MILS April Community Connection

Claire Parsons, Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter, will be leading a presentation open to all in the MILS Community:

The Magic of a Messy Mind: How Mindfulness Can Ignite Your Creativity on April 24 at 12 pm ET/ 11 am CT/ 9 am PT – Click here to register.

Lots of lawyers try meditation with the hopes of "clearing" their minds. Meditation teachers may tell us that isn't the goal.  This talk will show you that, even if frustrating, this may not be a bad thing. MILS teacher, lawyer, and mindfulness teacher, Claire E Parsons, learned something shocking when she started meditating a decade ago: some of her thoughts were ideas. When she learned to let them bounce and play, she realized that her mind wasn't trying to annoy her; instead it was trying to tell her to write. In this session, you'll learn how she leveraged her mindfulness practice to trust her intuition, let go of hang ups and judgment, pursue her joy, and transition from beginner writer to blogger and book author. Whether you write or cook or paint or garden, this session may help you see your meditation practice, your mind, and its contents in a new way.  

The Florida Chapter extends a warm invitation to the MILS Community to join an Awareness of Breath Meditation practice on Tuesday, March 12th at 12 pm ET.

To register: click here

A Mindful Valentine's with MILS

Tuesday, February 13 from 4-5 pm ET / 3 - 4 pm CT / 1 - 2 pm PT

Registration Link

Join Courtney Schulnick, Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and

Maria Bries, Co-Chair of the Illinois Chapter

for a workshop for the senses

Taste, Move, Breathe,  Listen, Feel

12:00pm - 12:30pm ET / 11:00am - 11:30am CT / 9:00am - 9:30am PT

Mindful Compassion Practice

The New England Chapter of Mindfulness In Law Society (MILS) extends a warm invitation to the entire legal community - lawyers, judges, legal professionals, law students, etc., to join a Mindful Compassion practice on Tuesday, January 30 at 12 pm ET.  Our intention is to bring the legal community together to practice, and offer compassion for the world, each other, and ourselves, as we begin a new year.  The practice will be led by Filippa Marullo Anzalone, NE Chapter member, and Associate Dean for Library & Technology Services, Professor of Law at Boston College Law School.

Register here!

We hope that you will join this special practice and encourage you to share this invitation with your friends and colleagues in the legal community.

Best wishes to all for a peaceful and mindful 2024!

Laurie Cappello                                                              Brenda Fingold

NE Chapter Co-Chair                                                    NE Chapter Co-Chair

7am - 12pm PT / 9am - 2pm CT / 10am - 3pm ET

MILS’ 3rd Annual online retreat will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 7am-Noon Pacific, 10am-3pm Eastern. As in past years, many of your favorite MILS teachers will be offering both mindful sitting and mindful movement practices. The fall online retreat has become a favorite of our community. We will share more details about the retreat soon, but note that we have once again planned the event for a Saturday, which makes it easier for most of us to fit into our busy schedules.  Everyone is welcome, so please share the details with others -It is free for law students and MILS Members!

Non-members Sign-up Here!
Non-members will also receive a 1-year membership with this registration.

Members Register Here!

Law students register here.

9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET

The Florida Chapter of MILS was formed in August 2022 and was created with the intention of creating community, sharing the benefits of mindfulness, and fostering well-being with each individual associated with the legal profession around the state. Click here to register for the event!

3PM - 4PM PT / 5PM - 6PM CT / 6PM - 7PM ET

The Law Student Division presents: Mindfulness and Mental Health. Hear from leaders in the Mindfulness in Law Society and special guest, Dean Alexandra Lisenmeyer of the University of Pittsburgh Law School!

Register for the event here!

10:00AM - 10:30AM PT / 12:00PM - 12:30PM CT / 1:00PM - 1:30PM ET

Join us for MILS’ special World Mindfulness Day Event, Practicing Openness for Cultivating Compassion, Resilience & Equanimity, where Courtney Schulnick, co-chair of the Mid Atlantic Chapter, and Maria Bries, MILS Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Illinois Chapter, will lead guided mindfulness practices from around the globe! Register Here.

