J. KIM WRIGHT, J.D.

Connector, Catalyst, and Strategic Leader in Integrative Law • Author • Consultant

Overview

• Core team and advisory boards, TEDLaw, Building Future-ready Lawyers (2023-present). TEDLaw is a global initiative of TED.com bringing together legal innovators, educators, and practitioners to envision and prepare for the future of law, with partners including the Association of Corporate Counsel and National Center for State Courts.
• Senior Fellow and Visiting Professor, Quinnipiac University School of Law (2020-present); co-founder, Quinnipiac Project on Integrative Law in Legal Education.
• Author/Editor of three ABA books; second editions of Lawyers as Peacemakers and Lawyers as Changemakers forthcoming.
• Co-creator and global leader of the Integrative Law movement and Conscious Contracts process; trainer of practitioners and trainers on six continents.
• Consultant to law schools, bar associations, courts, agencies, and values-aligned businesses on integrative law, relational contracting, well-being, and trauma-informed practice.
• Active in North Carolina sustainability law and policy; advisor to purpose-driven organizations and local justice initiatives including pre-eviction mediation collaboration with United Way and Alamance County Wellness Collective.
• Global impact: teaching, training, and curriculum development across six continents.

Education

J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1989
Book Award (Legal Drafting).

B.A., Warren Wilson College, 1981
Business Management/Economics and International Studies.

Extensive Continuing Education in Law, Systems Thinking, and Organizational Development
Advanced training in organizational change, resilience, social innovation, and communication. For example:

• Spiral Dynamics (Levels 1 and 2, certified trainer)
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Theory U
• Open Space Technology
• Nonviolent Communication (through Level 3)
• Resources for Resilience Trauma Training
• Social entrepreneurship (Becoming a Changemaker, University of Cape Town, with honors)
• Transformational technologies (Landmark Education) and human dynamics
• Artificial Intelligence (including CLE in AI and Law)

Teaching and Educational Leadership

Quinnipiac University School of Law (2020-present)

• Senior Fellow, Center on Dispute Resolution. Co-Founder (with Carolyn Wilkes Kaas, Former Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and now Professor Emerita) Project on Integrative Law and Legal Education (2022-present).
• Visiting Professor. Integrative Law Approach to Negotiation; Transactional Law Clinic and Negotiation Clinic.
• Designed Summer Institutes; led trauma-informed dispute resolution sessions; co-authored scholarship on assessment and professional identity formation.

International Institute of Education, Varsity College (South Africa)

• Consultant to seven South African law schools on Integrative Law; created reader; trained lecturers. Integrative Law is now a popular elective for 4th year LLB students in the International Institute of Education system.
• Speaking Tour of law school and university campuses across South Africa in June-September 2022. Speaker for the Southern African Law Teachers Association (SALTA Society for Law Teachers, Southern Africa).

Previous Academic Roles

• Guest Lecturer/Trainer at law schools and bar associations on six continents (2008-present) as a full-time digital nomad from 2008-2023.
• Adjunct Professor, Barry University School of Law. Values-Based Negotiation and Drafting (2016).
• Adjunct Professor, Charlotte School of Law. Integrative Law: Lawyers as Peacemakers, Problem-Solvers and Healers (2012).
• Adjunct Professor, Warren Wilson College. Restorative Justice (2 semesters) and Business Law (2006-2008).
• Adjunct Professor, South College. Mediation and ADR (2007-2008).
• Adjunct Professor, Alamance Community College. Business Law (1995).

Scholarly and Professional Activities

Curriculum Design

• Design and launch of experiential, interdisciplinary curricula aligned with ABA Standard 303 and professional identity formation.

Editorial and Review Work

• Peer reviewer for multiple academic journals in law and dispute resolution.
• Editorial advisory roles for integrative law publications.
• Developing curated readers and resource compilations that integrate diverse perspectives and scholarship on the advancement of integrative law curricula.

Conference Organization and Leadership

• Co-designer and presenter of dozens of conferences on peacemaking, diversity, social justice, Collaborative Practice, Integrative Law, Dispute Resolution, Changemaking, Leadership and Belonging, Domestic Violence, Trauma, Restorative Justice, and legal topics over the last 25 years.

Research and Grants

• Grant proposal development for local justice and sustainability projects (multiple successful awards) and in my previous role as the Executive Director of the Sexual and Physical Abuse Resource Center in Florida (1989-1990).

