THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MINDFULNESS IN LAW SOCIETY
JUNE 2021

ANNOUNCING THE DEI COLLABORATIVE

We are extremely excited to announce a new initiative -  the MILS Equity and Inclusion Collaborative (the DEI Collaborative). The DEI Collaborative exists to support MILS in ensuring that our organization, programming and outreach are as diverse, equitable and inclusive as possible and recognizes that achieving diversity in MILS and the legal profession requires continued intentional effort and commitment.  The overarching purpose of the DEI Collaborative is to explore how mindfulness can facilitate and help navigate the challenges to inclusion in the legal profession and the challenges to inclusion in society as a whole. 

Many thanks to MILS Board Member Bella Dilworth for her leadership in chairing the DEI Collaborative.  Thanks also to the other DEI Collaborative members, including Judi Cohen, Alexis Firehawk, Stephanie Lewis, Shayla Bowles, Cindy Pensoneau and Danae Weideman. Be sure to read this month’s Mindful Leaders in the Law interview with Bella [here], where Bella discusses the DEI Collaborative and other DEI related issues.

In the 2021 Mindfulness in Law Interest Survey, 90% of respondents said they are interested in exploring how a mindful approach to law can serve social justice. The DEI Collaborative is a great way to act on that interest. For those who would like to get involved, contact Bella Dilworth (brdbliss@gmail.com).

WELCOMING THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the Illinois Chapter, the newest chapter of the MILS family. Many thanks to Maria Bries and Brendan Cournane, the co-chairs of the Illinois Chapter, for their initiative and leadership. Feel free to reach out to Maria (mbrieslaw@gmail.com) or Brendan (bmcournane@gmail.com) to get involved or even just to say “hello” to our newest members from the Prairie State! Check out the chapter’s web page here: https://www.mindfulnessinlawsociety.org/illinois-chapter. Maria is featured below in our new monthly “Member Spotlight” segment.

Illinois chapter meetings are an opportunity to practice mindfulness and are held monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 12-12:30 pm.  Register here for the Illinois Chapter monthly meeting:  Registration Link

State and local chapters are a great way to connect with like-minded lawyers and other legal professionals in your area. If you are interested in forming a chapter, contact MILS Chapters Chair Emily Hornsby (who is also chair of the MILS Alabama Chapter) at ehornsby@mhhlaw.net.

TELL US HOW AMAZING YOU ARE: A CALL TO MEMBERS

We are starting a new segment this month - the Member Spotlight - which, similar to the Mindful Leaders in the Law series, we hope will strengthen our community by telling you more about the amazing and interesting individuals who make-up MILS. Each month we will feature a different member and highlight some of the creative ways that he/she/they have woven mindfulness, well-being and law together that are uniquely satisfying to them. 

If you are interested in being featured in a future Member Spotlight segment, feel free to contact Chris Lhulier (christopherlhulier@yahoo.com) and share a little bit about the ways that you are integrating mindfulness and well-being into your life in the legal profession. We would love to share your unique talents, interests, skills and passion with the MILS community. 

 
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: MARIA BRIES

Maria is dedicated to being a leader and mentor in mindfulness for Illinois legal professionals. By providing a regular monthly practice space for lawyers through the local chapter, she intends to further the mission of MILS to educate the legal community on the benefits of contemplative practices in order to increase resiliency, coping skills, and well-being. “I believe,” Maria says, “that when one lawyer suffers, all lawyers suffer and, therefore, the ability to recover and heal must be a collective effort. Tending to and befriending one’s inner world increases empathy for one’s self, and, in turn, results in a greater capacity to respond skillfully to clients, colleagues, and adverse parties.” 

Maria’s interest in mindfulness practices began as a finance associate at Mayer, Brown where she worked for nine years in the Project Finance Group both in New York and in Chicago. While at Mayer, Brown, she developed a well-being program for attorneys. Maria’s focus on mindful self-compassion stems from her own challenge to overcome complex PTSD that began as a law student at NYU Law School. Finding an inner refuge was not only imperative for managing C-PTSD, but also for the high-stress inherent in the demanding legal profession. Currently, Maria is completing a two-year training with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield in their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. She is also actively involved in Prairie State Legal Services, a legal aid organization servicing 36 counties in northern Illinois. Many thanks to Maria for sharing her story with our community and allowing us to feature in our Member Spotlight.

MINDFUL LEADERS IN THE LAW: An interview with Bella Dilworth

Welcome to the June 2021 edition of the Mindful Leaders in the Law series. Our goal, through this series, is not only to strengthen our community by sharing interesting conversations with some of the amazing individuals who make up MILS. We hope by spotlighting the paths and practices of others, to also inspire and empower our members to build their mindfulness practices in creative ways that are uniquely satisfying to them.

This month I had the chance to talk with MILS Board Member Bella Dilworth. Bella has been a lawyer with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office for over 30 years. In addition to being a MILS Managing Board Member, Bella is the chair of the MILS DEI Collaborative. I asked Bella about how she began practicing mindfulness, the challenges of integrating mindfulness into the often stress-filled life of a public defender, her work with the DEI Collaborative and how she has used her mindfulness practice to counteract anxiety, anger and fear. Many thanks to Bella for openly and vulnerably sharing her experiences and perspective on these important issues as well as others. Read the interview using the link below:

Mindfulness in Law Society

www.mindfulnessinlawsociety.org