LAWS3680 · Law

Mindfulness and Contemplative Practices for Lawyers

Boston College Law School

Law practice is by nature a demanding profession that requires critical thinking, has lots of deadlines, and requires both cognitive and emotional intelligence. As a result of the demands of their chosen vocation, lawyers, and law students experience higher levels of depression than the general population due to ubiquitous overwork and feelings of being overwhelmed by the constant stresses of their work and its burdens. Setting aside time for reflection and contemplation is hard to come by. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the concept of mindfulness and to explore ways that contemplative practices will enhance and enliven the skills that they will need as lawyers. To be successful and healthy, lawyers need to develop sustainable ways of coping that will help them better withstand the rigorous demands of the legal profession. Throughout the semester, we will be using mindfulness practices for stress reduction, self-awareness, compassion for self and others, focus, resilience, and leadership. This course is practical. By taking it, you will learn about concrete tools to better deal with the problems that you will encounter in the legal profession.