3:00PM - 3:45PM PT / 5:00PM - 5:45PM CT / 6:00PM - 6:45PM ET

Join the Student Division for a special Law Student Division Back-to-School mindfulness gathering. Tatiana Posada, the new Chair of MILS Law Student Division and MILS Student Ambassadors, will share the personal and professional benefits of joining MILS as a law student and becoming a Student Ambassador. Courtney Schulnick, co-chair of the Mid Atlantic Chapter, will lead a brief metta practice! This session is beneficial whether you are a new student to mindfulness or a life-long learner! Register Here.

10:00AM - 10:45AM PT / 12:00PM - 12:45PM CT / 1:00PM - 1:45PM ET

Chair of the MILS International Division, Robert Chender, will be chairing a session for the Mindfulness in Law Group.

During the session, Robert Chender will be sharing their mindfulness journey before moving into a guided meditation followed by an opportunity to reflect on the practice in smaller groups via breakout rooms.

The MILG was created to serve as a resource for law professionals (and others working in the legal industry) to both learn and deepen mindfulness practice and to promote wellbeing and mindfulness education in the profession, supporting and advocating for best practice within the field.

Learn more about the event here.
Join the Zoom session here.

5:30am PT / 7:30am CT / 8:30am ET

The next New England Chapter meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, July 26 at 8:30 am ET.   Chapter member Stephen Seckler,  President of Seckler Attorney Coaching, will lead us in a discussion about his recent article in the ABA publication GPSolo eReport - Stop Thinking (and Acting) Like a Lawyer.  The mindset and skills that make you a great lawyer can get in the way when you are trying to build your practice, manage your firm, or advance your career.  These qualities can also have an adverse impact on attorney mental health.  We’ll also talk about how a mindfulness practice can increase the potential to Stop Thinking (and Acting) Like a Lawyer.

You are welcome to share this invitation with colleagues who may benefit from this presentation.

Click here to RSVP for the meeting.  Please note that a calendar invitation with the Zoom details will only be provided to those who RSVP.

9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET

The Florida Chapter of the Mindfulness in Law Society, the Mental Health and Wellness Committee of The Florida Bar, and the Florida Judicial Wellness Program are excited to invite you to our Mindfulness in Law virtual gathering on Tuesday June 13, 2023. Please join us!

Zoom Link for the session.

9:30 -10AM PT / 11:30AM - 12PM CT / 12:30 - 1PM ET

The newly formed NJ/NY Chapter will be having it’s first meeting! Register for the event here.

10am PT / 12 pm CT / 1 pm ET

The Earth is not just our Environment.

We are the Earth.

The Earth is us.

~Thich Nhat Hahn

Please join us this month as we continue our theme of Positive Psychology with a practice to cultivate inner strength and celebrate Earth Day!

April MILS IL Chapter Mindfulness Practice

Hope to see you!

Maria and Brendan
Illinois Chapter Co-Chairs

10:00AM - 10:45AM PT / 12:00PM - 12:45PM CT / 1:00PM - 1:45PM ET

All Chapters are Invited to a Spring Equinox Event Hosted by the Illinois Chapter

Please join MILS Teachers Joseph Gerstel, Jeffrey Bunn and Maria Bries in practices to cultivate sympathetic joy (mudita).

Register for the event here.

5:30AM PT / 7:30AM CT / 8:30AM ET

The New England Chapter welcomes all MILS members to attend our February meeting which will be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 23. New England Chapter member Tracey Meyers, Psy. D., Clinical Psychologist, HSP at Massachusetts Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL), will explore how to incorporate evidence-based yoga practices into a toolkit for mental health and well-being and lead us in a few short, seated yoga practices. In addition, Tracey will be discussing and answering questions about the release of her new book "Yin Yoga Therapy for Mental Health." Click here to RSVP for the meeting.

10:30AM-11:30AM PT / 12:30PM-1:30PM CT / 1:30PM-2:30PM ET / 6:30PM-7:30PM GMT

MILS Board Member, Chair of the International Division, and one of the founders of the Mindfulness in Law Group, Robert Chender, will be hosting a virtual talk on Tuesday, February 21st. The session will feature both a discussion and practice and is open to everyone. Learn more about the event and register here.

10:00AM - 10:30AM PT / 12:00PM - 12:30PM CT / 1:00PM - 1:30PM ET

MILS Illinois Chapter continues their year-long theme of Positive Psychology! IL Chapter Co-Chair, Maria Bries, invites every MILS member to join and will lead a practice to inspire awe. Register here.

