Your alarm goes off. Already? You snooze twice. Then grab your phone and open Outlook before your feet hit the floor. Your chest tightens. Two things landed while you slept.
You arrive at the office. You feel rushed, late. You sigh and open your laptop. Three new emails. Another double espresso. Fuel to finally finish that brief. And then, your phone rings...
You still haven't touched that brief. A peer "quickly" needed your opinion. A partner needed you on a call. You replied to five "urgent" emails. You ring your colleague to cancel lunch.
Third double espresso. Still tired. Head too full to focus. An email takes 20 minutes instead of 2. You second-guess every decision. You'll tackle that brief when the office goes quiet.
Done. You pack up. At home, you stand in the kitchen with bread and cheese. But you don't taste it. Will the brief hold? And there is that call tomorrow... You open Outlook again.
You finally fell asleep at 00:27. Now a brilliant argument jolts you awake. You grab your phone, tap it into a note. A podcast later you drift off again. Dreading the morning.
The shift is quiet. It was for me: You stay late because the matter needs it. Then the next one. You're good, so more work finds you. You tell yourself it's just a crazy week. A crazy month.
Nobody made me stay late. I just thought I could pull it off a bit too often. Didn't say no enough. Gave 120% where 80% would do. Driven by "I'm not good enough". Cut sleep short. No tools to regulate stress or protect focus.
I felt invincible. I wasn't. No one is. I only woke up when my body shut down. Ambulance. Hospital. Days of tests. Twice, in my first 3 years. Stress-induced seizures, the doctors said.
And I was at the right firm. Media law, top-tier firm in Berlin. Great culture, great people. Work I loved. Partners who are real role models. A sane baseline: 9 to 7. But it caught me anyway. It can catch anyone ambitious.
Quitting the job I loved? Hell no! So I built a system that shifted it back. The good day became the default, the bad one the exception. I was calm, clear, and focused under pressure. Switched off. Slept well.
I wanted to do this forever. But years later, my priorities changed: I craved working and living in another country.
I left Raue after 7 years. As a Legal 500 'Rising Star' in Media Law, on the partner track. Healthy. Having a life. (Ask my girlfriend Isabella. We're still together.) I left with nothing but gratitude. And cried in my mentor's office. My younger colleagues were also sad to see me go: "You were always the rock. Calm, even when things got hectic."
Since 2023, I've helped other lawyers do what I had to learn myself: perform at your best, but make it sustainable.
You wake before the alarm. Rested, ready. Your phone's still asleep in the next room. The first hour is yours. You actually taste your first coffee of the day.
You arrive in the office, knowing your top 3 priorities. You open your laptop and see the "urgent" email. You take a slow breath and decide: loud, but this can wait 90 minutes.
You've worked on that brief for 90 minutes without interruptions. You got more done than in the four scattered hours you used to lose. The brief moves. Lunch happens.
A real emergency. They still come, you're a lawyer. You take a few slow breaths, lower your pulse... Not great, but you're ready. You read it fast, think straight, and give it what it needs.
You've closed your laptop, planned tomorrow. You leave. The work stays at the office. You straighten your back: not a small emergency, but you handled it. Dinner tastes good.
You wind down. Your mind is calm. You haven't touched your phone for an hour. You fall asleep fast. And sleep through. You feel in control. Like you could do this forever.
A real emergency. A deal. A US client's email you're waiting for at 23:00. Partners who judge you if you leave before 22:00.
You're still a lawyer. You can't change the system. But you can build a system to thrive in it.
Sometimes it gets late. But what changes is the shape you're in when it does. And how fast you recover.
Most coaches never billed an hour. I did, for 7 years. I know the US client's 17:00 emergency on a Friday. The 1,600+ billable hours. The revenue you need to earn your bonus and promotion. Not from 'Suits' on Netflix. From my desk at Potsdamer Platz 1 in Berlin.
I know how it feels when the pressure gets to you. And what to do so it doesn't. I was the pressure-proof law student. Calm. Healthy. With a life. Then the lawyer who over-paced into overwhelm. But I bounced back. Built a system. Became the pressure-proof lawyer. Calm. Healthy. With a life.
For 3+ years, I've helped lawyers make high performance sustainable. With a proven system. Not my routine. Yours. For your firm, your practice, your day. So you become like that partner you always admired.
And I'm trained to do this properly. Certified Systemic Coach, Systemic Business Coach, and Breathwork Practitioner.
