Healthy and Sustainable Legal Practice
Most legal professionals understand that improvements are needed to support their mental health and wellbeing. In the hectic work life as a lawyer it is
Most legal professionals understand that improvements are needed to support their mental health and wellbeing. In the hectic work life as a lawyer it is
The final report from one the most comprehensive studies into the mental health and wellbeing of legal professionals was recently published. Towards a healthy and
Numerous recent news articles have highlighted the predicament of young and junior lawyers’ wellbeing. The headlines say it all: “… junior lawyers are less happy,
“… a business-centric approach to practising law has the potential to negatively impact the health and wellbeing of lawyers …” Krill et al. (2022, pp.16)
Leaders are role models for the profession’s wellbeing. That’s no surprise, but what are the specifics? As a legal leader, what key behaviours can you
Legal leaders have a substantial task to encourage and actualise improved mental health and wellbeing of staff. Research has consistently called for systemic change in
“Go use our meditation room but make sure you bill 2,000 hours or you won’t get your bonus” (p. 407, Reich, 2020) This type of
The research clearly demonstrates that the billable hour business model is an organisational system that undermines the legal professions’ wellbeing. So why do legal organisations
Legal professionals may have more awareness of wellbeing as an issue within the profession. But consider these findings… “…law students and members of the legal
Many law firms and organisations where lawyers work have adopted a wellbeing policy. Since the legal profession’s wellbeing has been maintaining the status quo for
Lawyers are portrayed as superheroes in the culture of the legal profession. Lawyers uphold justice. They fight to win. They are stoic and strong. They
For lawyers’ “wellbeing” * is an uncomfortable word. This became apparent to us recently at the Wellness for Lawyers Forum, hosted by the University of
If you wish to gauge your emotional well-being, consider evaluating your distress level with the expertise of Beyond Blue through their K10 Anxiety and Depression
At SFL, our interactions with legal firms tell us that most law firm leaders, managers, and HR departments genuinely care about their employees. They want
The second article of this series highlighted the link between ethics and wellbeing in the workplace by discussing the characteristics of toxic workplaces, their effect
The first article of this series demonstrated the link between ethics and well-being that has existed at least since ancient Greece and posited that the
Reports over the past decade have indicated high levels of distress within Australia’s legal profession. These reports suggest that the well-being of the profession, and
I returned to the office in mid-January expecting that my usual enthusiasm for the start of a New Year would kick in, even though I’d
Congratulations! You have found us, and his means that you have already taken the first step in looking after your own well-being and perhaps the
It is well recognised that lawyers continue to suffer the effects of their workplace stress, despite the surfacing of this issue in the last decade
If you wish to gauge your emotional wellbeing, consider evaluating your distress level with the expertise of Beyond Blue through their K10 Anxiety and Depression Test. The results are anonymous, giving you the freedom to decide what to do next – seek assistance or simply acknowledge your mental wellbeing. Remember, you are not alone, and support is available.
Most legal professionals understand that improvements are needed to support their mental health and wellbeing. In the hectic work life as a lawyer it is
The final report from one the most comprehensive studies into the mental health and wellbeing of legal professionals was recently published. Towards a healthy and