Awareness about the mental health and wellbeing status of legal professionals has been steadily growing in Australia and globally over the past two decades. More research has been undertaken to understand the extent of the situation, the drivers of high rates of psychological distress and illbeing and strategies to address the issues.
Recent research from a comprehensive national study on Canadian legal professionals’ mental health and wellbeing, towards a healthy and sustainable practice of law in Canada, adds to the rowing evidence base. This research has made several recommendations to help legal leaders prioritise commitment and action to addressing mental health and wellbeing issues in the legal profession. These recommendations complement and reflect those made in the International Bar Association’s (IBA) report on the mental wellbeing of the global legal profession. The recommendations of the three reports are summarised below.
Recommendations for addressing mental health and wellbeing of legal professionals from three reports*
| Phase I Canada | Phase II Canada | IBA Mental Wellbeing Principles |
| 1. Improve preparation of future professionals to support them to deal with psychological health issues | 1. Improve preparation of future professionals to support them to deal with psychological health issues | 1. Mental wellbeing matters |
| 2. Improve supports and guidance available at entry to the profession | 2. Improve supports and guidance available at entry to the profession | 2. Mental wellbeing is not weakness |
| 3. Improve the continuing professional development (CPD) for legal professionals | 3. Evaluate the implementation of alternative work organisation models that limit the impact of certain health risk factors, including billable hours, and that promote better work-life balance | 3. Raising awareness is fundamental |
| 4. Where relevant, evaluate the implementation of alternative work organisation models that limit the impact of certain risk factors on health | 4. A commitment to change and regular continuing assessment is needed | |
| 5. Implement actions aimed at destigmatising mental health issues in the legal profession | 5. Policies matter | |
| 6. Improve access to heath and wellness support resources and break down barriers that limit access to these resources | 6. Maintain an open dialogue and communication | |
| 7. Promote diversity in the profession and revise practices, policies and procedures that may include or create discriminatory biases | 7. Address systemic problems | |
| 8. Consider health of legal professionals as integral to legal practice and the justice system | 8. Recognise intersectionalities | |
| 9. Develop a culture of measurement | 9. Share good practices | |
| 10. Foster better work-life balance in the legal profession | 10. Learn from others |
* Phase I and Phase II of Towards a healthy and sustainable practice of law in Canada (Cadieux et al., 2022; Cadieux et al., 2024) and Mental wellbeing in the legal profession: A global study (IBA, 2021)
The recommendations from these reports reiterate the findings and recommendations that have consistently arisen in the research on legal professionals’ mental health and wellbeing over the past two decades. They signal that mental health and wellbeing are crucial to a well-functioning profession and are worthy of serious attention and commitment.
The reports agree that the profession’s mental health and wellbeing problems have systemic and cultural underpinnings, which is a key barrier to improving the situation. They concur that there are structural issues that need to be addressed for effective change to occur. They highlight awareness raising as a crucial, on-going process and destigmatising mental health and wellbeing as an essential priority. All the reports require organisations and leaders to take responsibility for their significant role in the change process because the work environment is a substantial contributor to both illbeing and wellbeing. There is recognition that diversity issues, including discrimination, need to be acknowledged and effectively dealt with. The recommendations advocate for implementation of initiatives to address the issues together with evaluation of those initiatives to determine what works.
The recommendations within these three recent reports are a strong call to action for the profession. They communicate that the profession knows there is a persistent and substantial problem with its approach toward mental health and wellbeing. The reports signal the need for strong commitment and leadership to address the issues. Thus, the recommendations clearly announce that it is time for the profession to act – take the leap towards a healthy, sustainable and thriving profession.
Our blogs and articles are informative and intended to provoke dialogue and reflection among colleagues, within teams, in workplaces and throughout the profession.
We invite you to discuss your thoughts about these reports and recommendations within your professional sphere. Perhaps these discussions could happen in team meetings, planning days or team-building activities.
Discussion about these ideas contributes to breaking down stigma and developing a professional culture that is supportive of mental health and wellbeing.
Which of the 23 recommendations outlined does your workplace or professional organisation already implement well?
Which of the recommendations does it need to improve upon?
Support for Lawyers understands legal professionals. Our professionals can assist legal professionals, organisations and professional associations to better understand and actualise mental health and wellbeing individually and collectively.
At Support for Lawyers, we believe that when whole firms or organisations engage with us wellbeing is embraced as part of normal workplace culture and business as usual. This is responsible business practice and is protective of everyone.
Talk to us about how our preventative approach to enhance wellbeing can support you, your staff and your legal organisation.
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Brady, M. (2019). VLSB+C lawyer wellbeing project: Report on legal professionals’ reflections on wellbeing in the legal profession and suggestions for future reforms. Victorian Legal Services Board + Commission. https://lsbc.vic.gov.au/resources/lawyer-wellbeing-report
Cadieux, N., Cadieux, J., Gingues, M., Gouin, M.-M., Fournier, P.-L., Caya, O., Pomerleau, M.-L. Morin, E., Camille, A.B., & Gahunzire, J. (2022). Research report (final version): Towards a healthy and sustainable practice of law in Canada. National study on the health and wellness determinants of legal professionals in Canada, phase I (2020-2022). Université de Sherbrooke, Business School. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365867261_Research_report_Final_version_Towards_a_Healthy_and_Sustainable_Practice_of_Law_in_CanadaNational_Study_on_the_Health_and_Wellness_Determinants_of_Legal_Professionals_in_Canada_Phase_I_2020-2022
Cadieux, N., Bélanger, M.A., Camille, A.B., Driss, A., St Jacques, C., Cadieux, J., Gouin, M.M., Morin, E., Gingues, M., Pomerleau, M.L., Gahunzire, J., & Dahan, J. (2024). Research report: Towards a healthy and sustainable practice of law in Canada. Consolidated report. National study on the health and wellness determinants of legal professionals in Canada, phase II (2022-2024). Université de Sherbrooke, Business School. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368390016_Targeted_Recommendations_Towards_a_Healthy_and_Sustainable_Practice_of_Law_in_Canada
Chan, J., Poynton, S., & Bruce, J. (2014). Lawyering stress and work culture: An Australian study. UNSW Law Journal, 37(3), 1062-1102.
International Bar Association. (2021). Mental wellbeing in the legal profession: A global study. International Bar Association. https://www.ibanet.org/document?id=IBA-report-Mental-Wellbeing-in-the-Legal-Profession-A-Global-Study
Kelk, M., Luscombe, G., Medlow, S., & Hickie, I. (2009). Courting the blues: Attitudes towards depression in Australian law students and lawyers. Brain and Mind Research Institute. https://law.uq.edu.au/files/32510/Courting-the-Blues.pdf
Poynton, S., Chan, J., Vogt, M., Grunseit, A., & Bruce, J. (2018). Assessing the effectiveness of wellbeing initiatives for lawyers and support staff. UNSW Law Journal, 41(2), 584-619.
