294.71 sec. 001 - Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Belonging in the Legal Profession (Fall 2026)
Instructor: Emily S Bruce (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
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Units: 1
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
Th 3:35 PM - 5:25 PM
Location: Law 141
From August 20, 2026
To October 01, 2026
Course End: October 01, 2026
Class Number: 33029
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 24
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 24
As of: 09/08 07:13 PM
We do our work as lawyers in relationship to ourselves and other people. How do we want to show up in those relationships? What boundaries do we need to set in order to care for our own well-being?
In this course, we will use techniques from mindfulness practice to cultivate inner steadiness, resilience, and compassion for ourselves and others. Through mindfulness practice, we will explore the impact of barriers to belonging in the legal profession, such as systemic racism and marginalization along other identity axes. We will also look at how we might use mindfulness and self-reflection to counter the effects of impostor phenomenon and the inner critic.
Emily Bruce, JD, MA is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the Bay Area. Previously, Emily was Director of Community and Wellness in Berkeley Law's SAASS office. Before joining Berkeley Law, she was a Lecturer in the undergraduate Legal Studies Program at UC Berkeley, teaching courses such as “Racial Identity and the Law” and “Equal Rights in a Changing Society.” Emily practiced law in Michigan and was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Legal Practice at the University of Michigan Law School. Emily received a mindfulness teacher certification from the Mindfulness Training Institute and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute.
Submit teaching evaluations for this course between 01-OCT-26 and 06-OCT-26
Exam Notes: (None) Series of papers or assignments throughout the semester
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Wellness and Lawyering
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Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.