5 mindfulness practices for busy legal professionals
Legal culture has quietly taught legal professionals that overwhelm is normal, almost expected. The expectation of ‘always on’ support, rapid response, and juggling priorities has implied busyness is a KPI for in-house legal teams.
At the same time, the need for intentional focus and clear thinking has never been greater. Our Global Survey Report painted this picture as it uncovered strategic decision-making as a new top challenge for in-house legal teams. And here lies the challenge. How do you carve out time for strategic thinking when you can’t even get through your inbox?
We recently spoke with Andrew Freeman, an experienced legal leader with many years of experience in financial services at all levels, about this issue and how to overcome it. He found that “the biggest shift is recognising that constant busyness is often the default, not a necessity.”
There’s no shortage of tools to help you manage your calendar, but it’s mindfulness that helps you manage your thoughts. Strategic thinking doesn’t just need time, it needs presence and perspective.
Andrew shares five tried-and-tested practices that have both improved the quality of his legal work and the experience of doing it:
“When I think about mindfulness in the legal world, I think about ensuring that I have clarity, focus, and working in a way that reduces noise and increases the value I can deliver.
The following five things have helped me reclaim time and attention in the in-house legal environment – drawn from the works of Cal Newport (A World Without Email), David Allen (Getting Things Done), and Graham Allcott (Productivity Ninja), and tested by me in real situations:
- Start deliberately
Every loose end is a tax on attention. Unmade decisions drain energy and clog your thinking. Decide once: what is this, what's the outcome, and what's the next step? Define clearly - and move on.
- Think deliberately
Thinking requires space and effort. It doesn’t just happen – it must be protected. In a world of constant pings and spontaneous calls, you need to be deliberate about when and how you think. This is not indulgence; it’s a strategic discipline. Protecting that space is how high-value judgment and better decisions emerge, at every level.
- Turn down the noise
Most input aren't urgent - they're just loud If you don't set filters, your attention gets hijacked. Mindful working means questioning default settings: do you really need that meeting, that alert, that 'quick check-in'? Quiet environments enable clearer thinking.
- Make work visible
Unseen work is easy to ignore, by others and by you. Use simple tools to map what's in motion, where it's stuck, and what's completed. It's also satisfying to tick something off. Visibility replaces uncertainty with clarity. It also invites better conversations about priorities and support.
- Finish deliberately
Capture what's unfinished, define what's needed, and bring it closure. Mental clarity often follows the simple act of finishing or deciding not to do something."
Overwhelm may feel like part of the job as an in-house lawyer, but it doesn't have to define it. Andrew's mindfulness practices offer a way to reclaim time during a busy, reactive day.
If these practices sparked something, our report, Overcoming Overwhelm, will take you further. Co-authored by Simon Harper, LOD founder, and Barbara Patchen, an organisational psychology practicioner, it takes a deep dive into why legal professionals are so often overwhelmed. It offers context, insights, and strategies for shifting culture, mindset and habits.