Publications

Books

• Wright, J.K. (2010/2025, 2nd ed. forthcoming). Lawyers as Peacemakers: Practicing Holistic, Problem-Solving Law. American Bar Association / Integrative Law Press.
• Wright, J.K. (2016/2026, 2nd ed. forthcoming). Lawyers as Changemakers: The Global Integrative Law Movement. American Bar Association / Integrative Law Press.
• Maki, H., Florestal, M., McCallum, M., and Wright, J.K. (Eds.). (2023). Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Lawyer Resilience and Healing. American Bar Association. [Co-Editor and Contributor]

Edited Volumes and Forthcoming Publications

• Levine, S. (Ed.) (2018). The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being. Published by the American Bar Association. [Contributor]
• Etchalus, A., Novaes, A., and Wright, J.K. (Eds.) (Forthcoming 2026). Integrative Law (Brazil). Wright, J.K. Becoming Trauma-Aware and Resilient. [Contributor and Co-Editor]
• "The Larger Movement That Includes Collaborative Practice," in Derecho colaborativo, un nuevo paradigma para la abogacía. Catalan Association of Collaborative Law / Marcial Pons (2026, forthcoming).
• "Teaching Integrative Law," in Integrative Law: A Paradigm Shift in Legal Education and Beyond, University of Johannesburg (2026, forthcoming).
• Portatori di cambiamento (Italian edition of Lawyers as Changemakers with commentary by Italian lawyers); (2025). [Italian publisher: Enea Edizioni; Italian Editor: Maria Claudia Perego.]

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Perry, K., and Wright, J.K. (Forthcoming, 2026). "Beyond the Box: Reimagining Legal Agreements for Resilience, Alignment, and Emotional Intelligence in Social Enterprise," NYU Journal of Law and Business.
• Perry, K., Johnson, M., Kaas, C.W., and Wright, J.K. (2026). "Embodied Negotiation: Preparing Future Lawyers Through Integrative Practice," with Malin Stearns Johnson, Carolyn Wilkes Kaas, and Kara McCarthy Perry. Issue on New Challenges in Dispute Resolution and Clinical Education in a Changing World for Washington University Journal of Law & Policy, 79.
• Wright, J.K. (2025). "A New Paradigm of Law Focuses on Healing." Law Review of the Puerto Rican Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation, XXVI.
• Wright, J.K. (2025). "Collaborative Law, Conscious Contracts, and Integrative Law." Revista Brasileira de Direito e Inovação. December, 2025. https://ijeditores.com/index.php?option=publicacion&idpublicacion=1474
• Horani, J., Kaas, C.W., and Wright, J.K. "Teaching from the Integrative Paradigm: The Negotiation Clinic at Quinnipiac University School of Law." Washington University Journal of Law & Policy.
• Wright, J.K. (2019). "Integrative Law." University of Western Australia Law Review, 46(2), 234-267.

Selected Published Articles

• Wright, J.K., and Wagner, L. "Systems and Legal Systems: Perspectives of Law, Justice, Rights, and Peace." Transdisciplinary Leadership Journal.
• Frequent contributions and regular columns in Conscious Company Magazine and Enlivening Edge; contributions to The Conscious Lawyer Magazine, ABA Journal, Just Resolutions, and Law Practice Today.

Other Forthcoming Publications

Following the Holloran Center Workshop on Professional Identity Formation and the Rule of Law, my co-presenter, Kara Perry, and I were asked to edit and contribute our materials to a collective work to be published by West Academic.

Presentations and Conferences

Selected Presentations (2024-2025)

• Collaborative Law Maryland (February). "What Happened to You? Trauma-Informed Care for Divorce Professionals."
• North Carolina Sustainable Business Council (March). Certification Program, Course 5: Goal Setting and Legal Strategy.
• Grunin Center Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing and Legal Scholars and Educators Convening (June). "Teaching Integrative Law" (with Kara Perry).
• ACR-GNY Annual Conference (June). "Charting a New Legal Landscape: Conscious, Values-Based Approaches to Conflict Resolution" (with Kara Perry).
• World Commerce and Contracting Americas Summit (October). "Relational and Conscious Contracts" (with Ana Luiza Etchalus).
• Trauma-Informed Law CLE (October). Alamance County Bar.
• Holloran Center Workshop on Professional Identity Formation and the Rule of Law (October). The Touchstone.

Conferences Attended

• Leadership and Character in the Law Conference (March). Wake Forest University.
• Rule of Law Program (April). Elon University School of Law.
• Symposium on the Human Lawyer (June). The Law Teacher: The International Journal of Legal Education.

