Welcome > ADMA > Your Enquiry > Lawyer Well-Being > I am an articling student, and I am having issues with my principal. What can I do?
The following are resources that may be helpful in answering your enquiry. Please familiarize yourself with them before moving on.
In brief: Every student deserves to have an enriching and safe articling experience. The expectations will be high, requiring dedication and hard work, and you will face new challenges you have not experienced before. However, high expectations does not mean you should have to accept disrespectful treatment; no person in a workplace should have to endure discriminatory circumstances.
If you’ve come up against a problem with your principal that has you feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to call a Practice Advisor. They can provide a listening ear, offer insights and help you navigate through challenging situations - no issue is silly or too small! We encourage you to call early and call often. Follow the link at the bottom of this page to schedule an appointment.
Call a Bencher. Benchers have a wealth of practical knowledge and connections within the legal community and may be able to help you talk through a problem or offer suggestions for how to proceed.
Follow this link to reach out to a Bencher.
Talk to a mentor or trusted colleague. Your colleagues and legal community can be one of your greatest assets and supports. If you have a trusted colleague in your field, chances are they will have been through a similar experience and will be able to empathize or suggest next steps.
Check out LifeSpeak. As of 2023, the Law Society provides lawyers and articling students access to LifeSpeak, a digital wellness platform that offers content to help you manage your mental health. For in-the-moment support to help bring you back to baseline, check out guided meditations, videos and other resources for practical tips that you can implement immediately in your daily life.
Follow this link to learn more about LifeSpeak.
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