The second phase of the national study on wellness in the Canadian legal profession, released in October 2024, provides critical insights into the mental, physical, and emotional challenges faced by legal professionals across Canada. Building on the 2022 findings from Phase I, this phase delves deeper into regional contexts, offering 12 distinct reports for law societies across Canada and a consolidated overview of the results.
The study highlights significant concerns within the profession, including a culture that often conflicts with work-life balance and personal well-being. New legal professionals face heightened pressures due to demanding billable-hour targets, while stigma around mental health remains pervasive, with over half of participants perceiving such struggles as a sign of weakness. These findings underscore the need for stronger mentorship
programs and wellness support to foster both professional development and mental health.
The report also outlines well-being initiatives introduced by law societies, aligning with Phase I recommendations. Each regional report includes resources available to legal professionals and identifies gaps where additional efforts are needed. Feedback from participants reveals widespread stress, lack of attention to nutrition, sleep, and exercise, and limited emphasis on overall health within the profession.
CBA President Lynne Vicars emphasized that the legal profession’s high levels of distress impact not just individual professionals but the justice system as a whole, advocating for ongoing efforts to create healthier work environments and reduce mental health stigma. The study is part of a larger five-year research initiative involving the Université de Sherbrooke, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and the Canadian Bar Association, aimed at promoting a sustainable and balanced practice of law in Canada. The findings and recommendations from Phase II are expected to guide continued efforts to address these systemic challenges.