The Law Society of England and Wales has joined LawCare, the Solicitors’ Charity and the Mindful Business Charter to launch the Solicitor Wellbeing Alliance for England and Wales, outgoing Law Society president Mark Evans announced on Wednesday (14 October).
Evans made his final announcements as president at the Law Society’s annual general meeting, in which he confirmed the society will commit to three more years of funding for LawCare and pro bono charity LawWorks.
He also told solicitors he would resign his seat on the society’s council, where he represented North Wales, and leave his role at the University of Law ahead of becoming LawCare’s CEO in November. He replaces Elizabeth Rimmer in the role, who left the charity earlier in the year after 12 years at the helm. Trish McLellan, director of engagement, has been serving as interim CEO since July.
The launch of the Solicitor Wellbeing Alliance follows LawCare’s Life in the Law 2025 research, which found half of respondents had experienced anxiety during the previous 12 months, while three in five had poor mental wellbeing and 43% said their mental health and wellbeing were significantly influenced by work.
All four bodies – the Law Society, LawCare, the Solicitors’ Charity and the Mindful Business Charter – will coordinate support, helping solicitors and firms access existing resources, guidance and services. They will improve signposting, collaborate on shared priorities, exchange insights into emerging wellbeing issues and seek to influence workplace culture and working practices.
The alliance is intended to provide a unified voice on solicitors’ wellbeing and focus on work that each member could not achieve individually, focusing on practical outputs to raise awareness of available support and help law firms and in-house bodies act on wellbeing.
Evans said: “Solicitors face significant wellbeing challenges, and no single organisation can tackle them alone. By joining forces, we can raise awareness of the support already available, share expertise and help drive healthier workplace cultures across the profession.
“The alliance brings together organisations with a shared goal: ensuring solicitors can access the support they need to thrive.”
He concluded: “Alliance members will work together to develop and deliver practical outputs that improve awareness of support, share learning and help solicitors and legal organisations take positive action on wellbeing.”
In the first year of the Law Society’s three-year funding plan for LawCare and LawWorks, LawCare will receive £170,000 and LawWorks £130,000. The funding will support mental health services for lawyers and legal advice for people unable to afford it.
The commitment extends the society’s existing support for both charities, with funding covering three years rather than a single annual grant.
It follows an April announcement that the City of London Law Society (CLLS) and the City of London Solicitors’ Company (CLSC) entered a three-year strategic partnership with LawCare, pledging a combined £45,000 to support wellbeing.
Louise Hanson, the society’s executive director of membership and external affairs, said: “I am proud to announce the Law Society’s continued funding of LawWorks and LawCare, two charities which do so much to support members of the public and solicitors. Solicitors face intense pressures, including long working hours, heavy workloads and burnout. Supporting solicitors’ wellbeing was a key priority for the Law Society.”
Hanson added: “Access to justice is fundamental and it is vital that there is support for those who cannot afford legal advice. We work closely with LawWorks to bridge that gap. They enable our members to deliver pro bono support and serve their communities.”
LawWorks chief executive Rebecca Wilkinson said it was “hugely grateful to the Law Society for its continued support”, adding “multi-year funding is particularly welcome, as it gives us greater financial certainty and enables us to plan with confidence, making longer-term strategic decisions about how we develop and sustain our work”.
McLellan said: “Continuing this commitment to LawCare for another three years sends a strong message about the importance of mental health and wellbeing across the legal profession. It means we can keep supporting people while also working to prevent poor mental health across the sector.”
The Law Society said it made its funding decisions independently of Evans, as president, before he becomes CEO of LawCare next month. A spokesperson said the society had provided grant funding to LawCare and LawWorks over several years, recognising the support they provide to lawyers and the wider public.
The spokesperson added: “Funding decisions are made independently by the Law Society’s Membership and Communications Committee. The president is not a member of the committee and has never had any role in determining funding; therefore, there is no conflict in the decision-making process.”
LawCare is a former charity partner of the Women and Diversity in Law Awards, nominations for which will close on Friday 16 October.
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