What happens when a former child actor, ERISA lawyer, and Fortune 500 in-house counsel walks into a coffee shop?

In this case, she orders a lavender chai latte* and starts reimagining what a legal career can look like.

*served best in an actual coffee mug, preferably with fancy foam art and enjoyed while sitting in a coffee shop

In this episode of Counsel Brew, we sit down with Misty Leon, who at the time of recording was serving as in-house counsel at Texas Instruments. Misty's career has taken her from private practice to the corporate legal department to founder and principal of the freshly launched Practical Counsel Advisors, with a few unexpected stops along the way, including a bread commercial, starring as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and surviving meetings that involved more conversations with a dog named Mr. Barkey than actual legal work.

Because every legal career deserves at least one story that makes everyone ask, "Wait...what?"

We explore Misty's journey from aspiring child actor and ruby-slipper-wearing Dorothy to respected legal leader and in-house counsel. We talk about intentionally choosing a niche legal practice, navigating major career pivots, and the coaching and self-reflection that helped her discover what she wanted next. Misty shares insights on building meaningful professional relationships, overcoming the hesitation that often keeps talented people from pursuing new opportunities, and embracing growth even when it feels uncomfortable. We also dive into the future of AI and legal operations, the value of staying curious throughout your career, and why having a friend who occasionally tells you to "just do the thing" might be one of the most underrated professional advantages out there.

One of the themes we love exploring on Counsel Brew is that successful careers are built through a series of small decisions that often don't seem significant at the time.

Attending a bar association event.

Following up with someone you genuinely enjoy.

Trying something that feels uncomfortable.

Volunteering for the panel even when you'd rather hide behind the podium.

Misty's career is proof that those moments add up.

Also, if you ever find yourself sitting through a two-hour meeting while someone discusses dog treats with their pet, remember: someday it may become podcast content.

Listen now:

Find Misty at https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-a-leon/

Learn more about Practical Counsel Advisors at https://www.practicalcounseladvisors.com/

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Explicit Rating is for the occasional use of colorful language.