LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector

🌿We’re excited to introduce the panel for our upcoming "Let’s talk about grief and loss webinar", where we'll explore the impact of grief on people working in the legal sector.🌿 👥 Panel: Tesse Akpeki FCG (Fellow Chartered Governance), Steve C. (Steve Clarke), Mark Hepburn, and Lloyd Rees (Chair) 🗓️ Date: Thursday 7 November, 12.30 to 1.30pm Key topics will include: 💼 How grief and loss impact your work and relationships 🤝 Helpful coping strategies 🧠 How grief and mental health are connected 🏢 How workplaces can better support people dealing with grief Join us for helpful advice and real conversations about managing grief, both at work and in everyday life. 🔗 Sign up here: https://buff.ly/3ZbPCua #Grief #GriefSupport #MentalHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #LegalSector #Webinar #LetsTalk

In the busy and demanding legal sector, being resourceful is essential for success, especially for younger professionals facing stress and heavy workloads for the first time. This article explores ways to develop resilience and build resourcefulness. 👉 Thriving, not just surviving: https://lnkd.in/eBQ9QzEp LawCare's helpline volunteers often speak with trainees and junior lawyers who feel overwhelmed by criticism, challenging office cultures, and heavy workloads. This can make some question whether a legal career is right for them and if they have the skills to succeed. However, resourcefulness and resilience are skills that can be developed over time. This article focuses on resourcefulness instead of resilience, shifting from just enduring challenges to actively overcoming them. The message is clear - you can learn new skills to help you handle difficult situations at work better. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eBQ9QzEp #LegalSector #YoungLawyers #Resilience #Resourcefulness #MentalHealthMatters #LegalCareer #WorkLifeBalance #StressManagement #CareerDevelopment #Support #Wellbeing #ProfessionalGrowth

It is just one week until our next webinar 👉 Menopause and the legal sector: How to support your colleagues without getting your briefs in a twist 💻 Sign up for free here: https://lnkd.in/eerUQBUW 🗓 Tuesday 5 November 🕧 12.30 to 1.30pm We’ll cover what Menopause Matters is, why it's crucial, and discuss the support every firm should have in place. Plus, there’s an interactive Q&A. Let's create a more supportive and understanding workplace for everyone. #MenopauseMatters #LegalSector #WorkplaceWellbeing #SupportingColleagues #InclusiveWorkplace #MenopauseAwareness #LegalProfession #MentalHealthAtWork #WomensHealth

👉 Counselling, or talking therapy, can be extremely beneficial for a wide range of people working in the legal sector who are struggling with depression, anxiety or addiction. 👉 It can also help people to deal with traumatic life events such as bereavement and being bullied. 👉 Counselling can be expensive, so here are some suggestions to help you find affordable counselling services. #depression #anxiety #addiction #bereavement #bullying #MentalHealth #LegalSector

"It can be hard to shake off that feeling that you need to be achieving something every day, especially when your time has been valued in 6-minute time slots for so long. Reading about and talking to people who have managed this transition can really help." 👉 Beyond your career - navigating and preparing for career changes after 50: https://lnkd.in/eBF9gT5t Are you thinking about what you want to do later in your career, in your 50s to 70s? Whether you want to keep working, shift roles, or take a break, it’s good to plan ahead. This article offers tips on how to prepare for this stage and stay connected with what’s important to you. #LifeAfter50 #WorkLifeBalance #CareerChange #PersonalGrowth #FuturePlanning #MentalHealthMatters #LegalSector #LegalProfession

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed by deadlines or anxious about what next week holds? Rest assured - you are not alone. International barrister, mediator and mindfulness teacher Gillian Higgins answers questions about mindfulness and how it can help us to find a sense of balance and wellbeing in our daily lives at work and home. Mindfulness is about paying attention to moments of everyday life with curiosity and openness, on purpose. It involves dropping into your present moment experience and being aware of what you’re doing, while you’re doing it, with a non-judgmental attitude. In essence, it’s about experiencing the ‘here and now’, rather than hankering after how you would like life to be, or regretting what you did yesterday. Read Gillian's article now. #Wellbeing #LegalSector #Calm #MentalHealthMatter

