Well-Being in the Legal Profession

In recent decades there has been an increased awareness of the well-being challenges experienced in the legal profession. In 2019, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Canadian Bar Association collaborated on a large-scale, national study to better understand the current state of well-being in the legal profession and the main risk and protective factors that contribute to a legal professional’s well-being, and to develop recommendations to improve the health of legal professionals. The results of the National Wellness Study (Study) were released through both national and jurisdiction specific reports. 

This course is intended to be a starting point to learn about the current state of well-being in the legal profession and highlight some of the information, strategies and resources shared by lawyers, organizations and mental health experts to help you consider how to best support your and potentially others’ well-being. This course is not intended to provide medical or legal advice or to be a comprehensive guide. Prioritizing well-being at an individual and organizational level will look different depending on your unique circumstances and needs and the workplace environment. You should use your judgment when considering the information and seek professional support as appropriate.

This course outlines:

• a summary of the key findings and themes from the Study, with emphasis on findings relevant to Alberta when available;
• strategies that can help you prioritize well-being in the legal profession for yourself, your colleagues and your workplace; and
• resources and supports available to Alberta lawyers and students to support well-being.

All references and images relating to the Study are credited to the Study’s research team. The strategies outlined in this course include general principles that have been shared informally with the legal community. Credit is provided to all the lawyers, organizations and mental health experts who shared their experiences, learnings and suggestions with a common goal to improve the well-being of the profession.