AN APPEAL TO REASON

It's been almost a week since I returned from Spirit Rock after completing the course on "Meditation for Attorneys." I enjoyed my time at Spirit Rock and did not find it difficult to remain silent for extended periods of time. Almost 100 attorneys and law students attended; it was about evenly split between females and males.

From the first meeting, we voiced our concerns and interests. Many of those attending felt overwhelmed by their clients' problems and wanted to find a way to set boundaries so they could effectively help their clients. Others wanted to slow down and hoped to find more balance in their lives. Stress reduction, balance, and empathy were mentioned. I felt I had a lot in common with many of the attendees. I was especially pleased that law students were seeking to address these issues even before they practiced law!

Studies have shown meditation can be help in stress reduction and addressing certain ailments that are exacerbated by stress. I recently watched a TV show that confirmed meditation produces changes in the brain. (I am assuming most, if not all, were positive.) From the start, the teachers at Spirit Rock acknowledged the high amount of stress lawyers face because our clients come to us with problems and they depend on us for assistance. We may feel we have to win for our clients but every attorney knows you cannot win all of your cases. Defeat is a crushing blow for most of us. Since we typically handle more than one case at a time, we are faced with a variety of problems. If we don't set boundaries, and find some balance in our lives, then the emotions and problems will be overwhelming.

The legal profession needs lawyers who care and can empathsize with their clients. Those attorneys who become overwhelmed will not be effective but at least the seeds of empathy are there. I would not want to work at a job where I had to cut myself off emotionally or just didn't care. The obvious solution is to protect ourselves so that we can protect our clients. What most people don't realize is that attorneys generally work long hours and often give generously of their time on volunteer activities. Attorneys may protest that they don't have time to meditate. Fortunately, the time investment can vary - even for just a few minutes a day - and meditation doesn't require expensive equipment. It is a way of taking care of ourselves, being more effective for our clients, and bringing a balance to our lives that enables us to look forward to Monday morning, rather than dreading it.