4.2
Workplace Risk and Protective Factors

The following lists outline the specific workplace risk and protective factors the Study identified for the legal profession, listed in descending order of impact on mental health: 

  Risk Factors (i.e. constraints)  
  Protective Factors (i.e. resources)  
  1. Emotional demands: the work requires you to be emotionally involved with your client or their loved ones or places other emotional demands on you.
  2. Job insecurity: you fear losing your role or job.
  3. Hours worked: you work a high number of hours per week.
  4. Quantitative overload: the amount of work you have is difficult to manage or is unmanageable.
  5. Qualitative overload: the different types of work or tasks is difficult to manage or is unmanageable. 
  6. Lack of resources: you do not have the necessary human, financial or other resources to effectively carry out your work. 
  1. Autonomy: you have autonomy or flexibility regarding how your work is done and are involved in discussions that impact your work. 
  2. Values and goals: your values and goals are aligned with those in the workplace. 
  3. Support: you receive support from your colleagues and management, including listening to concerns that arise and offering help as appropriate. 
  4. Growth opportunities: you can progress or grow within your workplace and you are afforded opportunities. 
  5. Telework: you can work virtually on an occasional or regular basis. 

Illustration depicting person holding two weights of risk and protective factors on psychological distress. Risk is heavier. Paula Davis, founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute and author of Beating Burnout at Work: Why Teams Hold the Secret to Well-Being and Resilience, outlines two further protective characteristics that specifically help with resilience and performance:

  • Psychological safety and trust: the belief that you can be yourself, take good risks, ask questions, share partially formed ideas, raise problems and respectfully disagree within your team without worry of being embarrassed, singled out or penalized. 
  • Structure and clarity: you have clear roles and goals that are specific, challenging and attainable.

In the context of the Study, risk factors were shown to have a significantly greater impact on the psychological distress of legal professionals than protective factors.

Last modified: Friday, 26 September 2025, 2:57 PM