Mental Health in the Legal Industry

By Isabel Ayoub – Solicitor

Mental health in the law is an important topic of discussion. It is also a vital aspect of individuals lives as it impacts not only your behaviour but it can also impact your physical health, and those around you.

We are often prompted to think about our personal wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of those around us such as family and friends. As lawyers, we regularly consider how we can best serve our clients, but we might forget to take care of ourselves and the staff around us.

Wellbeing is a shared responsibility between the individual lawyer and the workplace.

Mental Health in the Legal Industry According to Recent Research

Most vulnerable people in law firms are junior lawyers (that is, newly admitted lawyers);
Most people who leave law firms are junior;
More men join the legal industry than women;
Commonly, people aged 23 to 26 join the legal industry; and
More women are leave the legal industry than men.

Stress

Stress can be a challenge or a threat to somebody. As individuals, we cannot reduce all stress, but we need to make it tolerable.

The World Health Organisation defines stress as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being”.

Where there are high levels of stress, there is often:

Instability;
Low self-esteem;
Low performance;
More likely leave the profession;
Less workplace support;
Poor communication and management;
Bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination;
Long hours; and
Unmanageable workloads.

Lawyers who deliver high quality legal services still need to focus on enhancing wellbeing for themselves as well as those around them.

Wellbeing

According to The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, mental health is defined as “a state of wellbeing that enables you to deal with what life throws at you. It is about feeling resilient, enjoying life, and being able to connect with others.”

When an individual has a good sense of mental health they are able to:

“cope with the normal stresses of life;
be productive both at work and in your private life;
relate well to other people;
contribute to your community.”

About mental health | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Support

If you or someone you know need support, there are services available. The Law Society of NSW has a solicitor outreach service which is contactable on 1800 592 296.

There are also other support helplines: