Retaining talent in a high-pressure legal market

Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 12.30PM-2.00PM, Melbourne CBD

NEW EVENT

📅 Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
⏰ Time: 12:30pm–2:00pm
📍 Venue: RACV City Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
🥐 Catering: Coffee/tea & light lunch provided

Legal professionals rarely leave a firm because of one isolated issue. More often, the decision builds over time through sustained workloads, limited career visibility, inconsistent supervision or a growing disconnect between employees and firm leadership.

Led by Dr Michelle Pizer, an executive coach and organisational psychologist with more than 25 years’ experience, this roundtable will bring together leaders from Melbourne law firms to explore the factors influencing retention across the legal profession and the practical changes firms can make to keep their people engaged.

Drawing on her extensive work with leaders and teams across law firms and other professional services organisations, Michelle brings a practical understanding of the pressure, difficult relationships, leadership challenges and organisational dynamics that can shape an employee’s experience within a firm.

You will learn:

• Why lawyers and support staff leave, and the warning signs firms often overlook
• How workload, leadership and limited career development contribute to employee turnover
• Ways to strengthen onboarding, supervision and internal career pathways
• How to manage salary expectations without relying solely on pay increases
• The role partners and practice leaders play in creating a stronger employee experience
• Practical approaches to building trust and stronger relationships between employees and firm leadership

About our speaker Dr Michelle Pizer

Dr Michelle Pizer is an executive coach and organisational psychologist who supports senior leaders navigating difficult decisions, strained workplace relationships and periods of organisational change.

With more than 25 years’ experience and over 7,400 one-to-one coaching sessions, Michelle has worked with leaders at organisations including Google, Goldman Sachs, Stripe and KPMG, as well as extensively across law firms and other professional services and advisory organisations.

Michelle has particular expertise in helping leaders understand complex workplace dynamics, address conflict and strengthen relationships within their teams. Through executive coaching, leadership-team development and on-demand support, she helps leaders manage pressure, approach difficult conversations with greater confidence and create healthier, more effective working environments.

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