Lawyers spend their working lives absorbing other people's problems, and the profession's long hours, adversarial culture, and high rates of problem drinking take a toll on health, judgment, and careers. Mindfulness, the practice of slowing down and paying deliberate attention to the present moment, is one of the most accessible tools lawyers have for managing that stress, and it can make them clearer thinkers and better counselors.
In this TalksOnLaw interview, recorded in 2021, Joel Cohen speaks with Professor Nathalie Martin of the University of New Mexico School of Law, author of Lawyering from the Inside Out: Learning Professional Development through Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence and Yoga for Lawyers, about why lawyers are so stressed and how mindfulness practices can fit into a working day.
Why Lawyers Are Stressed
Martin traces lawyer stress back to legal education, from the Socratic method and cold calling to a culture that rewards overwork, and through practice, where billable hours, client emergencies, smartphones, and blurred boundaries keep the pressure constant. She discusses research finding that about one in five lawyers has a drinking problem, the value of setting non-negotiable boundaries, and why firms that burn out their lawyers pay for it in attrition.
What Mindfulness Practice Looks Like
Martin leads a short breathing exercise and explains the difference between formal sitting practice, starting with as little as six minutes a day, and informal practices that can be woven into the workday: breaking long document review into segments, taking three breaths when the phone rings, and noticing thoughts without being ruled by them. She discusses metacognition and negative self-talk, non-attachment to outcomes, mantras and affirmations, and a simple daily gratitude practice.
Emotional Intelligence, Clients, and Firms
The conversation explores how mindfulness builds emotional intelligence and self-regulation, from waiting before answering a hostile email to defusing an aggressive opponent; how lawyers can show clients compassion without absorbing their distress and avoid compassion fatigue; and why acknowledging mistakes and showing vulnerability can strengthen relationships with clients and colleagues. Martin closes with what law firms and other employers can do, from making room to talk openly about stress and alcohol to wellness programming and dedicated staff.
What to Know Now
More jurisdictions now treat lawyer well-being as part of mandatory continuing legal education. Minnesota began requiring at least one credit in mental health and substance use in each reporting cycle starting July 1, 2024, and states such as California, Nevada, and South Carolina already require credit in related areas. The ABA's Model Rule for Minimum Continuing Legal Education recommends one hour of mental health and substance use programming every three years, and the ABA's Well-Being Pledge for legal employers remains the profession's main framework for firm-wide programs like those discussed in this interview. Professor Martin's most recent book is The Inspired Retirement (2025). Lawyers seeking confidential help can contact their state's Lawyer Assistance Program.
