Presentations
Live or Virtual
While there is no easy “fix” to the stress that lawyers experience, there are ways to make small changes to our routine and perspective that can positively impact the way we manage our stress. Whether it is developing a mindfulness practice or simply learning to set healthy boundaries between our personal and work lives, my goal is to provide lawyers with tips they can use daily to improve their experience in the legal profession while honoring ethical obligations.
In addition to the below programming, I offer "Little Talks" on various well-being subjects ranging from 15-30 minutes which can be paired with a guided meditation. Topics currently include mindfulness, gratitude, vulnerability, fitting in, self-compassion, fear, pride, joy, and quick tips to manage stress in the moment and long-term.
I also offer programming for judges, law students, and support staff to ensure that all members of the legal profession are well and taken care of!
While these topics and programs are my current focus, I am always exploring new ideas and happy to discuss tailoring presentations for specific events and audiences. New presentations will be added as I develop them!
Although often associated with a slowed pace, mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools that require active engagement with the present moment. Through experiencing mindful moments in our personal lives each day, we can learn to embrace the present moment and begin to apply these practices to our professional lives in ways that can improve our effectiveness as attorneys and our ability to comply with various ethics rules including those focused on competence, diligence and communication.
This presentation addresses how mindfulness and meditation are similar yet different, how to develop and experience these practices daily, and how they intersect with various ethics rules. Attendees will also experience a brief guided body scan as an introduction to meditation.
Received CLE Credit: MN, AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, VA, WI, WV
Inquire about presentation.
Engaging in the Present Through Practice
Mindful Moments:
01
Being a lawyer is hard. Being a new lawyer is even harder when you have yet to master your practice area, learn how to effectively communicate with clients, and manage the exhaustion that can impact your organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines. This presentation will address ways to avoid common mistakes (and how to offer self-compassion when they happen), techniques for managing a full caseload, and the importance of addressing your mental health and well-being as a young attorney.
Special emphasis will be placed on the duties of competence, diligence, communication, safekeeping client property, and withdrawing from (or declining) representation.
Inquire about presentation.
of Navigating Life as a New Lawyer
The Ethics
02
This 90-minute presentation focuses on how mindfulness and meditation can help keep judges and court staff grounded in and out of the courtroom, how compassion toward self and others can enhance feelings of career satisfaction, and how self-reflection can help us identify what we need to maintain our well-being (and strategies for doing so). Attendees will have the opportunity to experience guided meditations and various exercises illustrating the value of self-compassion and reflection during this presentation.
Inquire about presentation.
for Judges and Court Staff
Daily Well-Being Tips
03
The ethics rules and comments require that lawyers be competent, diligent, and communicate appropriately with clients while controlling their workload. When evaluating a lawyer’s workload and capacity to accept new clients in light of existing obligations, a lawyer’s well-being should be factored into that decision. Sometimes the circumstances are such that declining or terminating a representation is the most ethically appropriate course of action.
This presentation will explore how to evaluate and set appropriate boundaries with prospective and existing clients in light of a lawyer’s well-being and ethical responsibilities. Attendees will also learn how to set boundaries between workspace and personal space in a remote world, and how to “unplug” while honoring ethical duties.
In development -check back soon!
Setting Ethical Boundaries with Existing & Prospective Clients
Practicing Well:
04
While lawyer well-being concerns have been around for many years, some law firms and lawyers continue to struggle with taking concrete steps to implement changes to their firm culture and practices that make lawyer well-being a top priority. This presentation aims to address the benefits of doing so from a business perspective by highlighting the ways law firms can protect their bottom line by protecting their lawyers.
Healthy lawyers are less likely to commit ethical violations and make errors that can lead to costly legal malpractice claims and reputational consequences. This presentation will offer practical tips on how to develop and implement well-being strategies within law firms with an eye toward compliance with ethical rules of competence, diligence, honesty, and supervisory responsibilities.
In development -check back soon!
Why Law Firms Should Promote Attorney Well-Being
The Bottom Line:
05
“Patty’s presentation on how to incorporate mindfulness into one’s daily life as a lawyer was not only truly engaging, but also oriented to real life. She convinced me that if you can be mindful for 5 minutes, you can be a better lawyer.”
Erin Higgins, Boston
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP
former PLDF President
"Patty, there were many outstanding presentations at the PLDF conference this year, but I wanted to tell you that yours is the one that has kept coming back to me. It has reminded me many times to be present in the moment and notice what is happening. That has in turn given me wonderful breaks from the stressful mind machinations I do so often. Thank you."
Brent Winans, CPCU, ARM, Vice President
Clear Advantage Risk Management
“After Patty’s Mindfulness presentation, I bought a new coffee grinder and now enjoy the best coffee I’ve ever made each morning (and get to have a little moment to myself, too!).”
Carrie O., MN
MSBA Well-Being Committee
Workshops
In this workshop, you will:
- Understand what mindfulness and meditation are and how to develop a daily practice;
- Learn how to use mindfulness as a tool to manage stress experienced in the legal profession;
- Develop skills to practice and find value in compassion toward self and others; and
- Experience how resilience can let you re-define success and enjoy greater job satisfaction.
This workshop is open to all attorneys, legal professionals, and law students. Guided meditations and interactive exercises are provided throughout to allow attendees the opportunity to develop a practice they can sustain after the workshop ends.
This workshop is offered periodically at scheduled times throughout the year, and can be offered privately to organizations as a half-day event.
Future Offerings
In the coming months, I will be offering individual sessions with lawyers focused on things like developing and maintaining a mindfulness & meditation practice, navigating career transitions, and discovering how to experience well-being practices on a daily basis. I will also work with lawyers to conduct various exercises like self-evaluations to understand what their needs are and which well-being strategies can help meet those needs.
If you would like to be notified when this offering is available, sign up below!
Individual Well-being Sessions
I will soon be offering consulting services to law firms focused on conducting well-being audits & developing corresponding strategies to infuse well-being practices into the law firm culture.
If you would like to be notified when this offering is available, sign up below!
In the meantime, please enjoy my handout with "Little Tips" for creating a law firm culture of well-being (and for individual well-being, since it is easier to lead others in well-being efforts if we first learn to practice healthy habits ourselves!).
Law Firm Well-being Consulting
Take a moment and feel your breath.
Inhale through your nose for four counts and exhale out your mouth for eight counts. When you feel stressed, come back to your breath.
Thank you for your interest. I will let you know when I start offering Individual Well-being Sessions.