Occupy the Legal System

Blogs by innovative and visionary lawyers and other change-agents who have developed and are practicing fear-less models of engaging conflicts, resolving legal disputes as well as models for socially responsible negotiation and drafting of legal contracts (like Discovering Agreement) — all focused on the sustainability of relationships and of peaceful and just communities.

Many of the lawyers identify as ‘Integrative Law’ practitioners because they integrate values of interdependence, health of body-mind-spirit into their services and their practices, promoting emotionally competent lawyering, enhancing wisdom and compassion throughout all interactions with the legal system, and responding to societal needs mindfully.


Conscious Contracts for Conscious Business

Conscious Business “Conscious Business” is a phrase used to identify companies that operate according to the fundamental principle that business can be a force for positive change in the world.  These companies believe (and have demonstrated) that creating value for all stakeholders–customers, employees, society, the environment, and future generations–brings greater success than putting primary focus solely […]

What is Justice?

‘Justice’ has no meaning unless it relates to the human heart, the community, the daily-life realities (conditions and causes) of conflict.  We all feel the absence of Justice in the conventional system when its dogma is not related to human facts as they are experienced. The powers that be tell us – ‘the system works’ […]

Power At Its Best Is . . .

What does ‘Occupy’ mean?

What does ‘Occupy’ mean? by Linda Alvarez We all understand that ‘occupy’ has the literal meaning of physical presence on the street, in a building, or other location; but what I hear from those at the heart of the Occupy demonstrations gives me a sense of its deeper, metaphorical meaning. For organizers and participants, the […]

“Our Justice System Will Speak For Us”

“Our Justice System Will Speak For Us” a letter from Dominic Barter about responding to conflict In recent weeks I have been at Occupy Chicago and was present at the set up of – and have been back regularly to – Occupy Rio, and the New Earth festival that involved many of the same people […]

Letter from Dominic Barter as events unfolded in Rocinha

Letter from Dominic Barter: As events unfolded in Rocinha – Rio de Janeiro Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 10:10 PM Subject: [Restorative-Circles] Tonight Dear all, With Clayton’s permission, here are some questions he sent me tonight, and my responses. C: Perhaps u can share with the larger rc list how you respond, systemically and as […]

Discovering Agreement vs Conceding to Terms

One of the most valuable things you can do is put the agreements and understandings you have into writing – in words you understand and are fully comfortable with. The ‘boilerplate’ language that many attorneys and pre-drafted document kits provide is often unintelligible – even to the experts and courts.  This inscrutability makes the documents practically […]