Law firm culture
Practising law: What’s normal got to do with it?
If you’re a practising lawyer the list of ‘normal’ feelings you have probably encountered is long. Do any of these notions sound familiar? Are they
Archives: Legal Pages
Mental health
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
Law firm culture
Are we pushing our future out?
Numerous recent news articles have highlighted the predicament of young and junior lawyers’ wellbeing. The headlines say it all: “… junior lawyers are less happy,
Mental health
More than just a cog the machine
“… 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)
Law firm culture
Are you leading the way to wellbeing in your firm?
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
Mental health
Self-care and the power of reflection
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
Time management
The billable hour and question of productivity
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
Law firm culture
There’s a policy… Intention is great. Action is critical.
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
Mental health
Lawyers are superheroes. They’re vulnerable too.
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
Stress and burnout
Shhh … We don’t say the “W” word!
For lawyers’ “wellbeing” * is an uncomfortable word. This became apparent to us recently at the Wellness for Lawyers Forum, hosted by the University of
Stress and burnout
Do you know when your people are struggling?
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
Stress and burnout
Ethics and wellbeing: Approaches to structural change
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
Law firm culture
Ethics and wellbeing: Toxic cultural norms
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
Mental health
Ethics and wellbeing: Our duty of care
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
Stress and burnout
Yoga is great, but …
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
Mental health
High Court decision not a fait accompli for cultural change
After six years, and three separate judgments, Zagi Kozarov’s protracted litigation with her former employer is finally over. While the case has the opportunity to
Time management
What’s in the mix?: Managing client relationships
Managing client relationships in the law can be incredibly challenging. Sometimes the legal work itself may not be particularly complex, but the challenges and stress
Time management
Under pressure … Pushing down on you …
Under pressure. Pushing down on you. Pushing down on me. Under pressure. Queen and David Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’ pretty accurately and succinctly describes what a
Law firm culture
Running your own race: Constructive competitiveness
Warm-up ‘Competition’ is defined as “the activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others”. Similarly, ‘Competitiveness’
Mental health
I’m a fraud! The paralysis of Imposter Syndrome
Do you fear being ‘found out’ for not knowing what you’re doing at work? Or for being incompetent? Do you ruminate about how you landed
Article Topics
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.
Latest Posts
Practising law: What’s normal got to do with it?
If you’re a practising lawyer the list of ‘normal’ feelings you have probably encountered is long. Do any of these notions sound familiar? Are they
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