Published Paper Details:

The present study examined occupational stress, general mental health, and emotional intelligence among professional and early-career lawyers in India. The objectives were to compare these psychological variables between experienced and amateur lawyers and to examine the relationships among them. A quantitative descriptive-comparative and correlational research design was employed. Thirty participants were selected using purposive sampling, comprising 15 professional lawyers with ten or more years of legal experience and 15 amateur lawyers who were law students or had up to one year of professional experience. Data were collected using the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson's correlation. The findings revealed no significant differences between professional and amateur lawyers in general mental health, perceived stress, or emotional intelligence. Correlation analysis indicated no significant relationship between general mental health and perceived stress or emotional intelligence. However, a significant moderate positive correlation was observed between perceived stress and emotional intelligence (r = .457, p< .05). The findings suggest that occupational stress and psychological well-being remain relevant concerns across different stages of legal careers, highlighting the need for mental health awareness, emotional intelligence development, and organizational support within the legal profession.