RAKIM SOLOMON: GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST COMPANY, VICE PRESIDENT

MINDFUL LEADERS IN LAW:

An Interview with Rakim Solomon

Welcome to the June edition of the Mindful Leaders in the Law interview 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 connected with Rakim Solomon, a newly appointed MILS Board Member. Rakim is a vice president at the Goldman Sachs Trust Company and a 2020 graduate of Drexel Law School. He is a relative newcomer to mindfulness, having been introduced to the practice by Drexel Law Professor (and MILS Co-President) Chapin Cimino, while in law school. Rakim’s straightforward approach to mindfulness and well-being is refreshing. It is a pleasure to be able to share his perspective as a member of the next generation of legal professionals who prioritize their well-being. 

Q: How did you begin practicing mindfulness? 

A: I began practicing mindfulness because my former contracts professor, Chapin Cimino, offered our class a mindfulness extracurricular. Mindfulness seemed like a great opportunity to learn stress management tactics early in my law school career. 

Q: Would you say that your mindfulness practice helped reduce your stress level in law school and studying for the bar exam? 

A: Mindfulness practice definitely helped reduce my stress levels in law school and studying for the bar exam! Beyond law school, I have been able to take these mindfulness practices and carry them into my personal and working life. Work is inherently high stress so it is nice having tactics to keep me grounded. 

Q: What level of awareness and interest in mindfulness and other well-being practices did you see among your fellow law students at Drexel? 

A: I would say the awareness and interest in mindfulness and other well-being practices were generally about average and as expected. We had a cohort of maybe 6 – 8 students who consistently showed up to our mindfulness group. Otherwise, the general student body was not overly interested in mindfulness and well-being practices. 

Q: Other than formal sits, what else do you do to manage stress and maintain a sense of balance and harmony? 

A: Other than formal sits, deep breathing exercises and walks in nature are my main ways of managing stress and maintaining a sense of balance and harmony. Deep breathing exercises can be done at any time. I take walks twice a day and get an opportunity to appreciate the world around me during these walks. 

Q: As a new board member, what MILS initiatives do you hope to get involved with in the future? 

A: I hope to get involved with DEI and the Fundraising Committees. I have laid a little low since I am getting married on 6/19, but when I am back I hope to step up and lend my voice to both teams! I was involved with my law school’s BLSA since day one and have a good amount of DEI experience. 

Q: What argument would you make to convince a young lawyer or law student, particularly one who is a member of an underrepresented group, that having a mindfulness practice is an important part of their long term success as an attorney? 

A: To convince a young lawyer or law student of the importance of mindfulness practice, I would argue that your mental health is important to your effectiveness at work and to the longevity of your work. Health is wealth; when your mental health is challenged, every other part of your body is at risk to suffer as a result. Underrepresented groups have historically undervalued mental health, although I believe members of our younger generation are taking mental health more seriously. 

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or expression about mindfulness that reminds you of why mindfulness is a priority in your life? 

A: I don’t know if this counts as a mindfulness quote but growing up my grandparents told me to make sure I stopped and smelled the roses. We had roses in the yard so I took that literally as a child (and pricked myself with a few rose thorns as a result). As I have gotten older I have realized it means to appreciate all the good things going on in my life. I like to think I live by that. I try not to get lost in the hustle and bustle of life; I like to take a deep breath, look at all the beauty the world has to offer, and appreciate everything I have worked so hard to achieve.