Allison Wolf is a certified executive coach and President of Shift Works Strategic Inc. a company focused on using the practice of coaching to enhance the performance and success of lawyers in key business areas.
Allison’s clients have achieved success in a number of areas including: developing powerful rainmaking skills, launching profitable new practice areas, revitalising burned-out practices, transitioning to new law firms/new careers/new practice areas, leading practice groups, and attaining partnership.
Prior to launching her coaching practice Allison worked as a legal marketing and business development professional in-house for law firms of all sizes and scope, beginning with an international law firm in the Beijing, New York and Washington D.C. offices, followed by a national Canadian firm and a large litigation firm.
Allison speaks English, French and Mandarin. She brings a unique international experience to her strategic business coaching practice. She lived, worked and studied in China for eight years.
Allison is the Past-President of the LMA Vancouver Chapter and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She is a board member of West Coast LEAF. She is Past-President of the Pacifica Family Addictions Foundation, a non-profit society. She has a B.A. from McGill University, and holds an Executive Coaching Certification (CEC) from Royal Roads University. She conducted graduate studies in Communications and East Asian Studies at McGill University and the Beijing Film Academy.
What Clients Say About Allison
“As a corporate lawyer at an internationally recognized firm, I find the pace and demands of this job to be overwhelming at times. Allison has guided me to identify my natural strengths, and has enlightened me as to how I can draw upon these strengths to better manage the array of expectations that coincide with being a lawyer. The result has been a remarkable increase in my efficiency and productivity. This in turn has given me the confidence that I am in control of my career, a perspective I did not have prior to working with Allison.” Corporate lawyer
“I have heard nothing but praise from the registrants, many of whom have taken the trouble to email me personally with their comments.” Women Lawyers Retreat Coordinator, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia.
“Interactive speaker; allowed audience to participate wholly. Ms. Wolf is a dynamic, articulate speaker and knows her subject.” Participant, Taking on the Associate Marketing Challenge, 37th ALA Annual Conference and Exposition
“Allison, that was great today. Thanks very much. I hope this is the beginning of a long relationship between our firm and you!” Director of Associate Training and Development, National Canadian Law Firm
“Thank you for an outstanding presentation at our offices. I have followed up with our folks and they really enjoyed and internalised your talk. This is excellent.” Managing Partner, Intellectual Property Firm
“A testament to her success is that many of our associates have developed successful practices and attained partnership as a result of Allison’s training.” Litigation Partner
“I wanted to send an e-mail letting you know that I found the business development information provided by Allison Wolf during the session to be brilliant. It far exceeded my expectations. No more struggling to develop a personal marketing plan. By the end of the day, I drafted a one-page, clear and concise list of objectives.” Corporate lawyer
“I just wanted to thank you again for your contribution to the associates retreat. It certainly was everything I hoped it would be. Thanks again, you did a great job.” Director, Associate Training and Development, Vancouver Business Law Firm
“I should tell you that I’m finding it incredibly easy to focus more on asking questions and listening. I’ve been practicing it in all kinds of situations (like when on holidays with a group that included many strangers!) and am finding it to be a great tool to keep conversations moving.” Environmental Consultant
Recent Publications
The American Bar Association, Law Practice, “The Smartest Marketer: What New Associates Should Know About Marketing”, April/May 2007, Volume 33, Number 2, pages 34-36.
The Canadian Bar Association, National Magazine, “Getting Off to a New Start”, June 2007
The American Bar Association, Law Practice, “Law Practice Case Study: Succession Planning Transition, December/January, Volume 33, Number 8
The Canadian Bar Association, National Magazine, “Making it Rain”, December 2007
The Lawyers Weekly, “Rainmaking for women lawyers – the best start is an early start“, February 2008
Quoted in Canadian Lawyer article “Just practising: Information overload” by Daryl-Lynn Carlson, Winter 2008
Quoted in Lawyers Weekly article “Smartphone etiquette: Where to draw the line?” by Milton Kiang, August 28, 2009
Quoted in the CBA Practice Link article”Take Your Practice to the Next Level: Hire a Coach“ by Ann Macaulay
Quoted in National Magazine Canadian Bar Association article “Canadan’s Best Law Firm Web Sites” by Luigi Bennetton, January 2010
Quoted in Lexpert article “Consultants Take Flight” by Marzena Czarnecka, April 2010
Contributing author, SLAW – The Canadian weblog on legal: research – information – technology, November 2007 to Present
