Kick ass, change the world and feel joyful - you CAN have it all

Jan 25, 2022


Hello {{first_name}},

The next generation of lawyers is way ahead of us

 

You know the world is shifting really fast right now. And YOU get to decide if that's terrifying or exciting. I believe we must curate our experience VERY carefully, and that means choosing who you hang out with and (seeing that isn't a lot of people right now especially in South Africa and Australia;-) it means curating what you read and consume in terms of social media and news.

Surround yourself with the views of changemakers, of visionaries, of healers who are guiding humanity to do things differently. There are so many speaking out right! Choose to focus here even though there is other stuff happening that feels heavy and dark and overwhelming.

Your focus creates your reality.

One of my primary focus areas is showing law students there are other ways to think about the legal system and the lawyer's role within that system. And there are many students who are so much more advanced in their thinking than lawyers who've been in practice for years. They haven't been indoctrinated yet! They are still open to new ways of thinking. But in my experience they aren't getting much exposure at universities, which is why Awakening Lawyers all over the world are stepping up to let students know how they created integrative, soul-led legal practices. How they found themselves after years of wearing professional masks, and what that cost them, and how this could be avoided if one knew at the outset you were entering a dysfunctional, toxic profession and will need to work consistently on staying authentic. And you can only do that if you know that who you are is worthwhile. That YOU matter. Not just your brain, it's not just your cognitive ability, but who you are as a person matters. Your unique life path has prepared you for being the sort of lawyer the world needs.

Here is what students in the Awakening Lawyers Student Mentorship Programme are saying:

The values attached to integrative law really resonated with me. There is an emphasis placed on contributing positively, not only to societal changes, but also individual growth. It allows us to deal with the condition that gave rise to the conflict, and producing an outcome that will heal the relationship between all the stakeholders involved. It's really interesting to me, the shift in mindset that integrative law requires. I have realised I need to work on building empathy, kindness and integrity amongst other skills that will allow me to thrive professionally and personally."

Isn't that music to your ears? That we can show students this other way of being a lawyer? This is not fluffy "idealistic" thinking. They will need to know about boundaries and kicking ass too, and professionalism yes - but in order to thrive and be the lawyers the world needs, they will need empathy and kindness and integrity too. Those are not things I hear spoken about at law school.

Whilst integrative law is a new concept for me in that I had never about it and still have so much more to learn, it doesn't feel too foreign because it aligns with who I am. I struggle with the lack of kindness/compassion and the idea that only people who are combative/aggressive make good legal professionals. I've always believed that achieving justice requires placing humanity and its needs at the centre. I look forward to what I'll learn about myself and how I can practice the law in South Africa.

I wanted to share these insights with you. It's making me joyful to focus on the next generation of lawyers and help them keep their minds and hearts open before the profession tries to close them.

And seeing a mentee write "My mentor always leaves me smiling, speaking to someone who allows you to be yourself is just what I need", this makes me smile too! Isn't it cool to be doing stuff in the world that makes you really happy and fulfilled? Do you have this in your life? Do you want help so that you do?

I run Awakening Lawyers to help lawyers who love the law but are disillusioned and disheartened by the way it’s practised* to re-imagine and redesign their lives so that they can practice in their own way, in their own time, and on their own terms.

*and law students who haven't even got there yet but are disillusioned and disheartened by the way it's practised!

I am a legal futurist, a lawyer coach and a channel.
I love working with lawyers at all stages of their awakening journey, especially those who are starting to see a new role for themselves as peacemakers, as justice warriors and as activists for social change. I work with my clients to deal with the challenges they face working within a restrictive and often conservative legal culture that promotes hiding your authentic self under a professional mask and suppressing both your own and your client’s emotions.

l look forward to hearing from you if it feels right. Always go by HOW YOU FEEL. If this feels exciting - reach out to me.

Do reach out if any of this resonates, you want to to mentor, you want to support the mentorship programme financially, you want to uplevel your own life. I LOVE helping lawyers.

love

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