Aotearoa New Zealand Chapter
Nau mai, haere mai. The Aotearoa Chapter of MILS was established in March 2022. Our goal is to enhance well-being in the New Zealand legal profession by educating legal professionals, academics and students about the benefits of mindfulness meditation, breathwork and other contemplative practices.
Our intention is to be a place of support, exploration, and connection for any person associated with the practice of law in Aotearoa who is interested in learning mindfulness-based practices.
The Chapter is Co-Chaired by Dr. Anna High, (Senior Lecturer, University of Otago) and Bridget Fenton (Professional Practice Fellow, University of Otago).
Wednesday 11 October NZDT 11 am: Mindfulness and Mental Health for Law Students
New Zealand law students - join online to hear from leaders in the USA Mindfulness in Law Society, in this Law Student Division event to mark World Mental Health Day.
To join virtually, click here!
Our Inaugural Chapter Meeting was held in May 2022.
We welcomed lawyers, students and academics from across te motu at our inaugural Aotearoa MILS meeting. We introduced the mission of MILS, led attendees through a brief guided meditation, and discussed plans for the 2022-2023 period.
Learn More about MILS and Become a Member
MILS is US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with 7 national chapters and 4 international chapters. New Zealand-based legal professionals and law students are welcome to attend the Society’s “Virtual Sits” – please note that in NZST, these are held at the following weekly times:
· Tuesdays 7 am NZST (“Mindful Mondays”, 3 pm Eastern)
· Thursdays 9 am NZST (“Wakeful Wednesdays”, 5 pm Eastern)
Additional Resources
· The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
Mindfulness in New Zealand Law, NZLJ, Anna High
· The Case for Mindfulness in Legal Education, NZLJ, Anna High
· The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle
· Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life, Jon Kabat-Zinn
· The Six Minute Solution: A Mindfulness Primer for Lawyers, Scott Rogers
· Mindfulness for Law Students: Using the Power of Mindful Awareness to Achieve Balance and Success in Law School, Scott Rogers
Still have questions? Interested in getting involved?
If you are interested in getting involved in the Aotearoa Chapter or would like to introduce yourself, please contact Anna (anna.high@otago.ac.nz) or Bridget(bridget.fenton@otago.ac.nz). We are particularly keen to hear from those interested in representing practitioners and the judiciary on our board.
Co-Chair: Anna High
Anna is Senior Lecturer and Convenor of Student Experience at the Faculty of Law, University of Otago. She was first introduced to the growing “mindfulness in law” movement while teaching at Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, and has since developed a personal practice. She has used mindfulness as a teaching tool for several years, and regularly hears from students about the benefits of in-class breathwork and contemplative learning. Anna has studied mindfulness practices at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.
Co-Chair: Bridget Fenton
Bridget has been in legal practice – mainly litigation – for almost 15 years, and is a Professional Practice Fellow in the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago. She discovered mindfulness and meditation while working in a busy legal job, in a bustling city, overseas. Bridget maintains a mindfulness practice and values the stillness and clarity it can bring to her work and daily life. She is particularly interested in the possibilities for relaxation, concentration and compassion that mindfulness can offer to people working in the law.
Student Liaison: George Sutton
George is a fourth-year student at the University of Otago, studying a double degree of Law and Politics. Over the course of his degree, he's found it absolutely essential to be able to step back from the study and the stress, and take a moment to breathe. Law is a difficult subject, and it doesn't get any easier when you fall into the trap of overworking yourself, and being overwhelmed as a result. George welcomes any students with questions about getting involved to email him at sutge619@student.otago.ac.nz.
Judicial Clerk Liaison: Anna Piebanga
Anna is the Clerk to the Principal Family Court Judge in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington, having recently graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts in Politics and English. Anna used meditation, breathwork and yoga as mindfulness tools throughout her time at university and has continued this mindfulness practice into her career. Anna has a particular interest in mental health and disability advocacy and has found mindfulness to be an essential tool for improving her mental well-being. Anna values the peace and stillness that mindfulness provides and aims to help other new law graduates or Judges’ Clerks around Aotearoa use mindfulness to cope with the stressful nature of their work.
Anna.Piebenga@justice.govt.nz