Fall is in full swing, the days are getting shorter and it’s hard to believe that MCBA’s annual MCLE fair is only a month away. Last month, I set out to write the Marin Lawyer’s monthly non-profit profile about the Integrative Restoration Institute, which trains meditation teachers, myself included (and yes, that’s really “meditation” not “mediation”). But I got advance feedback that readers wanted to know more about the practice of meditation itself. What’s it like? What do you actually do? Why? The result is my article this month that will still let you know about the fine work of IRI (particularly with the military) but also aims to give you insight into the practice of meditation. Having just today spotted a poster for meditation classes in the waiting room of my oral surgeon, I know that we are not the only ones talking about this.

Most of our readers are aware of the mandatory legal fee arbitration provisions in state law and that MCBA administers that program in Marin. Does that program apply to mediators? No doubt our large ADR contingent will want to read the analysis of Scott Lueders, head of MCBA’s Client Relations Committee. We are reprinting the article Scott wrote for Family Law News earlier this year along with a short report on MCBA’s just-completed fee arbitration training.

Many thanks to our guest editor this month, Jim Sell. Jim has written about a recent case that reminds all of us to think carefully about crafting settlement agreements. There’s nothing like being dragged into litigation all over again after writing one that releases too few parties (or too many!) Jim also profiles member Francesca Chang, who as co-chair of MCBA’s Diversity Section has helped create great programs this year. And in yet another article, he profiles Marin’s Center for Domestic Peace, celebrating its 40th anniversary this month helping domestic violence survivors and working to prevent further violence.

Many thanks also to Judge Talamantes, who has kindly authored our latest Judge’s Corner. He has some amusing but nonetheless important advice for anyone appearing in his (or anyone’s!) courtroom. And don’t forget to read all the goings on about town in Matt White’s column. If you missed September’s informative membership meeting, Craig Cox’s report will give you an excellent overview of the burgeoning field of cannabis law.

If you like an article or feature, let me know. And if you hate one, I genuinely want to know that too. Our goal is to make the Marin Lawyer the resource that you want it to be. And if you want to learn more about meditation, don’t hesitate to call me about that too!