Upcoming Events
Please note that only events marked with our 
symbol are "official" Contemplative Mind Law Program events; others are associated with other organizations.
last update: June 18, 2010
University of California at Berkeley School of Law and The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, University at Buffalo Law School, Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy (UB Law), University of San Francisco School of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law, City University of New York School of Law, Thelton Henderson Center for Social Justice (Berkeley Law), and The Initiative on Mindfulness in Law and Dispute Resolution (Florida Law) present
The Mindful Lawyer: Practices & Prospects for Law School, Bench, and Bar
October 29 - 31, 2010 (Friday afternoon – Sunday afternoon)
University of California at Berkeley School of Law
Details and registration at mindfullawyerconference.org
View/download the .pdf flyer
The Mindful Lawyer: Practices & Prospects for Law School, Bench, and Bar is a national conference that will bring together the pioneers who have been developing programs integrating meditation and contemplative practices with legal education and practice, and others in the legal profession who are interested in exploring this work. Many law professionals have found that meditation practice has sharpened their legal skills, helped them to manage the stresses of their challenging work, increased their empathy, and deepened their commitment to creating a more just society. The conference will offer a blend of scholarly presentation, practical experience and discussion, and recent developments in neuroscience and psychology relevant to meditation practice. We invite lawyers, law professors, judges, mediators and other dispute resolution professionals, and law students to explore the connections between law and meditation, and to learn and practice meditation. This conference is the first major gathering of its kind since Harvard Law School offered a symposium on Mindfulness and Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2002.
The conference will convene the diverse leadership of the ongoing endeavors in law and meditation and welcome members of the legal profession seeking to integrate the benefits of meditation into their work, institutions, and practice areas. No prior meditation experience is required to benefit from participation in the conference.
The Mindful Lawyer conference will begin with an optional half-day meditation retreat on Friday afternoon. The conference officially convenes on Friday evening and runs through mid-afternoon on Sunday. CLE credit will be available.
The Mindful Lawyer planning team includes faculty members from
- Berkeley Law (Charles Halpern (Conference Chair), Angela Harris (currently visiting at UB Law), Jeff Selbin)
- University of San Francisco School of Law (Rhonda Magee)
- University at Buffalo Law School (Stephanie Phillips, Rebecca French, James Milles)
- University of Florida Levin College of Law (Leonard Riskin)
Author, poet, and senior meditation teacher Norman Fischer, who has been intimately involved bringing meditation to the legal profession, will be with us through the weekend, leading meditation and offering his reflections and insights.
The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society has offered meditation trainings for legal professionals and law students since 1998, when it facilitated its first retreat for Yale Law School students and faculty. Since that time, the Center has presented numerous law and meditation retreats, including workshops for judges in California and Washington DC and multi-day retreats for lawyers.
Details and registration at mindfullawyerconference.org.
For more information: contact Doug Chermak, Conference Coordinator and Law Program Director, Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, at mindfullawyerconference@gmail.com.
One-Day Retreat for Lawyers
June 25, 2010
led by Patton Hyman, Robert Chender, and John Newman
Karme-Choling, Barnet, VT
See http://www.tailofthetiger.org/programs.php for more information.
Finding Equanimity in a Difficult Profession: Law Dharma Retreat for Lawyers
September 8 - 12, 2010
led by Mary Mocine
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, CA
For more information see http://www.sfzc.org/tassajara/display.asp?catid=&pageid=809.
*Mary also leads a monthly group for lawyers in Berkeley and San Francisco.
Mindfulness: The Art of Self-Awareness - A Retreat for Lawyers, Judges, and Law Students
September 30 - October 2, 2010
led by Grove Burnett
Vallecitos Mountain Refuge (west of Taos, NM)
For more information, visit http://www.vallecitos.org/ExpressionEngine/index.php?/vallecitos_main/retreat_desc/#lawyers.
DC Area Contemplative Law Group
The DC Area Contemplative Law Group is a group of lawyers who seek to balance the externally driven practice of law with contemplative practices. We meet almost every month for meditation and discussion in a private room on the third floor of Skewers/Luna Books (1633 P Street NW).
The meetings run from 7:00PM to 9:00PM, but people often come early to chat or eat something. Parking is $2.00 with validation.
For more information, email Linda Lazarus, LindaLazarus[at]starpower[dot]net
Dharma Group for Lawyers
One Sunday per month
San Francisco and Berkeley Zen Centers
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Led by Mary Mocine
We meditate for a half hour, then discuss an aspect of law practice as it relates to meditation and our deeper values. We will continue to work with Norman Fischer’s book, Taking Our Places:The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up.
The meetings alternate between San Francisco and Berkeley Zen Centers. After the discussion, we have a potluck brunch. Coffee and tea are provided.
A teaching donation will be requested.
Meditation instruction will be offered.
For information, please contact Mary Mocine at mmocine[at]sbcglobal[dot]net or (707) 649-2480.