10:00AM - 10:45AM PT / 12:00PM - 12:45PM CT / 1:00PM - 1:45PM ET

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter and Illinois Chapter collaborate to provide a Mindful Self-Compassion Workshop.

View the recording here!

12:30 PM PT / 2:30PM CT / 3:30PM ET

On behalf of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of MILS, we invite you to join us this week on Tuesday, Sept. 13th at 3:30 p.m., when new MILS Florida Chapter head, Alexandra “Cookie” Echsner-Rasmussen, will lead us in a formal mindfulness practice on the breath. If interested in registering, please click here. 

3:30PM - 4:30PM PT / 5:30PM - 6:30PM CT / 6:30PM - 7:30PM ET

Loretta Olesky and Jill Carnell, Co-Chairs of the Indiana Chapter, are freely offering a gentle yoga and sound bath practice via Zoom.

What is gentle yoga?  Gentle yoga is a restorative movement practice, with lots of support.  Think gentle stretches that are held for several moments.

What is a sound bath?  A sound bath is a meditative practice that utilizes sound as the anchor in which to rest awareness.  Jill uses crystal bowls, chimes, and a drum to create a soundscape in which to rest.

Loretta will facilitate about 25-30 minutes of gentle movement, concluding with in savasana, or a resting posture.  While you rest in savasana, Jill will facilitate about 20 minutes of sound bath.

You’ll want a quiet place to practice, a yoga mat or blanket(s), as well as a bolster or pillow.  To best experience the sound bath, headphones that cover your ears are recommended but not necessary.

To register, click here.

10AM - 11AM PT / 12PM - 1PM CT / 1PM - 2PM ET

The American Bar Association is hosting a webinar featuring MILS Vice President, Laurie Cappello, and MILS Board Member, Brenda Fingold, as panelists. The webinar will be moderated by MILS Board Member, Tracy Kepler. Panelists will discuss what is it about this the holiday season that cause more than 80% of the population to feel ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ stressed.

Learn more about and register for the event here.

10am - 11am PT / 12pm - 1pm CT / 1pm - 2pm ET

Special November Collaborative Chapter Event!

Present Moment Gratitude

Gratitude begins with paying attention to this present moment.

Please join the MILS chapters for an hour of mindful gratitude practices.

REGISTER HERE

Present Moment Gratitude offers you transformative practices that cultivate pathways for appreciation, joy, connection and contentment.

7am - 12pm PT / 9am - 2pm CT / 10am - 3pm ET

MILS is hosting our second Annual Online Retreat! The theme of the Retreat is “Gratitude, Forgiveness and Love: Three Things We Don’t Talk About Much in the Law.”

Engage in meditation & movement with an international roster of prominent mindfulness-in-law teachers. Enjoy a talk by Judi Cohen, MILS founding board member and director of Warrior One. Go deeper with a final meditation practice led by Professor Rhonda Magee, MILS advisory board member and author of the Inner Work of Racial Justice.

Online Retreat Fee – Please select the appropriate registration option below:

Non-Members:  The cost of the retreat is $75, which includes a MILS Membership through August 31, 2023. Register here.

MILS Members:  The retreat is provided at NO COST to MILS Members, as a benefit of Membership. Register here.
If you would like to make a contribution, click here.

Law Students:  There is NO COST for law students to attend the retreat. Register here.

All registrants will receive the Zoom link to the Online Retreat by Nov. 10th 10PM ET. Those who register after that time will receive the Zoom link at least 3 hours before the start of the retreat (by 4am PT / 6am CT / 7am ET); if you do not receive your link by that time, please email mindfulnessinlawsoc@gmail.com.

10:00-10:30am PT/ 12:00-12:30pm CT/ 1:00-1:30 ET

Please join us for the eighth "C" of Mindful Self-Leadership...being calm. Maria Bries, Co-Chair of the Illinois Chapter, will guide you in a mindfulness practice to cultivate calm amidst change..

REGISTER HERE

Please join us on the third Wednesday this month as we wrap up the 2022 theme of Mindful Self-Leadership!

Maria Bries, Co-Chair of the Illinois Chapter, will lead a practice on contentment, the fruit of the 8 Cs of Self-Leadership!