Synthesising and developing work on wellbeing and transitions

This chapter introduces the key themes of the volume. It discusses the notion of a transition and the ways in which transitions have been conceptualised within both educational and workplace literature. It refers to the existing, largely separate bodies of work around both transitions and wellbeing in legal education and the legal profession. It then explores how each of the contributions to the volume synthesises and develops these bodies of work. In doing so, they trace the journey of a law student, from beginning the law degree, throughout their time at law school, and (for some) into the legal profession. However, the chapter emphasises that transitions are frequently non-linear and fluid, with potentially long-lasting consequences for wellbeing. It ends by suggesting five key principles which act as unifying themes across the contributions to the volume. All of these illustrate the importance of acknowledging and understanding transitions for individuals within law schools and legal practice to thrive and flourish.