June 10-12, 2005
Most of us remember the idealism we felt when we entered Law School. By the time we were in our first years of practice, our idealism had faded and often our personal lives had suffered. The evidence is compelling. The California Bar Association found 70 percent of that state’s lawyers would choose a different career if they had a chance and 75 percent would not want their children to become lawyers. This goes against a widespread gut feeling that we were individually “called” to the profession of the law.
When he was a young lawyer, Bill didn’t want to lose his idealism, so he founded the International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers (IAHL) and the mission caught fire. The IAHL is dedicated to the evolution of the way conflict is understood, processed, and resolved. It’s possible to be an advocate without being an adversary. This retreat will offer a chance to re-visit our original intentions and find practical ways to incorporate our original inspirations. Bill van Zyverden believes a major cause of lawyer’s dissatisfaction is that few people enjoy work that is based upon an antiquated methodology.
In van Zyverden’s ideal world, the role of the lawyer is that of counselor, guide, and facilitator, looking for the truth and for answers that work for everyone. If all parties can accept responsibility for their part in a given situation, they can collaborate to find a solution that respects the dignity of each person. For example, children in a divorce will witness much less conflict between their parents. The only people who have the ability to resolve the emotional roots of conflict are the parties themselves, but lawyers (often called counselors), can offer guidance and leadership.
During this retreat, we’ll experience a number of the following things, depending on the wishes of the group: yoga, stretching, relaxation, breathing, tai chi, centering, drum and rhythm circles, juggling, massage, meditation, and sensory enhancement. We’ll explore conflict and its true resolution, conscious communication, giving up attachment to outcomes, curiosity, and intuition. We hope you’ll join us for this unusual and important program.
Bill van Zyverden founded the International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers in 1990 and works in the Holistic Justice Center. In addition to lawyering, Bill practices Tai-Chi, juggles, is a musician, producer of community musical reviews, and is committed to the notion that the legal profession can be a force for planetary good.
“Whether lawyers acknowledge it or not, we deal with our clients’ hearts everyday.”
— Ann Chapman
“The first founding principle is the inability and the impossibility of defining what ‘Holistic Law’ means. To fix a definition merely limits the infinite. The Whole must include all definitions. All who are drawn to this ideal must be able to come with their own ideas intact and respected. Respect is a synonym of our overriding principle, that of love.” — Bill van Zyverden