Mental Fitness in the Law: A Resilience Training and Research Program for Legal Professionals

Intervention: Self-Reflective Resilience Training (Mental Fitness in the Law) The intervention will run over six weeks and combines structured workshops, weekly guided self-reflection activities, and fortnightly check-in calls. Week 1: An initial workshop (1.25 hours, delivered face-to-face or via Zoom) introduces the program, provides lecture-style training, and guides participants through their first written reflection activity. Weeks 2–5: Participants complete one written reflection activity per week (15 minutes, during a scheduled Zoom session). Weeks 2 and 4 also include a scripted check-in call (20 minutes via Zoom). Week 6: Participants attend a debriefing session (1 hour, online) and complete the T2 survey. The self-reflection activities are completed in a Reflection Booklet and involve responding to eight structured questions about a recent stressor, evaluating initial coping responses, and identifying alternative strategies for future situations. These Reflection Booklets have been developed for this study. The check-in calls are supportive conversations guided by a trial-specific script. The two intervention conditions are identical except for the reflection perspective: Condition 1 (Intervention): Participants complete reflections from a self-distanced (observer/third-person) perspective. Condition 2 (Comparator): Participants complete reflections from a self-immersed (first-person) perspective. All materials have been developed for this study. Workshops and writing sessions will be delivered by a psychologist. Check-in calls will be conducted by trained provisional psychologists under the supervision of the lead researchers. Provisional psychologists will need to have completed Masters of Organisational Psychology Coursework Units in Counselling and Coaching before assisting with the study. Provisional Psychologists will be provided with additional training by the lead researchers to provide support during assessment. This training will take place 2 weeks before the trial commences and the provisional psychologists will also be provided with supervision by lead researchers throughout the program. Sessions will take place either at participating law firm offices, Macquarie University’s City Campus, or online. Adherence will be monitored through attendance checklists and completion of scheduled activities.