Written by Paige Levesque
Law is a rewarding career with diverse pathways offering the opportunity to support others through some of the most challenging aspects/moments in of their lives. Given this, lawyers are often regarded as resilient, dedicated and ambitious individuals. However, too often lawyers get caught up taking care of everyone else's problems they forget to check in on themselves. A combination of heavy workloads, high-stake decision making and unforgiving work hours can create a perfect storm for burnout, anxiety and depression. The good news? As the next generation of lawyers we can raise awareness of these issues and change how we approach wellbeing in the legal profession.
Numbers We Can’t Ignore
In the first year of law school, 30% of students already reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression. (1)
In the final year of law school, 35.4% of students reported high or very high levels of psychological distress. This is double the rate of final year medical students. (2)
A 2019 survey reported that 60% of legal professionals experienced depression or knew someone who had. (3)
Studies reveal law is among the top two professions with the highest prevalence of mental health problems (4), with more than 30% of practicing lawyers experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress. (5)
Awareness to Action
Given the overwhelming statistics that legal professionals’ experience mental health risks well above the national average, it is clear that lawyers' wellbeing can no longer be treated as an afterthought in the profession. Fortunately, there are practical steps students can take from the beginning of their studies to establish habits that protect their mental health as they navigate their legal careers.
Tips & Strategies for Protecting Your Well-being
Schedule well-being time for yourself. Taking time for yourself is just as important as meeting deadlines. Plan time everyday to let your brain rest, you'll be surprised how much clearer you feel afterwards.
Build a support network. Both within and outside the legal profession, ensure you surround yourself with people who keep you grounded.
Utilise the resources around you. Seek out professional support services, university wellbeing programs or simply talk to someone you trust. Reaching out early can make challenges feel more manageable.
Prioritise things that bring you joy. Identify hobbies or interests you enjoy and carve out time for them each week. Protecting your space isn’t indulgent, it's essential for maintaining balance.
Set boundaries and manage expectations. Learning to say no when necessary and respecting your own limits is hard but it will help prevent burnout and ensure you can show up at your best when it really counts.
Sources:
Wendy Larcombe and Katherine Fethers, ‘Schooling the Blues? An Investigation of Factors Associated With Psychological Distress Among Law Students.’
Wendy Larcome, Ian Malkin and Pip Nicholson, ‘Law Students’ Motivations, Expectations and Levels of Psychological Distress: Evidence of Connections.’
Peter Andrea, ‘Lawyers Experience High rates of Anxiety and Depression, Survey Finds’ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/study-finds-high-rates-anxiety-depression-in-legal-profession/11412832.
Georgia Neaverson, ‘How are our lawyers? Mental health in the Legal Industry’
Angela Tufvesson, ‘Can a Global Push Alleviate Lawyer Burnout?’
https://lsj.com.au/articles/can-a-global-push-alleviate-lawyer-burnout/.