This week’s mountain musings come from Wales. I took this photo from high above Cwm Idwal, as the sun rose over the foothills of the southern Carneddau. The mighty Tryfan watches over the Ogwen Valley with two lovely llyns sparkling in the early morning light. It’s a special place, Cwm Idwal, and not just because of the spectacular scenery. You see this part of Eryri is home to many of our rarest and most delicate mountain plants, which thrive here, for reasons which I’ll come to in a moment. I’ve been fortunate this past week to spend time chatting with lots of people at the start of their legal careers and I’m always blown away by their enthusiasm, their drive and their tenacity. I often think young people these days have it pretty tough, which is why I get so frustrated when they are unfairly labelled as “snowflakes” the instant they dare to challenge the status quo by asking questions about mental health, wellbeing and work-life balance. The junior lawyers I’ve met are living proof that they are anything but delicate little flowers – they are hard-working, resilient and adaptable, despite the pressures they face from social media, being connected 24/7 and a world that looks increasingly bleak. It's no wonder that we hear from lots of people at the more junior end of the profession on our support channels. Many are worried about opportunities for career progression, lack of supervision and pressures outside of work. I fear, that like our wildflowers in the uplands, we are losing far too many excellent lawyers, simply because they struggle to find an environment that works for them. So, what is it about Cwm Idwal that enables all these wildflowers to thrive? It’s partly a geology thing but also the way it’s managed. The tenant farmer has been bold enough to do things differently – implementing organic farming practices and introducing cattle (which graze less-destructively than sheep). The site is owned by the National Trust, which works in partnership with other organisations. And it’s that willingness to listen to the evidence and be a bit more flexible that has created a diverse and supportive culture that benefits so much more than just the "delicate flowers". There are lessons we can all take from Cwm Idwal and the good that comes from listening to different points of view, instead of thinking the way we’ve always done things is the only way. I’ve learnt a lot this week from these wonderful young people and am optimistic about what that means for the future of the legal profession. We just need to give them the right environment to flourish. If you’re at the start of your legal career and want to chat with someone who understands, then call LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector on 0800 279 6888.

We were thrilled to host Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector, yesterday to lead a webinar alongside Pearl Moses. They covered Mental Health, Wellbeing and the SRA's Culture Expectations. A supportive work environment is important, not just to meet the SRA's standards. Key takeaways included the importance of maintaining a supportive work environment, managing stress, and fostering a culture of care to ensure the wellbeing of our lawyers. Thank you to Elizabeth and Pearl for this insightful session, and our Lawyer Wellbeing team for organising another webinar to support our consultants.

Here are some of the top reasons people get in touch with LawCare, but remember, it’s not limited to just these three! 👉 stress 👉 anxiety, and 👉 career concerns ☎️ If you need emotional support we're here Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call our freephone helpline on 0800 279 6888 or email support@lawcare.org.uk. You can also visit: www.lawcare.org.uk to use our live online chat or read more about mental health and the legal sector. We know that it can be very difficult to reach out for support when you are having a hard time. But it’s much better to seek help early on, rather than waiting for an issue to escalate. Every day, we hear from people across the legal sector. We understand what it’s like to work in law and all the pressure that comes with it, both in and out of the office. We offer a safe and confidential space to talk, without judgement, about whatever may be on your mind. Your feelings are valid, whether you’re just having a bad day, or you are facing something more longer lasting. #helpline #MentalHealthMatters #LegalSector #helpline #stress #anxiety #depression #LegalCareer #EmotionalSupport

We’d love to hear about your experiences with menopause support. There is still time to fill in our poll. 👇 You can also sign up for our special webinar on Tuesday 5 November at 12.30pm, which is open to everyone in the legal sector. It’s important for us all to learn how to provide better support, whether you’re directly affected by menopause or want to know how to create supportive workplaces for colleagues who are. 👉 Find out more about the menopause webinar here: https://lnkd.in/efkZ6SNQ 👉 Or sign up now here: https://lnkd.in/eerUQBUW #MenopauseSupport #LegalSector #WorkplaceWellbeing #Webinar #MentalHealthMatters #InclusiveWorkplace #MenopauseAwareness