Same trenches, same constraints. I won't give you genius advice like: "You're stressed? Just don't speak to your clients for two days." (A friend got this in a resilience training at a big international firm.) I know you won't start meditating for two hours per day. So we look for small changes with big impact. Bad daily habits compound. And so do the good ones.
[1:1 Coaching]
"Breathwork beats espresso. I never thought something as simple as breathing could have such a huge impact on productivity, focus and mental clarity. Without Jan's tools I probably would still be drinking espresso after espresso — meanwhile I know that a 5 minute breathwork session can be enough to come back to center. The results speak for themselves: my billable hours jumped from 73% to 93% of my time in the office. But what really impressed me is how sustainable this approach is — it's been 6 months since our last session, and I'm still using the breathwork techniques and other habits daily. Jan's skillset reaches far beyond teaching breathwork and the scientific background, he is a coach with a deep understanding of the challenges which modern work life brings to body and mind — and he knows how to bring everything back together!"
— Moritz, Lawyer, Germany
[1:1 Coaching]
"I made significant strides in both my personal and professional development through my coaching journey with Jan. The process was divided into two key areas: firstly, learning how to better handle the stressful situations that are so common in my work life. With well-designed breathing exercises and carefully crafted power statements, I've become increasingly adept at staying in control and managing challenges effectively. Secondly, we delved into identifying my triggers, understanding their origins, and exploring ways to either address them constructively or redefine myself in new, empowering ways. What truly made the difference for me was Jan's open and calm demeanor. He creates a trusting atmosphere where I felt comfortable sharing and discussing my challenges. Jan made me feel heard, laying the foundation for me to tackle my issues. Whether in person or remotely, every session was impactful, offering invaluable insights and actionable strategies. I always felt at ease and genuinely looked forward to each session. I would absolutely choose to work with Jan again and wholeheartedly recommend his coaching — it's a tremendous value!"
— Dr. Benjamin Hebisch, MR WOLF Consulting, Germany
[Keynote + Breathwork Session]
"Jan Sorge delivered an outstanding and thought-provoking keynote at our practice group meeting attended by more than 120 lawyers. He combines deep expertise with a highly engaging presentation style and practical techniques that resonate particularly well in the demanding environment of law firms. The accompanying deep-dive breathwork session provided valuable tools for enhancing focus, resilience, and performance under pressure. Having him with us was a real highlight."
— Lars Eckhoff, Partner and Co-Head of the Practice Group IP, TMC and Commercial, CMS
That gets you from
To
7 breathing techniques. You learn when to use which. 2 minutes to bring your pulse down before a hearing. A 90-second reset between calls. A few slow breaths in court. A daily 5-minute session to lower chronic stress. Breathing becomes your anchor.
You decide what's important instead of reacting to who shouts loudest. You protect time to get it done before the office empties. You are more present and make better decisions. Instead of rushing through the day on autopilot. You leave on time (most days).
You finish work with a plan for tomorrow. You decide if you really have to open Outlook again later. You're present at dinner, not still arguing the case in your head. You wind down, sleep well. You can feel you're actually recovering instead of just draining your battery.
Quick wins first, then we go deeper. You build a system that holds when the pressure hits. For your reality.
You usually start with the tools. Turn them into daily habits. Design a structure that fits your day. Wherever needed, we work on the underlying patterns. Not saying no enough. Giving 120% where 80% would do. "I'm not good enough". Those were mine. Yours can be different. You decide how deep we go.
6 sessions, 1.5 hours each, every 2 weeks. Or the duration and rhythm that's best for you. (We're not limited to 3 months.)
I reply to your messages within 24 hours. Emergency calls when you need them.
7 breathing techniques + a 38-minute breathwork session for a deep reset.
Your current experiment, habits, toolkit, session notes. All in one place.
1-hour check-in call, 3 months after we finish. Review and fine-tune together.
A coaching session is like a court hearing. If you want to deliver, you have to be fully present. So I keep the number low.
30 minutes. No obligation, just clarity.
We discuss your challenges and dream outcome. And see if we're a good fit.
Shave off the stress, build your foundation.
Define your goal. Build your stress regulation toolkit (starting with breathing techniques). Make a plan for your daily practice.
Make it stick, make it stronger.
Review your experiment: what worked, what do you want to adjust? Add focus tools. Adapt session rhythm if needed.
Broaden, deepen, and tighten your system.
Design daily structure. Protect energy. Change limiting patterns. We go wherever your biggest wins are.
Your path forward.
Celebrate what you've achieved. Make a plan for what's next. Lock in your commitment.
1-hour check-in call.
