Brain and Mind Research Institute survey on depression in the legal profession

18/09/2008

Professor Ian Hickey from the Brain and Mind Research Institute spoke this morning�on Radio National's Breakfast programme about the�high incidence�of depression among Australian lawyers and law students. Professor Hickey�previewed the results of�his survey, which will be delivered at�tonight's Tristan Jepson Memorial Lecture.

The institute's survey of 2,413 lawyers included 738 students from 13 law schools nationally, 924 solicitors and 751 barristers. It found the level of distress was high in all three groups but was particularly pronounced in students.

"There is certainly that commercial pressure, a strong sense of competitiveness and lawyers themselves obviously are very committed, often obsessional, perfectionistic and�...�[with] that kind of personality and that kind of environment, potentially there's a toxic mix", said Professor Hickey.

The transcript of Professor Hickey's interview on Radio National is available in the Bar Library.

18 September 2008