Talent-retention psychology puts connection, structure and expectation ahead of perks
Clinical psychologist Cheryl Donaldson told Legal Futures that high-performing lawyers look for connection, structure and expectation when deciding whether to stay with a firm.
BY WELLBEING DESK · JUNE 17, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Clinical psychologist Cheryl Donaldson told Legal Futures that high-performing lawyers look for connection, structure and expectation when deciding whether to stay with a firm. The warning is timely because AI adoption and mergers can intensify uncertainty; leaders need sustainable workload structures, natural boundaries and integration work rather than treating retention as compensation alone.