Mindfulness and Mindful Practices
Mindfulness is a practice that involves bringing awareness to the processes of the mind in the present moment without judgement. Stress from the rigors of law school and from daily life can be debilitating, and learning to be less reactive to anxious or ruminative thoughts can help reduce the effects of mental health disorders and general tension. This section offers books, articles, and websites arguing the efficacy of mindfulness in stress reduction, especially within the context of legal practice and school. It also shares resources designed to introduce students to mindfulness practice and resources meant to foster continued engagement for those interested.
Image by Vinitha Baskaran
Books
Lawyering from the Inside Out by Call Number: KF300 .M37 2018ISBN: 9781107147478Publication Date: 2018-06-07Law is a varied, powerful, and highly rewarding profession. Studies show, however, that lawyers have higher rates of alcoholism, divorce, and even suicide than the general population. Stress creates these poor outcomes, including the stress of dealing with other people's problems all day, the stress of spending excessive amounts of time at work, and the stress of being disconnected to what is most meaningful in life. Through mindfulness and emotional intelligence training, lawyers can improve focus, get more work done in less time, improve their interpersonal skills, and seek and find work that will make their lives more meaningful. This book is designed to help law students and lawyers of all experience levels find a sustainable and meaningful life in the field of law. This book includes journaling and other interactive exercises that can help lawyers find peace, focus, meaning, and happiness over a lifetime of practicing law.
Transforming Practices by Call Number: K123 .K44 2009ISBN: 9781604427295Publication Date: 2011-07-16This book examines how lawyers can find deeper meaning in their work, practice more compassionately, and discover enjoyment in what they do, all by developing a greater awareness for their inner lives. Filled with inspiring profiles of lawyers who have successfully changed their work habits and who have healed themselves as individuals and within their communities, this book makes it clear that the opportunity for change exists for every lawyer, in every kind of practice.
Articles
- Riskin, Len. “The Contemplative Lawyer: On the Potential Contributions of Mindfulness Meditation to Law Students, Lawyers, and their Clients.” 7 Harv. Negotiation L. Rev. 1 (2002): This article explores potential benefits of mindfulness meditation for lawyers, especially stress management and broadening mind-sets to foster creative thinking.
- Rhonda V. Magee, Educating Lawyers to Meditate, 79 UMKC L. Rev. 535 (2011): This article argues for the importance and benefit of mindfulness practice in law school and the legal profession.
- Thalia Gonzalez, Root to Rise: Mindful Lawyering for Social Justice, 41 N.Y.U. Rev. L. & Soc. Change 91 (2017): This article explores the connection between contemplative lawyering and social change.
- How to Meditate by David Gelles - NY Times: This article from the New York Times outlines a basic meditation practice and offers recorded guided meditations.
Guided Meditations
- Free Audio Resources for Mindfulness Meditation - mindful.org: Introductory mindfulness meditations.
- Free Guided Mediations from UCLA: Guided meditations and information from UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.
- Free Guided Meditations from UC San Diego: Guided audio and video mindfulness meditations from UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness.
- Free Guided Mediations from Tara Brach: Recorded meditations from Tara Brach, author of numerous books and founder of Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC (IMCW).
- Liberate Meditation: Liberate "is the #1 meditation app for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community." Available on iOS and Android.
Websites
- Black Zen: "BLACK ZEN is a movement dedicated to improving the health and well-being of black and brown communities. It is a social enterprise designed to make meditation accessible, relatable and effective across a dynamic range of individuals. Through meditation, Black Zen aims to re-frame mindsets and blow up limiting beliefs by demystifying the practice, debunking common misconceptions and showing that every day people can use meditation to bring positive changes in their life." This website includes a podcast, guided meditations, and articles to support continued growth.
- The Mindful Law Student: "The Institute for Mindfulness Studies (IMS) brings the contemplative practice of mindfulness to law students by offering mindfulness insights and instruction in techniques specifically designed for legal professionals. Our focus for law students is to enrich the law school experience so that it is a time of great learning, growth, and excitement."
If you're interested in learning more, our Continuity of Library Services guide contain sections on (1) coping with stress, (2) prioritizing self-care, and (3) adjusting to change.
© Howard University School of Law Library. Questions about this guide should be directed to reference@law.howard.edu.