Mental Health Risks High for Law Students and Junior Lawyers

By Rachel Vella | 3 November 2023

Survive law school and you're set. Right? Wrong! Whether you’ve gotten into law school and studying a prestigious and competitive degree or just been admitted as a lawyer and started working in a law firm for the first time, the narrative for success is often painted as obtaining exemplary grades, participating in extra-curricular activities and securing a position as a graduate lawyer.

In reality, the unique pressures of law school and working in a law firm can place a significant burden on the mental and physical wellbeing of students and junior lawyers. It is well recorded that not only do legal professional experience  higher levels of depression and psychological distress than those in the general population, but that these patterns often commence in law school. In light of recent research , it is clear that merely surviving law school is no guarantee to being the best and healthiest version of your self.

Many law students begin their studies with certain ideas and expectations about their future but become disillusioned once they face the pressure of doing well academically, obtaining work experience and securing employment after graduation. While a slight slump in motivation is normal, for some, the feelings of disillusionment can run deeper.

According to the Brain and Mind Research Institute, studies found that law students experience depression at triple the rate of the general population. Furthermore, another study found that 40% of the law students studied had experienced psychological distress severe enough to warrant medical intervention. It’s not just the external pressures that can increase the likelihood of mental health issues. The same study found that the common characteristics of perfectionism and pessimism found in law students can increase their vulnerability to depression and other mental illness as a group.

Beyond Blue also found that lawyers take first place where depression and mental health problems are concerned, beating out bankers ,brokers and engineers. In light of this, it is wise for law students to establish commitment to their mental and physical health before they graduate.

Given the prevalence of depression among law students and junior lawyers, it is essential that they make a conscious effort to maintain physical and mental wellbeing habits. As the pressures of completing assessments and exams for law students increase and junior solicitors keeping up with their assigned workload, they should make time to improve their mental health and wellbeing while their study or workload becomes overbearing:

Steps to improve your mental health and wellbeing:

1. Keeping in regular contact with friends and family.
2. Commit to maintain a balanced diet
3. Engage in hobbies and interests outside of law studies such as sport, art or volunteer work.
4. Make time for regular exercise/
5. Seek out trusted family members, friends, or mentors who you can talk to about the pressures of law school.
6. Seek out a new hobby or extra-curricular activities to become involved in.

Student clubs and societies provide an ideal way of interacting with other like-minded students and can often provide a great means of interacting with those who are facing the same pressures in a relaxed environment.

Studying law and starting out as a Junior Lawyer is a worthwhile and rewarding pathway, but it is important to remember that there is help available if you need it.

Rachel Vella is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).