Wellbeing when working in Law
Whilst the importance of physical wellbeing is widely recognised and acknowledged, equal consideration should be afforded to mental wellbeing.
For many, working within the legal profession means working within a fast-paced and high-pressure environment – often needing to balance long work hours with conflicting home, family, and study commitments.
It is therefore important that individuals facing these challenges have access to the support they need to remain in control, enabling them to remain positive and help them achieve their goals.
Thankfully, within the legal profession, there is a dedicated organisation with precisely those goals in mind. That organisation is LawCare – established to support mental wellbeing for anyone in the legal profession including law students, and their service is in greater demand than ever!
In fact, over the past year, LawCare has reported a surge in calls to its helpline with the pandemic cited as causing additional pressure for many Lawyers.
Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, commented “Our support service continues to grow and help more people year on year. 2020 was a challenging year for most, we are not surprised that anxiety increased at a time of great worry and uncertainty. In addition, our website traffic increased by 50% and we allocated more peer supporters and funded more counselling sessions last year than ever before. We expect demand to continue to grow in 2021 as legal professionals continue to navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19.”
LawCare
LawCare is a registered charity and was founded in 1997. It supports individuals with their mental health, educates, lobbies for change, and researches wellbeing as it affects the legal profession. It is there to help anyone connected to the legal profession – from students at the start of their career, to retired professionals and even concerned family members.
If you need support, you can contact LawCare for free, confidential, and emotional support via:
The LawCare helpline –0800 279 6888
The LawCare helpline enables you to speak to specially trained staff and volunteers with first-hand experience of working within law. You can call as often as you like, with the helpline available from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday.
LawCare advises: if you urgently need to speak to someone outside of helpline hours call the Samaritans on 116 123.
Webchat
Webchat is available on the LawCare website Monday and Wednesday 13.15 pm to 17.30 pm and Thursday 09.00 am to 13.15 pm.
You can email LawCare on their support email here: support email
Other LawCare services include information/factsheets, as well as visits to organisations and training. LawCare’s website is full of great podcasts and blogs on topics such as how to get better sleep, looking after your digital wellbeing, dealing with stress and uncertainty, and a life in law. LawCare also features a number of inspiring case stories, detailing the impacts of their work and the experiences of those living with mental health.
Law Training Centre and mental wellbeing
Law Training Centre is committed to supporting our students, providing flexible online learning at a pace to suits their individual needs and goals. We are proud advocates of LawCare, and we highlight their services to our students as part of our learner support offer. Law Training Centre also understands the unique pressures being faced during these unprecedented times. That’s why we host regular, live student support webinars – which are available to anyone interested in law, studying law, or working within the legal sector. We provide a place to escape lockdown and to enjoy coming together, learning and sharing ideas. If you are studying with Law Training Centre and have concerns about your studies or your exams, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your dedicated tutors.
Our tutors understand the pressures you face and will support you to find a solution that works for you.
Sign up here to receive the latest developments in legal education qualifications and support that will help you boost your career.
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