Personal Resilience within the Legal Profession
by Geeta Thakerar Co convenor of the SCCA Wellbeing Chapter
Why is it that some lawyers are able to smoothly and seamlessly overcome adversity and challenges — even emerging triumphant — while others struggle to rise from the quagmire?
It may come down to personal psychological and physical resilience. How resilient we are plays a significant role not just in mental wellbeing, but also in our overall success in life. Building personal and physical resilience against stress and anxiety involves deploying various coping strategies and mechanisms. This is a critically important attribute to develop in order to survive — and thrive — in the legal profession. Understanding this, and maintaining continuous awareness, can help you better equip yourself to proactively manage daily challenges and adversity.
So, what is resilience?
It’s the ability to bounce back from adversity — whether it’s a personal setback, emotional turmoil, or a major disruption — and to grow through the challenge, emerging stronger on the other side. With the right tools and coping mechanisms, you are better able to manage difficulties without being completely derailed. You’ll also be in a stronger position to thrive on challenges, reach your full potential, and positively impact those around you.
Do you routinely prioritise self-care, build strong social connections, practise mindfulness, and adopt healthy lifestyle habits?
Consider embedding some of these daily rituals into your routine:
Build strong, healthy relationships
Make every day purposeful
Learn from the past
Stay hopeful and optimistic
Take care of yourself
Take action — identify what needs to be done and face it head-on. Don’t ignore problems or procrastinate
If you're interested in exploring these ideas further — or simply want to join a thoughtful lunchtime conversation — come along to the SCCA WellFest Wellbeing Wednesdays Series, brought to you by the SCCA Wellbeing Chapter. We’ll continue the conversation with shared insights, practical tips, and meaningful discussion on Wednesday, 20 August 2025, over lunchtime.
Click here to register of the lunchtime session over lunch!