Unlocking Intuition: A Lawyer's Hidden Asset

Scott Mason talks with Sara Walshe about what intuition is and how lawyers can use it to feel better, work smarter, and avoid burnout. Sara describes intuition as an immediate “knowing,” and says it can show up either as experience-based pattern recognition (like a strong BS meter built from years of practice) or as a deeper inner knowing that’s hard to explain. They discuss how to tell intuition apart from wishful thinking, how confidence can shape outcomes, and why “doom” feelings may be more about instinct and survival. Sara shares stories from studying for the bar, negotiating plea deals as a Brooklyn prosecutor, and eventually leaving law to combine yoga, mindfulness, and coaching. She emphasizes that intuition is easier to access when you feel safe, and suggests simple mindfulness tools—like slow finger rubbing paired with a deep breath—to get grounded in the moment.

Want to learn more about combining mindfulness techniques with your legal practice? Get involved with the sponsor of today’s podcast, the Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Committee! A great opportunity is coming up on March 26, join the committee’s Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Book Club (nycbar.org/calendar). Reading the book is encouraged but not required to take part in this community space.

00:00 Defining intuition 02:22 Two types of knowing 04:13 Wishful thinking vs intuition 07:21 Bar exam visualization 16:18 Using intuition in practice 19:38 Negotiation and efficiency 27:49 Office politics and EQ 30:57 Leading with intuition 34:26 Soft Skills Are Hard 35:07 Lawyer Identity Beyond Work 36:38 Connection Crisis and Screens 39:12 Marriage Lens of Intuition 40:21 When Not to Use Intuition 41:06 Intuition and Instinct Dance 49:16 Prosecutor to Coach Story 55:37 Mindfulness for Intuition 57:25 Fingertip Grounding Trick 58:45 Closing Thanks and Credits