The Mindful Lawyer:
A Guide to the Practice of Mindfulness to Increase Resilience in the Practice of Law
Wednesday, October 28, 12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m.
CLE Via Zoom
Join mindfulness practitioner and Fitzwater Law partner and founder Wes Fitzwater,
Oregon Department of Justice lawyer and mindfulness practitioner Melissa Chureau,
and Certified Mindfulness Coach Tim Musgrave
for an insightful workshop on the practice of mindfulness in law.
Learn how awareness, insight, breathwork, and other mindfulness techniques can build resilience,
and even increase effectiveness while reducing stress and negativity, truly essential in the practice of law.
1.0 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Credit MCLE granted under program number 72729.
Materials: Resource List
About the Presenters:
Melissa Chureau
Melissa has been a practicing attorney since 2002, and a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the State of Oregon since 2012, currently in the General Counsel, Health and Human Services section. Previously, she served as AAG in the Medicaid Fraud Unit, prosecuting financial exploitation, and abuse and neglect cases. She began a regular mindfulness practitioner since 1999, where she began her practice at Monday Night’s with Jack Kornfield at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County, California, and continued her practice through law school and the busy of practice of law. During this time, Melissa has also taught community yoga classes while further developing her mindfulness practice with the help of her husband and daughter.
Melissa graduated from University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature in 1993, and received her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2002. She currently serves on the Leadership Committee of Oregon Women Lawyers, the Attorney General’s Health and Wellness Committee, and also serves as a Region 5 House of Delegates member.
Tim Musgrave
Tim is Oregon born and raised and has a B.S, with honors, from Liberty University Tim is a certified Law Enforcement Mindfulness Coach through the University of San Diego, and has completed the UCSD Mindfulness Performance Enhancement, Awareness, and Knowledge (mPEAK) participant and coaches’ courses. He has presented mindfulness training to attorneys, social workers, law enforcement, and victim advocates. Prior to a shift toward mindfulness practice and delivering trainings, Tim served in law enforcement for over 27 years, from neighborhood response to emergency management and domestic violence, and retiring as Sergeant for Portland’s Domestic Violence, Elder Crime and Vulnerable Adult Unit.
While enhancing his mindfulness practice daily, he is also nearing completion of a master’s degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensic Psychology, and spends as much free time as he can with his wife of 36 years, his daughters, and their beautiful grandchild. He is also checking out a new practice of yoga and Tai Chi.
Wesley D. Fitzwater
Wes Fitzwater is a partner in the law firm of Fitzwater Law, a 10-attorney firm emphasizing estate planning and elder law. Wes focuses upon the crisis issues faced by the elderly and their families, including incapacity, guardianship and conservatorship, long-term care, and end-of-life concerns.
Wes is a frequent speaker to senior groups as well as Oregon attorneys. He is an author and instructor on topics including long-term care, incapacity, guardianships and conservatorships, legal ethics and professionalism. He is the co-editor of the Oregon State Bar publication entitled The Elder Law Handbook, a reference book for Oregon attorneys. Wes has been honored to receive the OSB President’s Public Service Award and Membership Service Award, and is truly happy to be of service to members of the bar and members of the community.
Wes has been a student of mindfulness and meditation for the past five years. He has completed an 8-Week training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program created by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He is currently involved in a group studying the Tao Te Ching and a weekly group of Clackamas County attorneys discussing mindfulness and meditation practices for attorneys.
