Wellness for lawyers
small group wellness sessions
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accredited CPD wellness lectures
•
in-house wellness consultancy
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small group wellness sessions • accredited CPD wellness lectures • in-house wellness consultancy •
in-house wellness consultancy
•
small group wellness sessions
•
accredited CPD wellness lectures
•
in-house wellness consultancy • small group wellness sessions • accredited CPD wellness lectures •
Wellness for lawyers
small group wellness sessions
•
accredited CPD wellness lectures
•
in-house wellness consultancy
•
small group wellness sessions • accredited CPD wellness lectures • in-house wellness consultancy •
in-house wellness consultancy
•
small group wellness sessions
•
accredited CPD wellness lectures
•
in-house wellness consultancy • small group wellness sessions • accredited CPD wellness lectures •
About
Chill Wellness was established by former lawyer, Maria-Luisa Coulson in 2024 with the objective of assisting lawyers to achieve and maintain wellness of the mind, body and soul.
For decades alarming rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse have been documented in the legal profession. Maria-Luisa works with lawyers, law practices and the judiciary to boost wellness, optimising productivity and retention of staff within the workplace.
“Retention of staff was one of the biggest challenges I faced in my 28 years of legal practice. By increasing the wellbeing of lawyers, we aim to increase productivity, and reduce staff turnover. There is a direct correlation between wellness and productivity.”
Join us for a rejuvenating 4-day experience designed exclusively for legal professionals. The Chill Wellness Retreat combines professional development with wellness in the heart of Tuscany, offering accredited CPD lectures and an immersive wellness program. Nestled in the tranquil beauty of La Forra Retreat, this is your opportunity to recharge and find balance.
Upcoming events
wellness services
Chill Wellness provides the following services to reduce chronic stress, anxiety and depression and to promote wellbeing and productivity for lawyers:
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CPD wellness lectures
Legal Practice Board accredited wellness lectures and workshops (for which attendees receive CPD points)
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Corporate wellness consultancy
In-house wellness consultancy for teams and individuals, for law firms and other legal institutions, including the judiciary.
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Private wellness consultancy
Individual wellness consultancy, tailored to the individual’s needs.
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Small Group Wellness Sessions
Small group wellness sessions/activities (e.g. yoga, breathwork, meditation, retreats)
Assisting law firms to manage psychosocial risks
In light of 2022 changes to Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, employers are now subject to a positive duty to proactively identify, mitigate and manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace. For law firms, where workloads are high, deadlines are intense, and client demands can be unrelenting, meeting this obligation is both a compliance requirement and a strategic opportunity to support the wellbeing and performance of staff.
Chill Wellness offers a specialised program for legal workplaces that integrates best-practice wellness education with practical, evidence-based interventions. Our services align with WHS compliance and promote a culture of care, resilience, and sustainable productivity.
The Legal Framework
The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), supported by the Code of Practice: Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace, imposes a positive duty on employers to manage psychosocial risks, such as:
Excessive workload
Poor support from management
Exposure to traumatic material
Bullying, harassment, and incivility
Poor work-life balance
Non-compliance can result in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and high staff turnover. A proactive, integrated wellness approach is now essential for legal practice leaders.
Recommended First Step:
Audit & Seminar Package
We recommend law firms begin with a two-part engagement:
Our Approach
Chill Wellness takes a multi-layered, evidence-informed approach to psychosocial risk management. Our services include:
Staff Education: CPD-accredited seminars and workshops on burnout, stress, mindfulness, breathwork, and nervous system regulation.
Workplace Audit & Gap Analysis: Identification of psychosocial risks and cultural pain points.
Executive Coaching: Targeted support for leaders to role-model wellness and embed change.
Ongoing Support: Customised wellness programs and breathwork sessions.
All services are informed by legal profession research and designed for the unique demands of legal practice.
