Towards a context-specific approach to understanding lawyers’ wellbeing: a synthesis review and future research agenda

Soon, Lucinda and McDowall, Almuth and Teoh, Kevin (2023) Towards a context-specific approach to understanding lawyers’ wellbeing: a synthesis review and future research agenda. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law , ISSN 1321-8719.

Abstract

Legal sector organisations face mounting pressure to protect and promote lawyers’ wellbeing. However, knowledge is fragmented hindering research and practice development. Our review investigated current conceptual understanding and empirical evidence of contextual influences. We systematically mapped the global scholarly and grey literature published since 1970, reviewing 145 relevant publications. Lawyers’ wellbeing is conceptualised primarily as ill-being, despite wellbeing’s positive facets. Empirical consideration of work context is mostly absent, though we deduce a focus on large commercial law firm practice and public service/legal aid. Our explanatory synthesis is abductive, coalescing Bourdieu’s (1977) concepts of field and habitus with Hobfoll’s (1989) conservation of resources theory to explain how context influences lawyers’ wellbeing via distinct resource losses. We urge theoretical development to elucidate the role of context and theory-driven research on the cumulative effects of resource loss and gain. Recommendations for practice include a renewed focus on job design and line management upskilling.

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