Legal supervision is a bespoke style of professional supervision offered by InCourage. It was created out of the findings from Tysons post graduate research through the University of Auckland which studied lawyers working in criminal, family, and immigration practice contexts and how professional supervision could support and improve their wellbeing outcomes.

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Legal supervision can best be conceptualised as a combination of professional reflective supervision and trauma informed supervision, but one which is attuned to the unique challenges and culture within the practice of law in New Zealand. It brings an awareness of the environments and cultures that lawyers navigate, the stresses and pressures they face, as well as sensitivity to ethics and professional self concept. Legal supervision creates and fosters a supervisory relationship that promotes safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and awareness of cultural and identity factors as a foundation. 

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Legal supervision is informed and supported by the recent growth in trauma informed legal practice which acknowledges the impacts of indirect trauma on legal professionals and creates a work environment that is supportive of the inhabitants within it.

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Professional supervision is currently mandated in family law for any lawyer for child (Section 13.4). Additionally professional supervision is considered part of the Continuing Professional Development by NZLS. 

 

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