Survey: Nearly 90% of Law Students Report Deteriorating Mental Health

A recent survey of law students and trainee lawyers found that nearly nine out of ten respondents felt their mental health had deteriorated due to their studies. The survey, conducted by the learning platform Jurafuchs, polled 1,592 law students and trainee lawyers on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10.

The results showed that 88.9% of respondents reported a decline in their mental health, with 47.1% stating that it had worsened significantly. Two-thirds of respondents rated their mental well-being as poor or fair in recent months, with women more likely to report poor mental health than men.

Mental Health Concerns

Exam anxiety was a major concern, with 67.4% of respondents fearing they would not pass their exams. More than half, 55.8%, were worried about not achieving a passing grade, while 55.9% were concerned about finding a job that matched their expectations after graduation.

Financial insecurity was also a significant worry, with 42.8% of respondents concerned about their financial security. Around one-third of respondents were concerned about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on their future job prospects.

Support and Resources

Most respondents relied on friends and family, sport and sufficient sleep to cope with the mental demands of their studies. 18.5% sought professional help, such as psychotherapy or coaching, while 17.8% used substances like nicotine, alcohol, or cannabis to manage stress.

A significant proportion of respondents, 60.4%, felt that their university or faculty did not provide adequate support for mental health. Only 11.6% rated the support as sufficient, while nearly half were unaware of the support services available to them.

Jurafuchs co-founder Carl-Wendelin Neubert called for structural changes to address the issue, including more accessible psychological support, modern teaching methods, and a reduced emphasis on high-stakes exams. He stated that the survey results were “an alarm signal” indicating that the current system was causing extreme pressure on students.