Lawyer wellbeing, workplace experiences and ethics (the report) is a report by researchers from the Australian National University and University of Melbourne, supported by VLSB+C, the Law Society of New South Wales and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. It presents findings from a survey completed in early 2024 by about 2,000 lawyers across these 3 Uniform Law jurisdictions.  

The report examines the relationships between wellbeing, ethical climate, workplace incivility and wellbeing safeguards in legal workplaces, and explores how these factors influence individuals’ intentions to leave either their current workplace, or the legal profession altogether. 

The report reveals: 

• There is a gap between the perceptions and experiences of more senior and junior members of the profession. Senior leaders have an opportunity to investigate the views and experiences of those at lower levels of the workplace hierarchy, and use the results to critically reflection on organisational culture.
• The first 5 years of legal practice are critical to lawyers’ wellbeing. To increase the sustainability of the legal workforce, leaders should prioritise improving lawyers’ experiences of the first 5 years of practice, as well as (or indeed through) the quality of management.
• A high proportion of participants experienced psychosocial supports in the workplace, but this came mostly from colleagues informally. There is an opportunity to increase formal psychosocial supports as well as flexible work arrangements, which was seen as a priority by many participants.
• There are a range of areas where positive wellbeing can be improved. Active attention to both ethical climate and psychosocial support offers a pathway to building the greater sense of community, agency, engagement and motivation required to enhance wellbeing. 

Lawyer wellbeing, workplace experiences and ethics: A research report is available for download below. 

We thank the lawyers who took the time to share their valuable insights as part of this project. Your participation made this report possible, and will help shape evidence-based initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of wellbeing within the legal profession. 

About the VLSB+C lawyer wellbeing program  

The VLSB+C is working with the legal sector to shift the conversation about lawyer wellbeing to focus on the systemic drivers of poor wellbeing, and identify the change that’s needed to improve wellbeing outcomes. 

Our program seeks to drive positive change, particularly at a system and organisational level, rather than exclusively focusing on the individual resilience of lawyers. Find out more on our lawyer wellbeing web pages. 

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