J Kim Wright

Activist, Brainstormer, Business adviser, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Idea generator, Lawyer, Parent, Social entrepreneur, Startup, World traveler, Writer/Editor

For over 25 years, J Kim Wright has been an advocate for systems change in the law. She is a central figure in the Integrative Law Movement and one of the co-creators of the Conscious Contracts® process. Leader and Visionary Since the 1990s, Kim has attended hundreds of events, studying and observing the evolution of law toward a more holistic approach with values such as dignity, peacemaking, creativity and healing. She explored (and practiced) forms of mediation and ADR, holistic law, therapeutic jurisprudence, law and creative problem-solving, social activism, humanizing legal education, plain language, collaborative law, restorative justice, legal design models, non-violent communication, and more. In 2009, Kim was named as a Legal Rebel by the American Bar Association (their designation for visionaries in the profession). Author In addition to numerous chapters and articles, Kim has written two bestselling books published by the American Bar Association: Lawyers as Peacemakers: Practicing Holistic, Problem-Solving Law (2010); and Lawyers as Changemakers: The Global Integrative Law Movement (2016). She is also co-editor of the Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Practicing Lawyers (ABA, 2023). She is a member of the Lawyers as Designers editorial team, curating a gallery of legal designs on the way to becoming a book. A translation with reflections on her Lawyers as Changemakers book will soon be published in Italian and she has contributed to several other Italian books. In collaboration with the Independent Institute of Education (IIE), she assembled a reader and trained lecturers for an integrative law curriculum offered at South African law schools in 2021. She is currently working on the second editions of Peacemakers and Changemakers. Educator Kim has been a (remote) part-time clinical professor of Integrative Law and Negotiation at Quinnipiac University School of Law in the US since 2020. She was recently appointed as a Senior Fellow of the Center on Dispute Resolution, and is co-founder of the Project for Integrative Law and Legal Education. She and two Quinnipiac colleagues have written a law review article on how Integrative Law approaches reflect and express the best practices in legal education recommended by multiple studies and she has offered summer institutes for the Center. In addition, she has offered training on six continents to thousands of lawyers and has previously served as adjunct faculty at several law schools and universities. Coach, Consultant, Manager, and Connector Kim offers a variety of services and supports projects around the world. She manages the Conscious Contracts® model of relational contracts and Integrative Law movement activities which include the Integrative Lawyers of the World podcast and online community. A student of organizational development and transformation, she is certified in Spiral Dynamics Integral and TheoryU and has advanced training in Appreciative Inquiry. She has over 1,000 hours of training in transformation from Landmark Education and completed the University of Cape Town’s (virtual) social innovation program. After 15 years as a digital nomad, in 2023 Kim settled down in North Carolina in the county where she first practiced in 1995. She has built a small law practice, helping clients align their legal documents with their values. She has a diverse clientele which includes many organizations focused on sustainability. Kim is a coach and consultant, speaker and trainer, an integrative lawyer and mediator, and a connector for lawyers all over the world who are changing the paradigm of legal practice.

Creating a world that works for all. Focusing on how lawyers can be the changemakers.

Integrative Law is a movement, a mindset, and a paradigm shift in the legal profession. It’s about bringing humanity, values, and consciousness into the practice of law—moving beyond the traditional adversarial system to create processes that are relational, holistic, and aligned with well-being. At its core, Integrative Law recognizes that legal issues don’t exist in a vacuum; they are deeply intertwined with human experiences, emotions, and relationships. This approach invites lawyers to step into the roles of peacemakers, problem-solvers, and system changers, using tools like restorative justice, collaborative practice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and the Conscious Contracts® process. Everyone can win with creative approaches. Rather than focusing solely on "winning" cases, Integrative Lawyers help clients make informed, values-based decisions that lead to sustainable solutions. We prioritize deep listening, creative problem-solving, and an awareness of the bigger picture—considering not just legal outcomes, but also long-term impact on individuals, businesses, and communities. This is a movement that honors the whole person—lawyers included. It acknowledges the importance of personal well-being, mindfulness, and professional fulfillment. As lawyers, we are more effective when we align our work with our values, practice in ways that nourish us, and engage with clients as partners in co-creating solutions. Integrative Law is not a single practice area or methodology—it’s an evolving, interdisciplinary approach that is reshaping the legal profession from the inside out. It’s about recognizing that law can be a force for healing, transformation, and positive change in the world.

Integrative Law, Leadership

I've been watching TED Talks since I can remember. I had a TEDx at Washington Square in 2015 (which I wasn't happy about..a story for another day). I'm working on projects about law with TED folks.

Cooking. I'm a great partner.