What is JustBalance?
Law school can be a very difficult time for many students. You might be struggling or know someone who is. If so, JustBalance is for you.
Think of this as a gateway — inside, you will find lots of student stories, along with the information, support and resource links you need to begin your journey to wellness. Our goal is to provide a forum for exploring the systemic and personal issues facing today's law students in a way that is both relevant and meaningful.
Whether you see all of yourself in these experiences or just glimpses of what you are going through, know you are not alone and that there are options for a healthier and more fulfilling law school experience. By joining the conversation here and keeping it going after you leave, you will be helping to create an even larger community of support, understanding and sensitivity. The more we acknowledge the influences that impact law student well-being, the sooner we will be able to influence systemic change, so that it is not just ok to ask for and receive help at law school, but easy and comfortable to do so.
Keep balanced and stay well.
Our Mandate
JustBalance was established to fill a gap in accessible, law-school-specific mental health resources in Canada. Unlike general student wellness sites, JustBalance centres the unique pressures of legal education: competitive grading, articling anxiety, Socratic method stress, professional identity formation, and the culture of stoicism that pervades many law schools.
Our content was developed collaboratively with law students, practising lawyers, licensed counsellors, and legal educators — ensuring every page reflects real experiences and evidence-informed guidance.
Funding & Institutional Transparency
JustBalance was originally funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. This government backing ensured the site was built as a public-interest, non-commercial resource with no advertising, sponsored content, or affiliate relationships of any kind.
JustBalance has no commercial relationships. All content is provided free of charge. No personal data is sold or shared with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Expert Advisory Board
All health-relevant content on JustBalance is developed and reviewed by licensed professionals with expertise in mental health and the law school environment. Our advisory board includes registered psychologists, social workers, legal educators, and student advocates.
Dr. Susan Graham
Registered Psychologist & Director, Student Wellness
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Expertise: Anxiety, depression, and academic stress in graduate-level professional programs.
Prof. David Tanaka
Associate Professor of Law & Wellness Advocate
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
Expertise: Law school culture, systemic change, and professional identity formation.
Dr. Amara Osei
Clinical Psychologist & Researcher
Dalhousie University
Expertise: Racialized students in professional schools, intersectional mental health.
Jennifer Moss, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker & Counsellor
Robson Hall Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba
Expertise: Crisis intervention, mindfulness-based therapy, and student support services.
Content Review Policy
Mental health information changes as research evolves. JustBalance is committed to keeping all content accurate, current, and reflective of best practices in student wellness.
- All resource pages and clinical guidance content are reviewed by at least one licensed mental health professional before publication.
- Pages containing health or wellness guidance display a "Last Reviewed" date at the bottom of the page.
- All content is reviewed on a rolling annual basis, or sooner if new evidence or guidelines emerge.
- Student story submissions (testimonials) are published with the contributor's explicit consent and may be edited for clarity and privacy.
- Crisis resource contact information (phone numbers, hours) is verified every six months.
Accessibility Statement
JustBalance is committed to providing an accessible digital experience for all users in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. We strive to ensure our content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all visitors, including those using assistive technologies.
If you encounter any accessibility barriers on this site, please contact us so we can address the issue promptly.