Needs Satisfaction, Motivation and Well Being of Future Lawyers: Implications for Legal Professionalism in Chinese Societies

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to test empirically how needs satisfaction and motivation impact the well-being of future lawyers in a sample of 357 Hong Kong law students. On basis of self-determination theory, we hypothesized a model where satisfaction of three needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness as well as intrinsic motivation lead to well-being in work and life. We also hypothesized that thwarting of the three needs prevents future lawyers from experiencing needs satisfaction, thereby negatively affecting their well-being in work and life. Our findings suggest that satisfaction of all three needs are predictive of well-being in life. However, only satisfaction of the needs for competence and autonomy, but not relatedness, are predictive of well-being in work. On basis of the findings, we draw some implications for legal professionalism in Chinese societies.