We don’t usually put lawyers and meditators in the same sentence – or the same room for that matter. But check this out: the University of California at Berkeley just held a meditation conference for attorneys, law professors and even judges.
Apparently some 200 of them sat still, silent and worked on mindfulness meditation last weekend, instead of making arguments, looking up obscure rulings or passing judgment. Wow! The times, they are indeed a-changin’!
The Mindful Lawyer
The conference was called “The Mindful Lawyer”, and believe it or not, it sold out. Organizers wanted no more than 150, but the demand was so high (with people coming all the way from Australia to attend) that they upped the limit – and they still had a waiting list!
Why meditation? Conference organizers point to high stress levels and burn-out rates among lawyers, who could benefit from a little ‘down-time’. Turning inward in silence is not a high priority for legal professionals, but imagine the kind of balance they might strike in our over-burdened legal system by getting a little right-brained for a change!
For more info on the conference, you can go here >>
What’s your vision of a country where lawyers and judges meditate before they head into the courtroom? Would you rather have an attorney who dabbles in a mindfulness meditation or two, or one who’s a pure shark? Leave us a comment and let us know!
