Unlocking Intuition: A Lawyer’s Hidden Asset

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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. 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