Mental health and wellbeing are growing concerns within the legal profession, given the nature of the work required and the responsibilities of legal professionals. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges and changes which have affected the way legal professionals in Hong Kong practice law.
“Making partner made everything worse. There was so much that I didn’t know that I felt I should know. The pressure was unrelenting.”
Whilst talking about and seeking help for mental health has become more widely acceptable, the concept of wellbeing is still somewhat emergent, and often, an optional afterthought.
Wellbeing is about finding balance in all aspects of a person’s life and involves a complex combination of mental, social and emotional factors that affect whether a person is able to develop a sense of comfort, health and happiness. Managing stress and mental health at work can help with ensuring we maintain a sense of wellbeing.
Practical Law‘s latest toolkit guides users through 40+ Practical Law resources addressing mental health and wellbeing issues for the legal industry, and is essential reading for lawyers and their managers. You can access the toolkit now by registering on this page.
What topics are covered?
- personal effectiveness
- benefits of effective communication
- developing higher emotional intelligence
- the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession
- the importance of making wellbeing a priority
- managing stress and mental health at work
- practising mindfulness
Individuals who prioritise their mental health and wellbeing are more likely to produce better outcomes in terms of work performance and productivity, build positive relationships with colleagues and clients, and have a positive attitude towards their job.
An added bonus
Additionally, the toolkit contains a bonus article about Imposter Syndrome, the silent struggle of the over-achieving lawyer, and includes strategies for overcoming self-doubt.
The phenomenon of “imposter syndrome” is widespread among lawyers and left unchecked, can lead lawyers to burn out and leave their jobs, or the profession altogether.
Here is an example of imposter syndrome in play: “Every time the phone rang, and it rang probably 20 times a day, I thought that this could be the phone call in which I would be exposed as a fraud. My colleague or my client would realise that I was not as smart or capable as they thought. They would finally realise that I had been pulling the wool over their eyes.“
Download the complimentary toolkit to gain insightful perspectives, guidance, and helpful tips on how lawyers can manage their mental health and wellbeing, and how organisations can ensure their employees and legal departments are supported.
About Practical Law
Practical Law provides legal know-how that gives lawyers a better starting point. Our expert team of attorney editors creates and maintains thousands of up-to-date, practical resources across all major practice areas. We go beyond primary law and traditional legal research to give you the resources needed to answer your “how do I” questions and proceed with confidence. If you are not currently a subscriber, we invite you to take a trial of our online services. Request a free trial here.
