Rethinking the Legal Career Path with Henry Nelson-Case, aka @ThatCorporateLawyer
The legal career path is evolving, and Henry Nelson-Case—aka @ThatCorporateLawyer—is proof. From viral content to TEDx talks, he’s challenging outdated industry norms, pushing for mental health awareness, and redefining what it means to be a modern lawyer. Is the profession ready for change?
The legal profession loves a well-worn path. Law school, private practice, billable hours, partnership—rinse and repeat. But what happens when you don’t quite fit that mold?
Henry, better known online as @ThatCorporateLawyer, didn’t set out to be a disruptor. He just started making content that resonated with a growing community of lawyers who were tired of the old-school narratives about what a legal career should look like. What started as a few TikTok videos for fun evolved into a platform with over 150,000 followers, media features, and even a TEDx talk.
And yet, through all of this, Henry is still a lawyer and deeply enjoys his profession very much—he’s just one who is redefining what being a lawyer means.
In this episode of Mind At Work, we talk about the collision of legal work and creative expression, the pressures of visibility in the industry, and why mental health needs to be more than a LinkedIn talking point.
The Lawyer Who Went Viral
Henry’s journey into content creation wasn’t strategic. Inspired by his sister who had built an online following as a professional gamer, he spontaneously decided to have a go at creating content of his own. “I literally just picked up my phone and downloaded the app,” he says. But as he posted more videos—joking about corporate life, legal culture, and the absurdities of the profession—something clicked.
Lawyers started reaching out. This is me. I feel exactly like this. I thought I was the only one.
It turns out, many lawyers felt unseen, exhausted, and struggling to reconcile the expectations placed on them with the realities of the job.
But being an online lawyer in a profession built on discretion and prestige came with its challenges. As Henry’s following grew, so did the scrutiny. His employer questioned whether his content signaled a lack of commitment to law. “I was using my annual leave to attend events, but people at work would see me on billboards and wonder what I was doing.”
That tension—between being a practicing lawyer and a visible, outspoken advocate—eventually led to a career shift. Henry now balances legal consultancy with content creation, proving that the future of legal careers doesn’t have to be binary.
The Reality of Legal Mental Health
Henry doesn’t just make people laugh. Importantly, he’s forcing conversations that legal professionals tend to avoid. Burnout. Anxiety. The pressure to maintain an image of having it all together.
“We train so hard to get into this profession, and then so many people end up miserable,” he says. “The culture of just keeping your head down and grinding needs to change.”
From private practice pressure cookers to in-house roles with expanding demands, the legal profession isn’t exactly optimised for well-being. Many lawyers operate in environments where admitting exhaustion feels like weakness. Henry argues that it doesn’t have to be this way.
Through his content and advocacy, he’s making the case for a more sustainable profession—one where success doesn’t have to come at the cost of mental health.
Lawyers, AI, and the Future of Work
Of course, no conversation about the future of legal careers is complete without discussing AI. Henry believes that AI will transform the profession, but he’s skeptical of the idea that it will replace lawyers entirely.
“There will always be a need for human lawyers,” he says. “AI can speed up contract review, but it can’t sit in a client meeting and build trust.”
For Henry, the real opportunity isn’t in fighting automation—it’s in leveraging it. If AI can take over the most repetitive parts of legal work, it could free up lawyers to focus on what actually matters: solving complex problems, building relationships, and thinking strategically.
But there’s a flip side. If legal work becomes more efficient, will firms simply expect lawyers to take on even more work?
“We need to be smart about how we integrate AI,” he warns. “Otherwise, we just automate the burnout cycle.”
The Industry is Changing—Are You?
If there’s one thing Henry’s journey proves, it’s that the traditional legal career path isn’t the only one.
Lawyers can be creators. They can be entrepreneurs. They can be advocates who challenge the status quo. And most importantly, they can prioritise their well-being without sacrificing success.
Listen to the full conversation on Mind At Work for more insights from Henry on the evolving legal profession, the reality of building an online presence, and what he thinks about the future of private practice and in-house roles.
Curious about how Flank can help your legal team become AI-empowered? Book a call with our team today to find out.