A Mindful Practice

An interview with Prof. Nathalie Martin

Strategies for Combatting Stress

Lawyers experience elevated levels of mental health issues, with many lawyers reporting anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and problem drinking. As the legal profession is coming to terms with this crisis, lawyers and legal employers are exploring ways to build a better profession and improve lawyer well-being. One key practice, Professor Nathalie Martin of the University of New Mexico School of Law explains, is mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment. Studies have shown that regular mindfulness training has measurable physical, mental, and emotional health benefits. For lawyers, mindfulness can help with stress management, increase emotional intelligence, and improve conflict resolution skills. In this interview, Professor Martin explores the factors that contribute to higher levels of stress and mental health issues in the legal profession and offers tips to incorporate mindfulness into lawyers' daily lives.

 

Watch Part 2 of A Mindful Practice.


  • Attorney CLE accreditation 

An Interview with Professor Nathalie Martin

Mindfulness is one in a suite of wellness techniques. It's a practice of being in the present moment and observing one’s experience, a training to help let go of unproductive thoughts and better manage stress. Studies have shown that regular mindfulness practice can have a range of health benefits, including greater ability to moderate emotions, improved focus, and greater emotional resiliency. For lawyers, mindfulness practice can help improve lawyers' negotiation and conflict resolution skills, foster ethical behavior, and build better relationships with clients.

 

Prevalence of problem drinking, substance abuse, and mental health concerns among lawyers

 

Resources

Judge Raja Rajeswari discusses A Different Path to the Bench
A Different Path to the Bench
Prof. Nathalie Martin discusses A Mindful Practice (Part 2)
A Mindful Practice (Part 2)
M. Dru Levasseur discusses A Transition in the Legal Profession
A Transition in the Legal Profession
M. Dru Levasseur discusses A Transition in the Legal Profession (Part 2)
A Transition in the Legal Profession (Part 2)
Judge Jenny Rivera discusses Diversity in Justice
Diversity in Justice
Prof. Peter Joy discusses Ethics and Batson
Ethics and Batson
Prof. Peter Huang discusses Fighting the Zombie-Lawyer Apocalypse
Fighting the Zombie-Lawyer Apocalypse
Nicole Hyland discusses From Facebook to Tinder:  The Ethics of Social Media
From Facebook to Tinder: The Ethics of Social Media
Prof. Peter Joy discusses Investigating the Client
Investigating the Client
Nicole Hyland discusses Lawyer Ads Gone Wrong
Lawyer Ads Gone Wrong
Sarah McShea discusses Lawyering Beyond State Lines
Lawyering Beyond State Lines
Eileen Travis and Meredith Heller discusses Lawyers and the Bottle (Part 2)
Lawyers and the Bottle (Part 2)
Professor Tanina Rostain discusses Lawyers + LLMs: AI Ethics
Lawyers + LLMs: AI Ethics
Paulette Brown discusses Lawyers with Bias
Lawyers with Bias
Prof. Lenni Benson discusses Lawyers without Papers - Immigration and Legal Ethics
Lawyers without Papers - Immigration and Legal Ethics
Prof. Lisa Pruitt discusses Legal Deserts (Part 2)
Legal Deserts (Part 2)
Prof. Anthony Sebok discusses Legal Innovation – Investing in Lawsuits
Legal Innovation – Investing in Lawsuits
Prof. Anthony Sebok discusses Legal Innovation – Investing in Lawsuits (Part 2)
Legal Innovation – Investing in Lawsuits (Part 2)
Profs Bruce Green & Rebecca Roiphe discusses Line Prosecutors v. Main Justice
Line Prosecutors v. Main Justice
Paulette Brown discusses #MeToo Challenges in the Legal Profession
#MeToo Challenges in the Legal Profession
Prof. Nathalie Martin discusses Mindfulness & Attorney Stress
Mindfulness & Attorney Stress
Prof. Peter Huang discusses Model Minority & Associates
Model Minority & Associates
john a. powell discusses Modern Discrimination, Race & Inequality
Modern Discrimination, Race & Inequality
Terri Adler discusses Negotiation Strategies for Powerful Women
Negotiation Strategies for Powerful Women
Terri Adler discusses Negotiation Strategies for Powerful Women (Part 2)
Negotiation Strategies for Powerful Women (Part 2)
Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow discusses Out of Bounds – Negotiations Ethics
Out of Bounds – Negotiations Ethics
Lisa Smith discusses Overachieving, Anxiety, & Addiction
Overachieving, Anxiety, & Addiction
Lisa Smith discusses Overachieving, Anxiety, & Addiction (Part 2)
Overachieving, Anxiety, & Addiction (Part 2)
Profs Bruce Green & Rebecca Roiphe discusses Prosecutorial Discretion – Police Killings and Sexual Abuse
Prosecutorial Discretion – Police Killings and Sexual Abuse
Profs Bruce Green & Rebecca Roiphe discusses Prosecutorial Discretion – Power & Responsibility
Prosecutorial Discretion – Power & Responsibility
Alicia Bannon discusses Recusal & the Bounds of Judicial Bias
Recusal & the Bounds of Judicial Bias
Jennifer Justice discusses RocJustice - Law of Hip-Hop
RocJustice - Law of Hip-Hop
Gary Reing discusses Substance Abuse and Recovery - A Lawyer's Story
Substance Abuse and Recovery - A Lawyer's Story
Brian Cuban discusses The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis
The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis
Brian Cuban discusses The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis (Part 2)
The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis (Part 2)
Brian Cuban discusses The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis (Part 3)
The Addicted Lawyer - A Profession in Crisis (Part 3)
Robin Steinberg discusses The Case for Holistic Defense
The Case for Holistic Defense
Sarah McShea discusses The Dangers of a Lateral Move
The Dangers of a Lateral Move
Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow discusses The Ethical Limits of Negotiations
The Ethical Limits of Negotiations
Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow discusses The Ethical Limits of Negotiations (Part 2)
The Ethical Limits of Negotiations (Part 2)
Judge Raja Rajeswari discusses The Language Conundrum - Access to Justice
The Language Conundrum - Access to Justice
Prof. Leslie Levin discusses The Malpractice Insurance Dilemma
The Malpractice Insurance Dilemma
Prof. Leslie Levin discusses The Malpractice Insurance Dilemma (Prior)
The Malpractice Insurance Dilemma (Prior)
Jon Krop discusses The Mindful Lawyer
The Mindful Lawyer
Jon Krop discusses The Mindful Lawyer (Part 2)
The Mindful Lawyer (Part 2)
Profs Bruce Green & Rebecca Roiphe discusses The Power of the Prosecutor (Part 2)
The Power of the Prosecutor (Part 2)
Seymour James discusses The Right to an Attorney - Currently Under Threat
The Right to an Attorney - Currently Under Threat
Profs Bruce Green & Rebecca Roiphe discusses Trump Trials – A Survey in Legal Ethics
Trump Trials – A Survey in Legal Ethics
Prof. William H. Simon discusses Using Lawyers to Launder Money
Using Lawyers to Launder Money
Hal R. Lieberman discusses When Lawyers Break the Law
When Lawyers Break the Law
Prof. John Morley discusses Why Law Firms Implode
Why Law Firms Implode