Mindfulness & Attorney Stress
An interview with Prof. Nathalie Martin
CLE Credit — Approved in 4 States
The legal profession is notoriously stressful as lawyers wrestle with challenges in their own lives as well as those of their clients. Professor Natalie Martin joins TalksOnLaw to discuss how mindfulness can serve as a powerful strategy to mitigate stress and promote sustainability within the legal field.
The Nature of Legal Stress:
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The legal profession demands that lawyers constantly deal with the problems and stresses of their clients. Professor Martin explains why this unique aspect of the job contributes to higher levels of anxiety and stress among legal professionals.
Mindfulness as a Tool:
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Understanding Mindfulness: Before delving into its benefits, Professor Martin provides a clear definition of mindfulness and its relevance to the legal profession.
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Stress Reduction: The discussion highlights how mindfulness practices can significantly reduce stress and improve overall well-being for lawyers.
Sustainability in Legal Careers:
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Long-Term Benefits: Professor Martin discusses the long-term benefits of incorporating mindfulness into daily practice, including enhanced focus, better client relationships, and a more sustainable career.
Professor Natalie Martin is a professor of law at University of New Mexico Law School. Her research focuses on consumer law and bankruptcy, as well as elder law. Her recent research focuses on high-cost loans as well as the Mindfulness in Law movement.
About Prof. Nathalie Martin
“Mindfulness is not just about reducing stress; it's about enhancing your clarity, focus, and overall well-being.”
Nathalie Martin is a professor of law and the Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the University of New Mexico School of Law. She joined the UNM law faculty in 1998. Her research focuses on consumer law and bankruptcy, as well as elder law. Her recent research focuses on high-cost loans, such as payday, title, and installment loans, as well as the Mindfulness in Law movement. Her high-cost loan projects include several empirical studies funded by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, including one that funded curbside interviews of payday loan customers and another that studied the credit habits of undocumented New Mexicans. Her works have been cited by the New Mexico Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. She is the author Yoga for Lawyers: Mind Body Connections To Feel Better All The Time, as well as Lawyering from the Inside Out: Learning Professional Development through Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence. She routinely advises law students on managing stress while practicing law in a healthy and productive way. In addition to teaching law, she teaches meditation and yoga.
