Mindfulness in the Law Firm
The beneficial role mindfulness practices can play in the professional and personal lives of legal professionals is perhaps most fully realized when a firm offers ongoing mindfulness training to its members. This can take many forms from a mindfulness training at onboarding, to recurring mindfulness presentations and multi-session workshops to weekly guided mindfulness meditation sessions.
Because we can learn and be inspired by the paths others have cut — both lessons learned the hard way and realized through good ideas, patience and perseverance — this week we hear from Alexandra Echsner-Rasmussen who has meaningfully integrated mindfulness and various wellness offerings into her firm, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, and Overholtz, with the support of the firm’s leadership.
Cookie, as she is known to colleagues and friends, has been committed to this project for many years. Presently, along with serving on the Mental Health and Wellness Committee of The Florida Bar[1] she sits on the Executive Committee of the Mindfulness in Law Society.
Cookie, what motivates you to do the work you do?

Cookie Echsner-Rasmussen
I believe that the better we as attorneys feel, the better our work product, the outcomes we achieve for our clients, and the greater our satisfaction with the work we do. These are not trivial matters. As has now become all too well known, a 2016 ABA study conducted by the Hazelden, Betty Ford Foundation, reported that “28%, 19%, and 23% of attorneys experience mild or higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively.”
Given these study findings and a wealth of other data pointing to the maladaptive ways that many attorneys deal with a strained mental health and experience low job satisfaction, it is my intention to support and encourage all lawyers (myself included) to find and utilize adaptive and healthy avenues to cope with and reduce stress. Fortunately, there are superb resources that exist for Florida Lawyers including The Florida Bar’s Mental Health Helpline (1-833-351-9355) and the Florida Lawyers Assistance program.
Firms can also take matters on directly to hire the best talent, help reduce turnover, and stay competitive within the field by prioritizing mental health and well-being efforts.
What are some of the factors that matter in making these efforts a reality?
I am fortunate to work at a firm whose leadership recognizes the importance of creating a culture and work environment that is conducive to supporting the well-being of each individual while acknowledging the realities of practicing complex civil litigation. A growing number of firms are doing the same. Without this support we would not have had the staying power to get things off the ground and been able to inspire people to explore options made available to them. I know it has made a difference in people’s lives, personally and professionally.
On the wellness front, what are some of the options made available to people?
From eight-week Fitness Challenges to providing employees with free 30-minute therapy sessions with a licensed clinician to hosting weekly virtual mindfulness gatherings and providing avenues to volunteer within the community, our well-being initiatives have been evolving in a slow, thoughtful, and steady manner. We also conduct annual and semi-annual surveys to reconsider and guide our offerings.
Wellness and mindfulness practice are overlapping and at times different considerations. Are there mindfulness-specific options made available to members of your firm?
We host weekly virtual mindfulness gatherings. Some people look to these as a means to support their well-being by engaging in a meditative practice that helps them to feel less stressed. Others view the gathering as an opportunity to practice mindfulness to cultivate greater present moment awareness irrespective of whether it leads to short term relief. In all cases, it is an opportunity support each other and engage in community.
In addition, we practice with the Mindfulness in Law Society’s Florida Chapter on the second Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m., CT. This is open to all legal professionals in the state of Florida who want to practice mindfulness.
What has been the response of participants?
In general, the response of participants has been positive. Of course, work obligations, scheduling, and interest will influence engagement. However, clear communication and consistency have been key to creating a firm culture that is open, inviting, and supportive of well-being initiatives, including mindfulness offerings.
Do you have any tips for those reading this who may want to implement something similar in their firm?
If you are a decision maker, it can be helpful to begin with a “wellness audit.” This can consist of hiring a professional or simply taking an inventory of what your employees need and are interested in. If you are not a decision maker but are interested in such changes, advocate by sharing research and studies demonstrating the importance of such initiatives and the ways organizations have found success. Importantly, advocate for what you personally practice or aspire to practice, ensuring your guidance is grounded in direct experience.
Reaching out to the Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee or connecting with national organizations such as the Mindfulness in Law Society or the Institute for Well-Being in Law can be a great source of support, especially to help get things rolling.
Legal employers want their businesses to thrive and be successful, thus, considering and valuing the health and well-being of their employees, attorneys, and staff alike is critical. The legal profession has traditionally been slow to address these concerns. More recently, there has been effective efforts undertaken to decrease the stigma and support the overall well-being of its members. May we each take steps to support our own well-being and contribute to the well-being of those within the profession.
Any closing comments?
The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee was created as a special committee in 2016 and since has made great strides. Still, there is work to be done. The primary aim of the committee is to make more widely known the needs and struggles of employees and to create and promote programming and policies that are supportive of lawyer mental health and well-being. A great resource and place to begin is the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers. This is a detailed compilation of steps and suggestions that support mental health and well-being in the legal profession.
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I am grateful to Cookie for taking the time to share her thoughts on what continues to be an important, pressing, and yet challenging area to navigate skillfully. Along with litigating mass tort cases at Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, and Overholtz, in Pensacola, Cookie has her Masters in Counseling and Psychology and is working toward being a Licensed Mental Health Counselor primarily working with clients in inpatient and outpatient treatment of addiction from a wellness based, non-12 step perspective. Last year she published “Finding Calm within the Chaos” and “Trauma-Informed Client Communication” in the Association for Trial Lawyer’s Trial Magazine. Cookie welcomes anyone reading this column to reach out to her directly with any questions or to brainstorm ideas. You may reach her at [email protected].
If you are interested in attending the Mindfulness in Law Society’s Mindful Mondays and Wakeful Wednesdays mindfulness practice sessions, click here. You are also invited to join Miami Law’s Mindfulness in Law Program’s Friday group mindfulness practice offered 12:30-12:45 by clicking here.
[1] The comments provided in this article are made on behalf of Alexandra Echsner-Rasmussen and are not necessary the views of The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee.
Scott Rogers
Scott Rogers, M.S., J.D., is a nationally recognized leader in the area of mindfulness in law and founded and directs the University of Miami School of Law’s Mindfulness in Law Program where he teaches mindful ethics, mindful leadership, mindfulness and negotiation, and mindfulness in law. He is the creator of Jurisight, one of the first CLE programs in the country to integrate mindfulness and neuroscience and conducts workshops and presentations on the role of mindfulness in legal education and across the legal profession. He is author of the recently released, The Mindful Law Student: A Mindfulness in Law Practice Guide, written for all audiences.