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Contact Information
Bio
I am a lawyer, teacher and change-agent. I care deeply about the
health and well-being of our legal/political and economic institutions and
their role in creating a peaceful, just and abundant society. I believe
that we support the evolution of social institutions to the finest and
highest forms as we evolve spiritually and co-create these organizations
with our awakened perspectives. In my earlier career, my explorations of
"the way things work" focused on the outer sources of power: economics, law
and politics. In the last decade, I have explored "how things work" on the
inside: inner sources of knowing and personal power: law and spirituality,
legal ethics, and the science of consciousness. In my own spiritual
journey, I drew in others to conversation and spiritual inquiry and
spirit's potential impact on our profession's practice and form of
education. In 2004 and the upcoming decade I am creating the possibility of
integrating these two dimensions more whole-heartedly, as I write, speak
and support dialogue on the integration of law, spirit and politics. I am
drawn to continue to support others evolve, individually, collectively, and
throughout our legal system. I will share with you a bit about my history
and a few ongoing concerns.
Personal Background
I studied economics at Mount Holyoke College (B.A., summa cum laude,
1975) and then at the University of Michigan (M.A. 1976) because I was
thoroughly intrigued by the way in which institutions of economic power
influenced the daily lives of women, poor people and all social activity.
After working as an economic researcher (Kennedy School of Government) and
Consultant (Charles River Associates), I returned to law school (Harvard
Law School, 1982) because it seemed as if the folks making a difference in
the world of politics and policy were mostly lawyers.
Like many of my law school classmates most interested in public
policy, I worked in the private sector first, thinking that I would get the
best training. I worked at Goodwin, Procter and Hoar a large corporate law
firm, continuing my work in antitrust, regulated industries and litigation.
I switched over to the public sector and continued litigation at the Mass.
Attorney General's Office (constitutional appellate, and consumer-side
utility litigation) and the United States Attorney's Office (Civil
Division). My interest in public policy took me to the Massachusetts
Legislature, where I served as Senate Counsel to the Joint Commerce and
Labor Committee and to a position as Issues Director of a gubernatorial
campaign (Dem. Frank Bellotti).
During my years at the U.S. Attorney's Office, a number of
personal/family developments turned my attention to the large
life/spiritual questions. As a young woman, prior to law school, I had been
highly spiritual. But, I had left these inquiries in a metal locker in the
basement of Langdell Hall at Harvard Law School, thinking that they were
not relevant to legal life above ground. Through a series of auspicious
coincidences, I found myself, formerly Christian, studying Tibetan Buddhism
with an amazing being, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, who became my spiritual
teacher.
As I began to explore the science, philosophy and actual practices of
Tibetan Buddhism, I began to learn more about the nature of human
consciousness than I could have ever imagined. My thirst for conducting the
Tibetan experiments on mind in retreat and daily life grew with my nascent
understanding. On the intellectual front, the Tibetan Buddhist cosmology,
as a paradigm of human knowledge, was wider and more expansive than
anything I had ever known. On the personal, experiential front, I started
to unravel the emotional patterns which had colored my life. I began to
dissect the personal and professional anxiety which so often reared its
nasty head. I reconnected with internal ports of peace and love, which had
often been muddied by my daily life as lawyer/mother/wife and friend.
I also began to inquire about how the mental habits which I had
developed through law training and practice influenced my own well-being,
the well-being of clients, courts and those with whom I had contact. I
began to re-examine many elements of legal doctrine, analysis, argument,
the adversary system, and professional roles in light of my new
understandings. It only seemed fitting to share this journey with students.
I began to do so with law students at the U.S. Attorney's Office, but soon
moved on to teach at Suffolk U. Law School, supervising students in their
clinical internship program. I enjoyed counseling, teaching and supporting
students as they were launched as young attorneys, encouraging them to
explore their own minds, hearts and habits of being.
I developed a course called Reflective Lawyer, integrating
contemplative practice within clinical legal education, began a discussion
group called Lawyers with a Holistic Perspective for lawyers and judges in
the community, and supported a great deal of programming in collaboration
with institutes and schools in the Boston area to support this dialogue.
Working with others, and through public speaking, I have helped educate the
wider community about restorative justice, collaborative law, holistic
lawyering, law and spirituality and contemplative lawyering.
At present, I continue my work in the legal profession in two ways.
First, under a grant from the National Institute of Health, I am
researching and writing articles on the role which lawyers, legal ethics,
legal rules and legal privilege played in the tobacco industry in the last
40 years. This work at the Tobacco Control Resource Center at Northeastern
U. Law School cuts across ethics/law/economics and politics. See
www.tplp.org
As a complement to this work, I continue to support lawyers, law
students and judges through workshops and retreats which explore spiritual,
ethical and holistic perspectives and contemplative practice. I call these
workshops "New Prospects--Supporting Transformation of Law and Society".
