Resilient lawyers: maximising well-being in legal education and practice

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact of tertiary education policy, university characteristics and student characteristics on the mental health and wellbeing of law students. It discusses how modifiable university-wide practices and interventions have the potential to positively influence the self-management and self-regulation skills of law students. The chapter explores the relationship between these personal skills, learning and graduate outcomes. Implications for policy and practice are reviewed, including challenges to the implementation of universal wellbeing strategies. Proximal social and physical environments, including the learning environment, affect the ongoing development of the student as a person. Universal interventions to promote a healthy university would include an emphasis on developing protective factors for general health and wellbeing, such as sleep, nutrition, physical activity, connectedness and resilience. thedesk is a web-based programme developed to support the mental health and wellbeing of university students. Improving the mental health of law students requires a holistic approach to wellbeing that relies upon broader university policies and procedures.