legalsuper has announced a partnership with Mental Health First Aid International to address mental health challenges within the Australian legal profession. The super fund noted that mental health conditions are among the most prevalent causes of total and permanent disability (TPD) claims from members, given the prevalence of mental health challenges among Australian legal professionals. The fund added that evidence shows outcomes are significantly improved when support is provided early, before issues escalate to a crisis point or require extended time away from work. This partnership reflects a growing recognition within the legal sector that mental health is one of the most significant challenges facing professionals today – one that has real implications not only for individual wellbeing, but for career sustainability, workplace culture, and long-term financial security.
Expanding access to training
The new partnership will enable the fund to promote MHFA training and resources directly to its members, employer partners, and the broader legal community. This builds on its existing provision of training access since 2019 through industry partners. The training programs are designed to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and provide practical skills to support colleagues, clients, and peers. These programs will be accessible to legal professionals across different practice areas and career stages, from junior solicitors to senior partners, ensuring that mental health support skills are distributed throughout law firms of all sizes and specialisations.
Paul Northey, legalsuper chief member officer, said that mental health is one of the most complex and growing challenges facing our communities, including the legal profession. Its effects extend beyond mental and physical wellbeing, often impacting financial wellbeing through reduced productivity, lost income, and increased financial stress. Through our partnership, we are helping Mental Health First Aid invest in early intervention across the legal industry, equipping individuals and workplaces with the skills to recognise when someone may be struggling, respond with confidence, and support one another before issues escalate, he said. The fund recognises that the demanding nature of legal work, including tight deadlines, high stakes matters, and the emotional weight of client issues, creates an environment where mental health challenges can develop insidiously without obvious warning signs.
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Northey added that through the increased investment and direct working partnership, the fund aims to considerably expand the number of legal professionals accessing the program to more than 1,000 participants per year. A key aspect of the expansion will be supporting and equipping law firms across the country to work with the fund in conducting workshops within their own workplaces. This approach allows training to be delivered in familiar professional settings, making it more convenient for legal professionals to participate and enabling peer-to-peer learning among colleagues who understand the specific pressures of legal practice. The workshops will be tailored to address challenges commonly experienced in legal environments, such as managing work-life boundaries, handling professional liability stress, and supporting colleagues through difficult caseloads.
Targeting workplace safety
Angus Clelland, MHFA International chief executive, said that the new partnership will enable considerable expansion of Mental Health First Aid training across the legal profession. By working together with legalsuper and collaborating directly with Australia’s law firms, the organizations can help equip more people with the skills and confidence to support mental health. This effort aims to ultimately create safer, more supportive communities within the legal sector. The collaboration represents a strategic alignment between a super fund focused on member financial wellbeing and an organisation specialising in practical mental health response skills, combining expertise in retirement savings protection with frontline intervention training.