Designing Customized Programs to Address the Mental Health Needs of
The Firm
Declining mental health is an issue in the law: depression, anxiety, burn-out and addiction are all problems. Prevention is clearly required, it is best for the firm, the lawyer and ultimately for the clients.
Mental Health & The Canadian Legal Profession
More than half of all respondents reported experiencing psychological distress and burnout. Those rates are even higher for professionals living with a disability, articling students, lawyers aged 26-35, legal professionals with less than 10 years of experience, legal professionals identifying as members of LGBTQ2S+ community, and women
Among the groups with the highest proportions of psychological distress were:
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Women legal professionals (63.7%)
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Legal professionals working in the public sector or not-for-profit (58.0%) and private practice (58.4%)
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Legal professionals between the ages of 26 and 35 (71.1%)
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Legal professionals with less than 10 years of experience (70.8%)
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Articling students (72.0%)
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Ontario paralegals (65.9%) and Quebec notaries (65.9%)
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Legal professionals living with a disability (74.3%)
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Legal professionals identifying as members of the LGBTQ2S+ community (69.3%)
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Legal professionals working in Nunavut (76.4%)