Many NZ lawyers find their work rewarding – and distressing. How can they be supported?
NZ’s first large study of lawyer wellbeing finds widespread work-related distress – as well as some potential solutions to address it.
Being a lawyer in Aotearoa New Zealand is widely known as a demanding profession, but recent research reveals that the challenges extend beyond the typical workload and long hours. The newly published "Law in Distress" report has uncovered significant levels of work-related distress and indirect trauma among lawyers, which can be attributed to both the inherent nature of their work and broader systemic issues.
Surprisingly, despite these hardships, the majority of surveyed lawyers (77.5%) expressed their intention to continue practicing law. This unwavering commitment is crucial when contemplating potential solutions to alleviate work-related distress. To effectively address this issue, any proposed solutions must acknowledge the intrinsic meaning lawyers derive from their profession, as well as their strong professional identity and sense of belonging within the legal community.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
