As the nation grapples with the pandemic and its economic fallout, many legal professionals are seeking healthy ways to deal with stress. One helpful coping mechanism is meditation, which has been shown to provide numerous physical and mental benefits. The New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program (NJLAP) will offer a four-part virtual series on meditation, called "Changing Your Mind About Stress," on Wednesdays, from June 17-July 8.

The live, interactive webinar will be taught by Susan Wilk, a former attorney, with more than 20 years in practice, who is now a certified meditation and stress management instructor. The program will focus on ways participants can alter their response to stress in their lives, while introducing meditation techniques and simple, practical lifestyle changes.

In addition to the personal benefits, attorneys and judges may find meditation provides professional benefits as well, including improved concentration and focus and heightened listening and communication skills.

William J. Kane, director of NJLAP, said he was initially skeptical of meditation, but some attorneys corrected his misconceptions about the practice and encouraged him to try it.

"At first, I dabbled in meditation. My path was hesitant and gradual. Finally, I plunged into the deep end of the pool," said Kane, who now meditates daily.

"My hesitant path became an unexpectedly refreshing journey. The voyage provides fodder for motions, depositions, briefs, trials and all diverse and sundry aspects of law," he said.

The sessions will cover the following topics:

  • Week 1: Meditation and Relaxation: What is it and How Do I Get There?
  • Week 2: Meditation Techniques: Your Toolkit
  • Week 3: Whose Mind is it, Anyway?
  • Week 4: Living from Your Highest Potential

The series is co-sponsored by NJLAP, the New Jersey State Bar Association's Special Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, the Young Lawyers Division, the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender and the Association of Assistant Prosecutors of New Jersey.

Participants can register through the special information link at the top of njlap.org or through this Zoom registration link: https://njlap.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XmFi3tfXTTyQmOvvohFpww

NJLAP uses the HIPAA compliant version of Zoom, so an individualized registration is required.

The program will be available at a later date on NJLAP's YouTube channel.