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Teaching Mindfulness in Class, Bringing Mindfulness to Life: A Tribute to Charity Scott’s Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being in Law School and Legal Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2024

Plamen I. Russev
Plamen I. Russev*
Affiliation:
STATE BAR OF GEORGIA, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA
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Extract

This is how Georgia State University College of Law Professor Charity Scott introduced the concept of mindfulness to numerous law students and lawyers. Aware that her skeptical, mind-driven audience needed a clear definition for a practice that seemed curious, at best, and esoteric, at worst, she immediately gave us the very lawyerly task of “pars[ing] each of these phrases to understand their importance and relevance to the legal profession”2 and applying them to our own experience of studying or practicing law. Using scientific evidence, she described the benefits of mindfulness and then invited us to try it and decide for ourselves. Charity was a superb teacher, who knew how to impart knowledge skillfully, and a brilliant lawyer, who could present and defend her case exceptionally well. In fact, “Charity Scott owned the subject matter so deeply that she was able to engage lawyers who otherwise would never have given the concept of mindfulness any credence in a million years. In a way that’s hard to describe, she didn’t brook any resistance on the topic and, as a result, was able to move the needle on well-being for lawyers at a time when, as far as I can tell, she was the only one doing the lifting,” reflects Lynn Garson, health care attorney and mental health advocate. But I believe Charity Scott’s true mastery and impact came from her embodiment of mindfulness itself. In her presence, mindfulness ceased to be a mere concept, but instead became her way of being that illuminated her words and actions, nourished her relationships, and changed lives.

Keywords

MindfulnessCharity ScottMental HealthLegal Well-BeingStress
Type
Symposium Articles
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 52 , Issue 2: Defining Health Law for the Future: A Tribute to Professor Charity Scott , Summer 2024 , pp. 391 - 395
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics

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References

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Also acknowledged by employment attorney and wellness consultant Dani Berry in personal communication to author (December 11, 2023): “Charity Scott was a pioneer in the legal community. She recognized the practice of law impacts lawyers on a deep personal level that often results in maladaptive stress responses such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, and she took action. Charity dedicated classroom time to educate her students on personal development and wellbeing through mindfulness practices. As a result, Charity’s students have tools and practices to be healthy and happy attorneys and are able to share their knowledge and skills with attorneys who may be struggling. Charity’s legacy will continue to spread throughout the legal community and impact generations of future attorneys.”Google Scholar
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