A new report by the Legal Services Research Centre offers fresh insights into the drivers of poor lawyer wellbeing. Workload, unfair compensation, incivility, sexual harassment and conflicts with professional obligations – are all strongly associated with poor wellbeing outcomes. The report’s key message is that addressing adverse workplace behaviours and culture are key to change – and sector-wide leadership is needed to achieve this end.
Wellbeing report findings
The data shows that distress remains high. Among the approximately 1500 lawyers who completed the wellbeing module in the 2025 Lawyer Census, more than half were experiencing psychological distress with 13% lawyers reporting severe levels. For lawyers aged 20-29 this increased to 20% reporting severe levels of psychological distress.
Fresh insights on burnout rates for the Victorian profession showed 53% at risk of burnout, including 25% at very high risk of burnout.
The impact of poor lawyer wellbeing goes beyond negative experiences at work. Psychological distress and burnout were both associated with lower life satisfaction and intention to leave the profession.
"A central message of this research is that workplace conditions matter, and that they are a lever for change. Workload, fair compensation, sexual harassment, incivility, and conflicts with professional obligations are the conditions most strongly and independently associated with lawyer wellbeing. Many factors contribute to workplace conditions and culture, both positive and negative. Action on any of them is a step in the right direction."
Prof. Nigel Balmer, Research Director, Legal Services Research Centre
“The latest wellbeing report reveals that adverse workplace conditions and culture are both the cause and lever for change.
“Healthy workplace behaviours and culture are key to improving lawyer wellbeing.
“It’s critical for organisations to interrogate their workplace behaviours and culture and to take action where change is needed.
“We have designed tools and resources to help enact change across the profession, and I encourage you to use them.
“While they are performing such a critical role, lawyers should reasonably expect that they will be both physically and psychologically safe in the workplace.
“Improving lawyer wellbeing is a shared responsibility across the profession—it requires leadership, collaboration and sustained effort across the sector.”
Legal Services Board CEO and Commissioner, Fiona McLeay
“We want to see a significant improvement in lawyer wellbeing across the sector, and work is underway. The Lawyer Census will provide an annual measure for wellbeing data that will help the profession measure progress.”
Lucy Fraser, Wellbeing spokesperson, VLSB+C
Initiatives to address lawyer wellbeing
Poor lawyer wellbeing is a well-known, sector-wide problem which needs a systemic solution. Read about the strong foundation of work already underway including our Wellbeing Guidelines for Legal Workplaces, a practical, evidence-based tool designed to support principals, leaders and managers to safeguard the wellbeing of lawyers and legal support staff, by improving workplace culture.
The guidelines clearly set out actions that legal workplace leaders can take, whether it's the first action to improve lawyer wellbeing, or the latest measure in an established wellbeing program.
The guidelines were developed using earlier research commissioned and supported by the VLSB+C and through consultation with WorkSafe Victoria – and importantly, align with WorkSafe’s new Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations – and the Lawyer Wellbeing Community of Practice – a group of psychologists and wellbeing experts working in the Australian legal profession.
Next steps
This new research from the Legal Services Research Centre continues to highlight the need for change at the individual, interpersonal, organisation and sector level, and highlights how we all need to work together towards system change.
The Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change provides a roadmap. To support progress, we now have four wellbeing pilots underway that target key outcomes in the Theory of Change, including on workload, reflective practice and client expectation. New resources developed in these pilots will be shared with the profession later in the year.
Watch Fiona McLeay, CEO and Commissioner, VLSB+C on the Wellbeing guidelines
More resources to support lawyer wellbeing
If the information in this report has raised concerns for you, please consider contacting one of these services:
If you require immediate mental health support, call on 13 11 14.
You can also access other health and wellbeing support services:
- Your GP can provide you with a mental health care plan and refer you to a psychologist for subsidised treatment.
- Victorian Bar’s online health and wellbeing portal provides information and independent counselling services to members.
- Law Institute of Victoria counselling service (AccessEAP) provides confidential 24/7 support and counselling to all Victorian solicitors – call 1800 818 728.
- Beyond Blue provides information about depression, anxiety and related disorders – call 1300 22 4636.
- The Black Dog Institute provides information on depression and bipolar disorder. It also has a dedicated toolkit to help lawyers stay well.
- Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.
- Headspace provides mental health support for 12 to 25-year-olds.