The Effect of Mindfulness 
Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program 
on the Practice of Law

 April 28, 2015
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm 
Fluid Coffee Bar
501 E. 19th Ave., Denver 

Following this one-hour CLE focusing on the positive effects of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on the practice of law, there will be a complimentary Yoga session with our very own instructor:

Katy Brim,  Ruebel & Quillen
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm 
Samadhi Center for Yoga
639 E. 19th Ave., Denver
(Yoga Limited to 20 participants) 

CLE Presented by: 
James D. "Jim" Long, Jr., J.D., former Senior Attorney,
Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

The practice of law is widely considered one of the most stressful, competitive, and demanding careers. In a field fraught with tight deadlines, heavy workloads, and often highly charged emotions, lawyers must learn to cope with these stressors and more. Without a constructive way to handle them, lawyers are especially susceptible to unhealthy coping mechanisms. A growing number of members of the legal profession, however, are touting another, better method. Meditation and mindfulness are not frequently associated with the skills required to be a successful lawyer, but the benefits of these practices are especially valuable. Meditation can help attorneys increase their focus and concentration; help them manage stress and stay calm and focused in stressful situations; help when addressing conflict with opposing counsel; and increase their listening and communication skills.

This CLE will discuss the science of meditation and how the practice of meditation or mindfulness can benefit your practice as an attorney. Jim Long, the scheduled speaker, is a former attorney who turned to meditation to improve his law practice and his life in general. He combines his knowledge of the effect meditation has on brain function with his own experiences, particularly the effect meditation had on his practice as an attorney. He will discuss some of the misconceptions and benefits of meditation; how to meditate; how to incorporate it into your daily life and your own practice of law; and why to do so. Following Mr. Long’s facilitated discussion, participants may attend a meditation-based yoga session to put some of these mindfulness techniques into practice. 

About Jim Long:

Jim Long is a recently retired Senior Attorney with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, in the Denver Regional Office.  Jim’s undergraduate degree is in English from Creighton University.  He graduated from the University of Texas School Of Law and completed the Graduate Program at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School.  Jim served as an officer in the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corp for 23 years in various assignments from Korea to Germany.  He followed his military career serving a number of years as litigation counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site before joining the Office for Civil Rights.  He served in OCR from 2003 to May 2014.  He provides school districts with consulting services related to civil rights issues and speaks on civil rights issues at national conferences of NAADC, FARE, and other organizations.  Jim and his wife Nancy, a college teacher, have four children and three wonderful grandchildren.

And thank you to Carin Rameriz, Wood, Ris & Hames, P.C., for her assistance in arranging Mr. Long's presentation and Katy Brim for leading us in Yoga instruction.

New Lawyers Committee
Katelyn Werner, Board Liaison, Frank Patterson & Associates
DJ Goldfarb, Chair, Senter Goldfarb & Rice
Katherine Petrides, Vice-Chair, John Rodman & Associates