The Center for Law and Ethics at the University of San Francisco (USF) focuses on ethics within the practice of law with a special interest in wellness practices such as meditation and yoga. “At the [USF] Center for Law and Ethics, we see socially-engaged mindfulness as a practical and effective pathway for the formation of ethical law students, lawyers, community advocates and leaders dedicated to the rule of law in changing times,” says Professor Rhonda Magee. Because of this focus, the Center has explored methods for ethical and balanced living for practicing attorneys through the Holistic Education Project; one such effort is the Mindfulness Committee.

The Mindfulness Committee was born out of the Holistic Education Project’s Ad Hoc Committee for Contemplative Practices in the Law and is currently comprised of law school faculty Rhonda Magee, Tim Iglesias, and Judi Cohen. The committee is concerned with holistic and innovative approaches to addressing ethical issues. that law students and lawyers can adopt. The goal is to facilitate introspection that leads to sustained mindfulness

The melding of mindfulness, ethics, legal education, and legal practice has culminated in a course offered to law students at USF titled “Contemplative Lawyering.” Professor Magee believes that “…by offering opportunities to explore and to develop research-aligned mindfulness practices, we provide our students with means to maintain awareness of the relevant knowledge, skills and values of law practice, and to apply them with cognitive flexibility, emotional agility, and dignitary concern.” The goal is for practitioners to express this mindfulness in their day-to-day decision-making and professional actions.

The University of San Francisco’s Center for Law and Ethics’ efforts seek to create and sustain professional responsibility through holistic-centered approaches. Through this, they hope to bring forth law professionals with the capability to maintain a robust and ethical life in the law.

Has ethics made a difference at your institution over time? Contact Alexis Jimenez Maldonado, alexismaldonado@fas.harvard.edu, with ideas for forthcoming Spotlights.

Philosophy for Children

California’s Kern County struggles with low literacy rates. The Philosophy for Children (P4C) program at California State University Bakersfield (CSUB) is attempting to address this issue while offering courses on their methods and practices. Sponsored by the Kegley Institute of Ethics, P4C offers free programming to local families by partnering with local elementary schools and public libraries.

“We hope to offer spaces of communication and exploration of ‘big ideas’ to young persons that reinforce their curiosity and openness to inquiry,” said Dr. Senem Saner, the Director of the P4C Program. Dr. Saner hopes to accomplish this through “the power of open philosophical inquiry to inspire and foster democratic and respectful dialogue as well as a sense of community.”

In addition to providing literacy education, P4C promotes on-campus interest in philosophical thinking through the real-world application of their work. The P4C program pairs innovative community outreach with an ethics curriculum through two course offerings:, “Philosophy for Children,” a methodology-based introduction to philosophical topics, and a hands-on service-based Practicum. Dr. Saner recognizes that the interdisciplinarity of P4C is its biggest strength. “Facilitating open dialogue, applying critical thinking, exercising intellectual empathy, and engaging in collaborative learning, are skills relevant not only for philosophers, but also for college students pursuing work in education, counseling, social work, and communication.”

Through a robust curriculum and public outreach, Philosophy for Children has woven together the theories and methods of philosophy with student-led community engagement to tackle real issues facing the local community. You can learn more about the P4C program and the Kegley Institute of Ethics.

Has ethics made a difference at your institution over time? Contact Alexis Jimenez Maldonado, alexismaldonado@fas.harvard.edu, with ideas for forthcoming Spotlights.