CPD Seminar for Staff and Leaders
A 60-minute seminar titled "Managing Psychosocial Risks in Legal Workplaces". This includes:
Key legal duties under WHS laws
Common psychosocial hazards in law firms
Practical tools to reduce risk and support wellbeing
Group discussion and optional breathwork session
This session will attract 1 CPD point for attendees, provided they sign in and out and attend for the full 60 minutes.
Psychosocial Risk Audit
A review of the workplace including staff interviews, Maslach Burnout Inventory Assessments, observation and document review.
A short report is provided with risk ratings and recommendations.
The time taken for the review will depend on the size of the firm.
This package is cost-effective and CPD compliant.
Firms may then choose to progress to a longer-term program.
Contact Maria-Luisa for more information.
“Having worked closely with lawyers during my legal career, I understand the stresses lawyers face. I too suffered burnout. I too struggled to achieve a work/life balance. In recent years, I have learnt skills and strategies that I wish I had learnt during my career.”
Maria-Luisa Coulson
(née ojeda)
BA LLB
WELLNESS CONSULTANT
Lecturer for Legal Practice Board Accredited CPD Sessions
“People used to describe me as a passionate speaker on the topic of legal costs. My passion for legal costs pales in comparison to my passion for the topic of Wellness. I am truly passionate about Wellness and am excited to work with lawyers in this new capacity.”
In her 28 years of legal practice, Maria-Luisa was regularly exposed to the stresses that lawyers bear, and the toll that those stresses take on their personal and professional lives.
Until she retired from the practice of law in June 2023, Maria-Luisa was a recognised leader in the Law of Costs, having acted as counsel in some of Western Australia’s leading costs decisions and appeals., first as a Barrister, then as Managing Director of her law firm, Coulson Legal.
Maria-Luisa also lectured lawyers and law students in costs, was a member of the Legal Practice Board (LPB), the LPB’s Legal Practitioners’ Complaints Committee and the LPB’s Professional Affairs Committee, and she was a member of and chaired the Law Society of Western Australia’s Costs Committee.
She left the law in June 2023 to study Wellness and to return to her sport of choice, competitive sailing. She has since competed nationally and internationally in various regattas in various classes, including winning the World Women’s Masters RS Aero Title in Sardinia, Italy in July 2023.
In 2024, she completed studies in the area of Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness at Harvard Medical School and in Mindfulness and Burnout at Monash University. In 2024 she also completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Monica Gauci and Gregor Maehle in Ubud, Indonesia and in 2024 and 2025 she completed her Breathwork Instructor Training with Johannes Egberts of Breathless Expeditions.
learning journey
“Whilst my learning journey is a continuing one, it has ignited a fresh purpose in me; to share with lawyers the strategies that I have learnt that have enhanced my life in such a positive way. With those strategies, I can encourage lawyers make positive changes to enable them to live a happier and healthier life.”
Yoga Teacher Traning with Gregor Maehler & Monica Gauci in Ubud, Indonesia, May 2024
Breathwork Instructor Training with Breathless Expeditions, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, October 2024
the importance
of wellness
The legal profession has historically alarming rates of depression, with lawyers ranking highly amongst the most depressed professionals.
\When compared to other professions, lawyers were found to have experienced the highest incidence of depressive symptoms and were the most likely to use alcohol or other drugs to reduce or manage their symptoms. Unsurprisingly, and of concern, depression rates are even increasing amongst law students.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 40, and is disproportionately higher in the legal profession than in other professions and occupations. The concerning prevalence of suicide in the profession provides a stark reminder of the seriousness of the issue of mental health in the legal profession.
“As lawyers, we are in a constantly combative environment. We are trained to take on the stresses of our clients. However, we need to learn to relieve ourselves of those stresses. If not, we will continue to see the severe consequences of a lifetime of chronic stress.”
wellness retreats - tuscany and Margaret river
Contact
chill wellness
Complete the contact form for further information, or email Maria-Luisa at mlcoulson@chillwellness.com.au