Consulting and Special Projects

TEDLaw Core Team (2023-present). Project of TED.com: curriculum design for future-ready legal education; collaboration with Nishat Ruiter and TED team; TED2025 attendee; TEDx Speaker (NYU, 2015). TEDLaw is a global initiative of TED.com bringing together legal innovators, educators, and practitioners to envision and prepare for the future of law. The project develops thought leadership, educational resources, and public programming to inspire a more human-centered, ethical, and forward-looking legal profession, especially in consideration of AI. Project partners include the Association of Corporate Counsel, National Center for State Courts, and others. (https://www.ted.com/law)

Legal Leadership Coaching (2008-present). One-on-one coaching and organizational consulting for lawyers and legal leaders; focus on professional identity, values alignment, strategy, and leadership development. Graduates of the six-month program have included senior counsel of Fortune 50 companies, non-profit leaders, activists, social entrepreneurs, victim advocates, trauma specialists, partners and shareholders in major law firms, and public servants.

Conscious Contracts (2011-present). Practitioner, Community Manager, and Trainer: train practitioners and trainers globally; develop values-based, relational contracts and bespoke systems for addressing change and engaging disagreement. The Conscious Contracts model is taught in 8 world languages.

International Consulting (2008-present). Advisory to governments, law firms, universities, and NGOs on integrative law, legal design, plain language, well-being, and trauma-informed practice.

Sustainability and Business Clients (2005-present). Fractional/general counsel and strategic advisor to values-aligned enterprises including TS Designs, Triad Electric Vehicle Association of NC, Know Your Clothing, and other mission-driven organizations.

CuttingEdgeLaw Enterprises, Inc. Founder and CEO (2008-2024). Social purpose organization advancing integrative law; trainings on six continents; collaborated with and advised legal leaders on multiple impact projects. Built a network of thousands of integrative lawyers around the world.

Law Practice and Legal Consulting

Integrative Law Center, Burlington, NC (Founder and Director, 2023-present)

• Conscious Contracts, Conscious Wills and Trusts; Integrative Law; values-aligned governance; relational dispute systems; and strategic counsel to mission-driven clients.
• Local justice initiatives: spearheaded pre-eviction mediation collaboration with the United Way; team member, Alamance County Wellness Collective.

Previous Practice Experience

• Managing Attorney, The Divorce and Family Law Center (NC, 1995-2000).
• Managing Attorney, Healers of Conflicts Law and Conflict Resolution Center (NC, 2003-2008).
• Associate Director, VORP Information and Resource Center (2003-2007): restorative justice case management and facilitation; national training.

Board Memberships and Leadership

• Board Chair and Founder, Integrative Law Education, Inc. (2023-present). Strategic thinking for a global network of integrative lawyers and sponsor of Integrative Lawyers of the World podcast. This is the nonprofit container for the Integrative Law Movement.
• Board Member, North Carolina Sustainable Business Council (2023-present). Legal strategy lead for certification program.
• Advisory Board, Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law, and Politics (PISLAP) (2020-present). 2024 local host for annual leadership retreat.
• Co-Founder, Forrest Webb Network (2024-present).
• Co-founder and Board Member, Renaissance Lawyer Society (2011-present).

Previous Leadership Roles

• Society 2045 (Co-Founder and Leadership Circle, 2020-2023).
• International Society for Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Global Advisory Board (2018-2022).
• ABA DR Section Task Force on Relational Practices, Founder and Co-Chair (2017-2018). Produced an online conference in 2018.

Honors and Awards

• American Bar Association Legal Rebel, "The Collaborator" (2009).
• Sullivan Ballou Award for community compassion and service (2011).
• Warren Wilson College Alumni Awards, Community Service Award (2006) and Distinguished Alumna (2019).
• Peter Gabel Award, Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law, and Politics (2025).

Additional Experience

• Member of the Humanizing Legal Ed listserv since 1999.
• Co-producer/Subject matter consultant on documentary projects including "Confrontation" pilot with the A&E Network; consulted with The Oprah Show on restorative justice-related programming. Involved in several pitches for restorative justice and Therapeutic Jurisprudence/Problem-Solving Courts treatments, working with Canadian Producer, Caroline Maria (2003-2008).
• Extensive time philanthropy, community service, and cross-sector leadership experience; background includes nonprofit leadership, social services, and entrepreneurship.
• Website developer and technology innovator who built the first legal website in North Carolina in 1996 and many others since.
• Former foster parent who raised 16 children, mostly teenagers, developing deep expertise in conflict resolution and family systems. Had seven children at home during law school.