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Lawyer-specific superannuation fund legalsuper has entered a three-year partnership with Mental Health First Aid International (MHFA) to enable expanded access to evidence‑based mental health training, resources, and support for legal professionals, employers, and future practitioners across Australia.
The partnership, legalsuper said in a statement, will address a growing recognition that mental health is one of the most significant challenges facing the legal profession today – “one that has real implications not only for individual wellbeing, but for career sustainability, workplace culture, and long‑term financial security”.
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. However, it added, evidence shows that outcomes are significantly improved when support is provided early, before issues escalate to a crisis point or require extended time away from work.
The new partnership between legalsuper and MHFA will enable the fund to expand its reach by promoting MHFA training and resources directly to its members, employer partners and the broader legal community, building on its existing provision of training access since 2019 through industry partners. The training programs that lawyers will be able to access have been designed to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and provide practical skills to support colleagues, clients and peers.
Legalsuper chief member officer Paul Northey 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.
“Through our increased investment and direct working partnership with MHFA, we aim to considerably expand the number of legal professionals accessing the program to more than 1,000 participants per year. And a key aspect of the expansion will be supporting and equipping law firms across the country to work with us in conducting workshops within their own workplaces.”
MHFA International chief executive Angus Clelland added 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, we can help equip more people with the skills and confidence to support mental health – ultimately creating safer, more supportive communities within the legal sector,” he said.
