Details: Attorneys working in client-focused areas face constant stress: demanding caseloads, exposure to trauma, systemic pressures, and difficult ethical decisions. These challenges can take a real toll on well-being while also affecting professional competence, decision-making, and ethical responsibilities.

This session introduces mindfulness as a practical tool to build resilience and manage stress. Participants will learn how stress impacts the brain, explore accessible practices such as mindful breathing and movement, and consider how mindfulness can support sleep, empathy, boundaries, and overall health. Resources for attorney well-being, including services from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Minnesota, will also be highlighted.

Presenter: Mike Millios, CJA Coordinating Attorney, Federal Defender’s Office.  In 2013, Mike discovered that yoga and mindfulness tools significantly helped his mental and physical health after years of unhealthy trauma management due to compassion fatigue and post-traumatic stress stemming from Army service and work as a criminal defense lawyer/public defender.  In 2017, Mike began training in mindful resilience, meditation, and yoga to help his community.  Mike has been guiding wellness and mindfulness workshops for caregivers and client focused professionals since 2018.  Mike founded Karuna Community Mn (karunacmn.org), a Minnesota non-profit, to share mindfulness tools with people who are incarcerated or in treatment.  Mike currently serves as the CJA Coordinating Attorney in the Federal Defender's Office - Minnesota.   Mike can be reached at 612-272-4989 or mike@karunacmn.org.

Location: Zoom

CLE: 1 Mental Health and Substance Use Credit to be applied for