You've been running your system on your own. What's working? What do you want to fine-tune?
Something missing? Email me. I reply within 48 hours (weekdays).
Full payment before our first session. I want you to be committed to doing the work. (You can also pay in 3 monthly instalments.)
You're protected:
1. You can quit anytime if you don't see the value, no questions asked.
2. You only pay for the hours we've done. And I refund the rest.
Let's say you quit after 2 sessions, 1.5 hours each. That's 3 of 9 hours used. So I keep 3/9 of the total price, you get 6/9 back. And you keep everything else: your lifelong toolkit with breathing techniques, your Notion dashboard, and the 1-hour check-in call 3 months after our last session (if you still want it).
6 sessions, 1.5 hours each, every 2 weeks. That's 9 hours of 1:1 coaching over 3 months. Between sessions, I give you experiments to integrate the tools into your daily life.
Duration and rhythm are flexible. If you need shorter sessions, weekly calls, or more time between sessions: we adapt. Your 9 hours, your pace. We're not limited to 3 months.
The first tools (breathing resets, micro-breaks) work immediately. You'll use them between our first two sessions. The deeper shifts (better sleep, switching off, sustained focus) build over the full program as the system becomes second nature.
The core tools work in under 10 minutes a day. A breathing reset takes 90 seconds. A micro-break takes 30. At first, it's extra time. Soon, it replaces time you're currently losing to stress, distraction, and poor recovery. Think 2 minutes of conscious breathing instead of scrolling between calls. Small interventions, big impact.
You can. I did. It took years of trial and error: observing what successful partners did differently; testing meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork; reading the books. I could have prevented my 2nd seizure if I'd had the system sooner.
You get the shortcut: 10+ years of lived experience as a lawyer, training as a coach and breathwork practitioner, and helping other lawyers make their high performance sustainable. Distilled into what actually works for lawyers. Refined with real clients under real pressure. Plus the accountability solo exploration doesn't give you.
Efficient: We find the biggest lever for your situation and go there first. No wasted time.
At eye-level: I'm your unbiased sparring partner and accountability partner. Coach and advisor as needed.
Goal-Oriented: We set a clear North Star. Every session moves you closer.
Flexible: We work on whatever matters most to you right now. Your priorities lead.
Show up, be honest, do the experiments between sessions. I'm responsible for the process and the tools. You're responsible for using them. Most of the change happens outside our calls. In the 90-second breathing reset before a tough meeting, in the micro-break you take instead of pushing through.
Zoom is my default. I work with clients accross cities and countries. If we're in the same location, I'm happy to meet in-person.
I was skeptical, too.
But my first breathwork session changed my mind. I arrived tired, rushed, stressed. One hour later, I left: clear, relaxed, recharged.
Everything I teach is science-backed. Slow, deep breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system—your body's built-in brake.
It's the same tool Navy SEALs, Novak Djokovic, and England's national football team use.
England used breathing techniques on their way to the Euro 2024 final: A guided breathwork session to release stress and reset between two intense knockout matches. And a breathing technique to stay calm in a high-pressure situation: the penalty shootout against Switzerland (England smashed it, scoring 5/5).
Novak Djokovic emphasized how conscious breathing "helps with better sleep, better recovery, more presence in the moment" in an interview during the 2024 Olympics.
Recordings are part of your toolkit: a longer session for recovery during intense weeks, and short sessions for calm on demand.
Live guided sessions are currently available for companies and events only. Let's talk if you're interested.
Certified Systemic Coach (Coaching Spirale), Systemic Business Coach (VfTC), and Breathwork Practitioner (Clarity Breathwork). Oxygen Advantage® Advanced Instructor Training (ongoing). This isn't what worked for me packaged as advice. It's a professionally trained methodology built on science and tested in legal practice.
German (native) and English.
I'd built my system, handled the pressure, reached the peak of my career. Then the pandemic hit. I started thinking about my life in April 2021. Friends in other industries were working from sunny islands. As a media lawyer, I was tied to German courts and German law. If I stayed, I'd start and retire in the same Berlin firm. And always be the high-paid fireman, fixing client emergencies. My dream scenario for years now felt all too narrow. I loved the firm. I loved being a media lawyer. I left the constraints that came with it.
100%. I specialize in lawyers because I was one for 7 years. But the system works for anyone in a high-pressure role: in-house counsel, consultants, founders, you name it. If you want to make your high performance sustainable, this is for you.
© 2026 Dr. Jan Sorge, LL.M. (UCL). All rights reserved.
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