Joy in the Law aspires to bring together attorneys interested in exploring various aspects of happy lawyering. Our goal is to increase the joy of lawyers who are already happy, and to begin the journey towards career happiness of lawyers who are not. We believe that all lawyers can find work that makes them happy most of the time, if not every minute, and a professional life that squares with their values and priorities, whether that’s making millions or having a modest salary but lots more time with their families and friends.

Diana Maier, founder of Maier Law Group, first conceived the idea of a joy in the law movement after she attended a silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California. The retreat, led by James Baraz, focused on the theme of Awakening Joy. Inspired by the insights from the retreat, Diana gathered a group of volunteer attorneys, and they put together the first Joy in the Law Conference in Marin County, California in September 2016. We are planning a second Joy in the Law Conference for September 2018.

In the meantime, we continue to host monthly meetings for women lawyers striving for joy in their law practices.  Currently there are two monthly meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area (one in Marin County and the other in San Francisco), as well as ad hoc Joy in the Law events that are co-ed and intended to promote and inspire one another to find meaning and joy in the practice of law (such as the 2018 Conference).  Maier Law Group also hosts small gatherings of women attorneys in a project Diana calls Closer Connections. Also held in the San Francisco Bay Area, these meet-ups are for enhancing women's professional success and generating more joy in the practice of law.