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. 2023 Jul 3;31(3):550-573.
doi: 10.1080/13218719.2023.2206879. eCollection 2024.

Towards a context-specific approach to understanding lawyers' well-being: a synthesis review and future research agenda

Lucinda Soon  1 , Almuth McDowall  1 , Kevin R H Teoh  1
Affiliations

Towards a context-specific approach to understanding lawyers' well-being: a synthesis review and future research agenda

Lucinda Soon et al. Psychiatr Psychol Law. .

Abstract

Legal sector organisations face mounting pressure to protect and promote lawyers' well-being. 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' well-being is conceptualised primarily as ill-being, despite well-being'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 concepts of field and habitus with Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory to explain how context influences lawyers' well-being 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.

Keywords: conservation of resources theory; lawyers; legal professionals; systematic review; work-related well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Lucinda Soon has declared no conflicts of interest Almuth McDowall has declared no conflicts of interest Kevin R. H. Teoh has declared no conflicts of interest

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Review search terms.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Literature selection and screening process.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Growth in publications over the past 50 years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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