This movement aims to help lawyers remove unnecessary stress, promote work-life balance and foster a healthier, sustainable workplace culture.

The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is leading a new initiative to foster healthier workplace culture in the legal sector. The Mindful Business Movement will launch at the Legal Profession Symposium on July 29, with the aim of reducing stress and attrition in the profession.

The consortium backing the initiative includes Temasek Holdings, UK’s Mindful Business Charter (MBC), WorkWell Leaders and Mindful Business Singapore. The effort will draw on practices from MBC, which has grown to over 140 signatories since its 2018 launch by Barclays and two law firms.

The initiative comes as part of SAL’s broader strategy to create future-ready legal talent, following its Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme introduced in May.

SAL CEO Yeong Zee Kin says sustainability and mental well-being must underpin legal excellence, calling for a shift toward practices that "respect rest, encourage reflection, and support better conversations".

The consortium will promote three key pillars: Smart Meetings & Communications, Supporting Rest & Growth, and Mindful Delegation. These were shaped through consultations with junior lawyers, a January report by SAL’s Ethics and Professional Standards Committee, and partner feedback.

Temasek, which released its Lawyer Sustainability Guidelines last year, is expected to drive the commitment among its investees. WorkWell Leaders and Mindful Business Singapore will support outreach and implementation within the broader business community.

At the symposium, young lawyers will engage directly with senior leaders to co-design reforms, with discussions captured in a new Living Case Study platform to monitor progress.