#84 - The Managing Partner Who Traded $48 Million Verdicts for Yoga Mats

Karen Munoz spent nearly a decade at a personal injury firm, rising from receptionist to managing partner while handling wrongful death cases and winning multi-million dollar verdicts. But beneath the external success, she was slowly losing herself. Then yoga, recovery, and a master's degree in counseling psychology changed everything.

In this episode of Lawyers Who Learn, host David Schnurman sits down with Karen to explore her transformation from personal injury attorney to trauma-informed wellness coach. As a first-generation Mexican-American who graduated from UIC School of Law in 2008, Karen never felt she fit the traditional lawyer mold. While classmates competed ruthlessly, she focused on genuinely helping clients through their darkest moments—sitting with them without notebooks or computers, offering full presence in a profession built on multitasking.

Karen's parallel path began when she walked into her first yoga class as a young attorney and discovered a practice that would save her life. By 2010, she was writing about mindfulness for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and teaching yoga to lawyers through the Lawyer's Assistance Program—long before wellness became mainstream in legal circles. In 2021, five years into recovery, she formalized this work by founding Roaring Grace Mindful Wellness.

Now pursuing her master's in counseling psychology while also teaching CLE courses on Lawline, Karen bridges ancient wisdom and modern legal challenges. She explains how trauma lives in the body, shares Viktor Frankl's concentration camp-born philosophy on finding meaning, and delivers a powerful message to struggling attorneys: you're not alone, and the light you're searching for already exists within you.


00:00 Introduction to Lawyers Who Learn
00:20 Karen's Journey and Passion for Wellness
01:26 Karen's Professional Background
02:35 Law School Challenges and Cultural Shifts
04:41 The Reality of Legal Practice
06:21 Mental Health and Wellness in Law
13:17 Karen's Transition to Wellness Coaching
23:22 The Importance of Yoga and Mindfulness
27:06 Balancing Ease and Effort in Yoga
27:45 Daily Yoga Practice and Teaching Styles
29:44 Community vs. Solo Yoga Practice
31:56 Books and Philosophies Influencing Yoga
32:37 Understanding Trauma and Mental Health
35:16 Philosophical Foundations of Yoga
39:05 Existential Humanistic Psychology
41:03 Finding Meaning in Life: Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy
45:24 The Importance of Community and Support
48:03 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Links •
Connect with David Schnurman (Host) -   / davidschnurman  
Connect with Karen Munoz (Guest) -   / karenmunoz  
Visit Our Website: https://www.lawline.com/podcast/lawye...
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Lawline: https://www.lawline.com/

More About Lawyers Who Learn •
Exploring how lifelong learning empowers attorneys' growth. Tune in for inspiring journeys and insights to elevate your legal career!