The Anxious Lawyer : An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation

Interest in meditation and mindfulness has skyrocketed in recent years, thanks largely to neuroimaging and the body of scientific research that has validated the many benefits of these practices. Sadly, the legal community has for the most part been left out, even though lawyers would clearly benefit from mindfulness. Many lawyers feel hesitant to try meditation, which can seem alien and inaccessible from the vantage point of a professional culture that places great value on logic and reason. Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford set out to help address this gap in The Anxious Lawyer. Both Cho and Gifford began meditating as practicing attorneys, and have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties and rewards of legal practice. They experienced how meditation and mindfulness practices support a more effective and enjoyable legal practice. Both also found unexpected rewards of meditation that go deeper: better self-understanding, more rewarding relationships and a deeper feeling of connection with the world. The Anxious Lawyer program includes: Instruction on a number of simple meditation techniques Concrete guidance for establishing a daily meditation and mindfulness practice Exercises designed to give the reader practical experience in bringing the insights of meditation and mindfulness to meeting the challenges of daily life – and particularly of legal practice Practical examples of how mindfulness and meditation can help to cultivate a more joyful and satisfying law practice Discussion of scientific research on the effects of meditation and what the evidence shows about its benefits Practical tools, including access to guided meditations and worksheets that allow the reader to track his or her progress Co-author Jeena Cho speaks and writes about creating a sustainable law practice. She is a contributor to Forbes and Above the Law where she covers resilience, work/life integration, and wellness in the workplace. She regularly speaks on women's issues, diversity, wellness, stress management, mindfulness and meditation. You can reach her at hello@jeenacho.com Co-author Karen Gifford is an investor and advisor on policy and regulatory issues in the financial technology space. Previously, she practiced law in the private sector and as a litigation and enforcement attorney for the Federal Reserve. She is a columnist for the Huffington Post where she writes on issues related to leadership, the workplace and the financial industry. Praise for The Anxious Lawyer'This book offers an easy to follow program for beginning a meditation practice, written by lawyers and for lawyers. I highly recommend this book for anyone in the legal world who has wondered about meditation but hesitated to get started.'- Congressman Tim Ryan, author of A Mindful Nation and The Real Food Revolution “The Anxious Lawyer is a superb introduction to the why and how of meditation for lawyers. The authors, both lawyers themselves, guide you through a simple eight-week program for starting a meditation practice. Along the way, they help you understand how meditation can enhance not just your personal well-being, but also your professional practice and career.'- Robert Ambrogi, Author of Law Sites “Much more than a how-to manual or text, the book speaks to the reader as a friend while providing amazingly useful insights. It reveals how meditation can help us find satisfaction and fulfillment in law as well as in life.”- Ellen Beilock, Mindfulness teacher and facilitator, former lawyer and litigator, former mediator at UCSF “Practical and actionable. The authors came to meditation as pr Interest in meditation and mindfulness has skyrocketed in recent years, thanks largely to neuroimaging and the body of scientific research that has validated the many benefits of these practices. Sadly, the legal community has for the most part been left out, even though lawyers would clearly benefit from mindfulness. Many lawyers feel hesitant to try meditation, which can seem alien and inaccessible from the vantage point of a professional culture that places great value on logic and reason. Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford set out to help address this gap in The Anxious Lawyer. Both Cho and Gifford began meditating as practicing attorneys, and have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties and rewards of legal practice. They experienced how meditation and mindfulness practices support a more effective and enjoyable legal practice. Both also found unexpected rewards of meditation that go deeper: better self- understanding, more rewarding relationships and a deeper feeling of connection with the world. The Anxious Lawyer provides a straightforward 8-week introductory program on meditation and mindfulness, created by lawyers for lawyers. The program draws on examples from Cho and Gifford's professional and personal lives to create an accessible and enjoyable entry into practices that can reduce anxiety, improve focus and clarity, and enrich the quality of life. The program includes: Instruction on a number of simple meditation techniques Instruction Concrete guidance for establishing a daily meditation and mindfulness practice Instruction Exercises designed to give the reader practical experience in bringing the insights of meditation and mindfulness to meeting the challenges of daily life – and particularly of legal practice Instruction Practical examples of how mindfulness and meditation can help to cultivate a more joyful and satisfying law practice Instruction Discussion of scientific research on the effects of meditation and what the evidence shows about its benefits Instruction Practical tools, including access to guided meditations and worksheets that allow the reader to track his or her progress Co-author Jeena Cho speaks and writes about creating a sustainable law practice. She is a contributor to Forbes and Above the Law where she covers resilience, work/life integration, and wellness in the workplace. She regularly speaks on women's issues, diversity, wellness, stress management, mindfulness and meditation. Co-author Karen Gifford is an investor and advisor on policy and regulatory issues in the financial technology space. Previously, she practiced law in the private sector and as a litigation and enforcement attorney for the Federal Reserve. She is a columnist for the Huffington Post where she writes on issues related to leadership, the workplace and the financial industry. The Anxious Lawyer is a straightforward introduction to meditation and mindfulness for lawyers. Readers will be guided through an eight week program, the aim of which is to assist in establishing an ongoing meditation practice.

The book will:

Provide an overview of the history of meditation and the scientific evidence of its benefits

Introduce the reader to simple meditation techniques

Offer concrete guidance for establishing meditation practice

Provide worksheets that allow the reader to track his or her progress

Provide exercises designed to give the reader practical experience in bringing the insights of meditation to meeting the challenges of daily life - and particularly of legal practice.

The program will be specifically geared toward practicing attorneys. Examples and exercises will both address perspectives commonly held by those in the legal profession, and use situations and stresses attorneys routinely experience in daily life.

This is a practical "how-to" on the basics of meditation, not a book on its theory or philosophy. The book will also explore ways to live more intentionally by pausing to pay attention and be purposeful, instead of going through life on autopilot. It will help the reader evaluate his or her core values. "Interest in meditation and mindfulness has skyrocketed in recent years, thanks largely to the body of scientific research that has validated the many benefits of these practices. Despite this, many lawyers feel hesitant to try meditation, which can seem alien and inaccessible from the vantage point of a professional culture that places great value on logic and reason. Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford set out to help address this gap in The Anxious Lawyer. Both Cho and Gifford began meditating as practicing attorneys, and have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties and rewards of legal practice. They experienced how meditation and mindfulness practices support a more effective and enjoyable legal practice. Both also found unexpected rewards of meditation that go deeper: better self-understanding, more rewarding relationships and a deeper feeling of connection with the world. The Anxious Lawyer provides a straightforward 8-week program on meditation and mindfulness, created by lawyers for lawyers. The program draws on examples from the authors' professional and personal lives to create an accessible and enjoyable entry into practices that can reduce anxiety, improve focus and clarity, and enrich the quality of life"--Unedited summary from book jacket The Anxious Lawyer is a practical ""how-to"" on the basics of meditation and a guide on how to live with greater intention and purpose. The book provides worksheets, exercises and concrete techniques that will allow any lawyer or other professional easily make meditation a part of their life. Written by two lawyers who are also meditation teachers and experts, you won't find a better guide to integrating meditation into your life than this