For more information, e-mail prospectsunltd@aol.com,
New Prospects for Justice
On this snowy New Years weekend, I would like to share a few thoughts.
The power of human consciousness is just beginning to be tapped. In
the vast sea of intelligence in which human life rests, there is enormous
creative potential.. Einstein pointed to the great untapped potential of
the human mind. Our legal education and practical training focus on certain
modes of analytical reasoning, and a vast store of legal knowledge and
customary practices. When we are initiated into the legal tribe, it is easy
to fall into the delusional belief that the knowledge and practices
currently used to address human conflict and create social and commercial
institutions are unique and fixed.. Our legal education and institutions
have not reminded us that we can co-create a legal system which reflects
the qualities of being and relatedness and relationship that we dream of.
Numerous recent examples contradict the assumption that "the legal
system is what it is" and will be so ever more.. Through one man, my friend
Stuart Webb, a vision of "collaborative law" has gone from an idea to a
movement in 10 major cities in 6 years.. Through the dedication of a few
amazing folks in America, Kay Pranis and Howard Zehr among others,
restorative justice experiments are being conducted in more than 30 states.
Margaret Mead said, "Do not doubt what a small group of dedicated
individuals can accomplish. Nothing has been started without them." Every
dimension of our legal culture can be reimagined with the force of our
intention. and by harnessing the energy of our caring conversations with
each other.
Many of us were drawn to the law because we are fascinated by power
and the power which can be conferred upon us for understanding how the
power of institutions is used. However, each of us possesses the enormous
inner power, matched by the power inside each one of us to envision forms
and customs and ways of being that could touch the lives of thousands. We
simply need to give birth to these ideas through conversation. and be mid-
wifes to each other. We must come together and talk with each other. We
must each work to develop the full potential of our own insights and wisdom
so that our creations generate benefit for all participants. We are all
inter-connected. We are all responsible for each plaintiff, each defendant,
each newly created non-profit corporation, profit-making LLP, agency,
conflict, war and prison. We must go from being poised for action into the
most deeply informed powerful action that we can muster.
The New Prospects which we are creating are not measured by legal
victories or dollars, although, in the end, they may enhance these. The New
Prospects are measured by our way of "being". We bring courage, inspiration
and love to the law. We are warrior-like, compassionate, insightful, and
wise. We have moments, days, when these qualities flourish in personal and
legal settings. We know the joy, vitality and sense of connection of such
moments. We are just beginning to understand the profound truth that we can
magnify these qualities a million-fold and in so doing transform our legal
system at the same time.
Our "doing" qualities as a lawyer, practical and technical
proficiency and analytical rigor, require time, attention and guidance to
develop. Our "being" qualities require no less! And, it is our "being"
qualities that support the most genuine "justice for all." As Dr. Martin
Luther King said, "Justice is love correcting all that revolts against
love". We can be the New Prospects for justice! We can be the love
correcting all that revolts against love. These words are not broached
aloud in many law schools. But, I feel happy each time I say the word love
to law students, lawyers and judges. It must be said. Lawyers can talk
about and be "love".
As lawyers, we may be reluctant to address the business of "loving"
and "being." But, so many in our lives depend on us for direction, advice,
support and strength! We owe it to them and as well as to ourselves, to be
our truest most powerful loving and great selves.
We are the New Prospects for Transforming Law and Society if we can find
the Courage to Be Them.
Thank you for letting me share these snowy day thoughts with you.
May you have the strength and courage to explore the outer and inner worlds
of power.
May you find the friends that you will need to walk beside you.
May your heart stay open whatever befalls you.
May you hold to the truth that connects us all and creates all.
I will share a lovely poem about the truth that connects us all and creates
all.
I, the fiery light of divine wisdom,
I ignite the beauty of the plains,
I sparkle the waters.
I burn the sun and the moon and the stars,
With wisdom I order all rightly.
I adorn the earth.
I am the breeze that nurtures all things green.
I am the rain coming from the dew
That causes the grasses to laugh
With the joy of life.
I call forth tears, the aroma of holy work.
I am the yearning for the good.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Contact Information
Cheryl L. Conner
Senior Staff Attorney,
Northeastern U. School of Law
Tobacco Control Resource Center
Tel: (617)373-5699
E-mail: cconner@tplp.org
New Prospects*workshops*retreats
Tel: (617)332-0327 (802)453-8500
Email: prospectsunltd@aol.com
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