neaman, screened to over 3,000 lawyers and judges. Visit www.retirementontrial.com for more information.
Retirement on Trial Courses
Retirement on Trial: Life After Law for Attorneys & Judges — A course with Stephen Herman and Evelyn Neaman at Modern Elder Academy, Sep 24–27, 2026, Santa Fe, USA.
"The goal is not to retire from something. The goal is to retire to something."