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Legal sector mental health charity LawCare has launched its new ‘Life in the Law 2025’ surveys, encouraging lawyers and law firms to share their experiences on mental health and wellbeing.
The 2025 surveys will provide critical insights into the causes of mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and burnout among legal professionals, the dangers of which were highlighted by a 2024 inquest into the death of former Pinsent Masons partner Vanessa Ford.
There is one survey for individuals and one for all organisations. They cover the legal sector across the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
By understanding the specific challenges faced by those in the legal industry, LawCare hopes to advocate for better mental health practices and policies.
The initiative comes at a time when the legal sector increasingly acknowledges the importance of mental health and the need for systemic support mechanisms, as noted by bodies as diverse as the London Solicitors Litigation Association, the International Bar Association, regulators like the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Council, as well as by law firms.
LawCare’s work has also been endorsed by organisations such as the Mindful Business Charter, which launched best practice guidelines last year to address mental health challenges in legal practice.
Writing on LinkedIn, LawCare CEO Elizabeth Rimmer expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating: “Our goal is that the findings will strengthen the case and provide the evidence for the steps we need to take across the profession to improve working practices and better support the mental health of legal professionals.”
Dr Emma Jones, who will lead the academic work on the survey, said the research would explore key developments in legal wellbeing over recent years and break down the ‘what, why and how’ of these findings.
Life in the Law 2025 will allow LawCare “to obtain a snapshot of what post-Covid practices look like in the legal sector”, Jones said, as well as explore “how they impact individuals and their career plans, and the priorities and strategies of organisations within the law”.
The Law Society of England and Wales said it supports the initiative, adding that the participation of lawyers and businesses is crucial to the success of these surveys.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The surveys are a great initiative that can provide useful insight into why people in the legal profession may be affected by mental health issues such as burnout.
“By participating in these surveys, we can gain a better understanding of how to support people in the legal profession and make a real difference.”
Enhancing the well-being of the profession was also supported by new Bar Council chair Barbara Mills KC in her inaugural speech this month. Concerns about barrister wellbeing and mental health led to the Bar Council launching a review on bullying and harassment at the Bar in response to its own survey research.
Mills was recognised for her work for the Bar at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards, which are hosted by GLP, when she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
LawCare is the official charity partner of the awards, which will be held at the London Bankside Hilton on 18 March.
The law firms Clifford Chance, Quastels and Stobbs have been shortlisted for the category Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year category. Click here to read the shortlist.
LawCare's confidential helpline is available in the UK on 0800 279 6888 during office hours; alternatively email the team at [email protected]. Samaritans UK's 24-hour helpline can be reached on 116 123. Click here to find country-specific helplines compiled by the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
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