A Lawyer Mental Health Initiative – But Will It Work

Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing writer

Australian lawyers have recently gained a new “right to disconnect” after work hours, according to a recent development in the legal profession with the aim of addressing the issue of work-life balance and mental health among legal professionals.

The move aligns with the global trend towards achieving less stress and greater work-life balance in legal life where mental burnout has been a major issue for law professions everywhere. Similar “right to disconnect” laws have been implemented or are being considered in other countries, reflecting a shift in workplace norms and expectations.

The new right applies to lawyers working in private practice across Australia, permitting them to ignore work-related communications outside of their regular working hours, including emails, phone calls, and messages, according to a report in The American Lawyer.

While the right provides a general framework for disconnecting, it acknowledges that there may be exceptions for urgent matters or during particularly busy periods so the new policy strikes a balance between protecting lawyers’ personal time and maintaining client service standards.

Potential Impact and Challenges

The introduction of this right represents a significant shift in the traditionally demanding work culture of the legal profession and challenges the long-standing expectation of constant availability and aims to promote better work-life balance.

Despite the positive intent, there are concerns about how effectively this right will be implemented and enforced and how effective it might be in practice. The competitive nature of the legal industry and ingrained work habits may pose challenges to its widespread adoption.

One of the main hurdles in implementing this right is managing client expectations. Law firms will need to navigate the balance between respecting their lawyers’ right to disconnect and meeting client demands for responsiveness a

The post The Right To Disconnect For Australian Lawyers appeared first on .