The holistic law movement recognizes that the lawyer’s role is not to be the driver of change, rather it is to be the healer of conflicts. Lawyers do not change institutions; all forms of institutional change only come through social conversation between numbers of people. What lawyers do is to restore a client’s humanity.
There does not appear to be a good definition (other than self-identification) of what a holistic law practice is. The movement appears to encompass:
- Collaborative Law
- Community Lawyering
- Contemplative Practice
- Creative Problem Solving
- Restorative Justice
- Therapeutic Justice
The best summary is that holistic law is a process that stresses compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness and healing, is designed to honor and respect the clients’ humanity and encourages the lawyer to enjoy the practice of law.
See also:
Rural Lawyer 