Toward Lawyering as Peacemaking: A Seminar on Mindfulness, Morality, and Professional Identity

In the last few years, a number of books and articles have touted the idea that lawyering should be seen as a form of “peacemaking.” The peacemakers argue that “new lawyer” practices, such as “holistic lawyering,” “collaborative lawyering,” and old and new forms of alternative dispute resolution are transforming lawyering itself. Instead of pursuing victory over the opposing party, lawyers are looking for mutually beneficial settlements; in- stead of functioning as gladiators, lawyers are becoming experts at “trans- forming practices,” finding ways to bring peace and happiness to them- selves and their clients. In the fall of 2010, Professor Stephanie Phillips and I taught a seminar at the SUNY Buffalo School of Law called “Mindfulness and Professional Identity: Becoming a Lawyer While Keeping Your Values Intact.” The experience revealed to me a productive connection between the “mindfulness” movement and the peacemaking literature, and changed my view of the relationship between law and social justice.