LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector

As the festive season approaches, a mix of joy and anxiety fills the air, particularly in the legal sector, where tight deadlines and client demands add to the pressure. The hustle and bustle of family gatherings, gift shopping, and meal preparations can quickly lead to stress. Many people are more anxious than joyful, making the holidays feel less like a time for celebration and more like a test of endurance - especially if work is already busy and you're putting in long hours. 🎄We’ve put together some practical tips to help you navigate the chaos and embrace the Christmas spirit a little more: https://buff.ly/3hr2AB3 🎄Remember, the festive break isn’t always perfect like in movies. Embrace the flaws and enjoy your family and friends as they are, even if things don’t go as planned. 🎄If you find the holidays difficult and need someone to talk to, our free, independent, and confidential helpline is here for you. Call us on 0800 279 6888 or visit lawcare.org.uk to use our live online chat. We’re open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, except on bank holidays. ☃️ Monday 23 December - open ☃️ Tuesday 24 December - open ☃️ Wednesday 25 December - closed ☃️ Thursday 26 December - closed ☃️ Friday 27 December - open ☃️ Monday 30 December - open ☃️ Tuesday 31 December - open ☃️ Wednesday 1 January - closed ☃️ Thursday 2 January - open

🌟 Life in the Law 2025 launch event 🌟 The Life in the Law 2025 surveys are launching on 15 January, and we’re inviting you to join our special event to mark the occasion. 🗓️ Wednesday 15 January 2025 🕰️ 12.30 to 1.30pm 🔗 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/exjqEhAm This is your chance your chance to learn how you can be part of important research that will shape the future of mental health and wellbeing in the legal sector. We will be joined by: 🔹 Dr. Emma Jones – Life in the Law 2025’s lead researcher, University of Sheffield 🔹 Prof. Richard Collier – Contributor to the 2021 survey, Newcastle University 🔹 Members of the LawCare team Life in the Law 2025 is made up of two separate surveys: one for individuals in the legal sector and another for legal organisations, such as law firms, chambers and in-house legal departments. These surveys will be open to individuals and organisations in the legal sector across the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man. The research will explore topics such as burnout, mental health and wellbeing, and the future of working practices in the legal sector, building on our 2021 findings. 📣 Please share this invite - everyone is welcome to join us 🔗 https://lnkd.in/exjqEhAm #LifeInTheLaw2025 #Research #MentalHealthMatters #LegalSector

I am late to the party on sharing our latest LinkedIn newsletter as I have been on holiday for a few weeks. Have a read of this insightful article from Matt Aleksic, it is not just another article about burnout, a topic we are all too familiar with. It's a deeper dive into the the value of relationships at work and the important role of leaders in creating teams anchored in trust and support; and how our early relationships shape our connections with colleagues. Matt is a litigation lawyer at Hogan Lovells, a first tier tribunal judge and recently elected to the Council of the Law Society of England and Wales.

It almost doesn’t matter where this week’s picture was taken. It could be any hill, any time, any day. What I like about it is the three people standing over to the right… I tend to climb lots of mountains on my own. I like the solitude. The freedom to set my own agenda and to change my plans throughout the day. To process my thoughts. Despite the isolation, I never feel alone in the hills. Many are like old friends, each with its own personality, faults and secrets. There’s a vulnerability to being out on your own. You have to keep making decisions. Have confidence in your kit. Know your limits. There’s no-one to ask if you aren’t quite sure which way to go. You need to be able to manage if your map blows away in the wind. Or if your gloves get wet and you can’t feel your hands. I often think lawyers are like solitary hill walkers. Driven by ambition, we want to bag just one more summit before the day is done. We find it hard to say no to work but also to delegate when we’re busy, thinking we can do everything ourselves. This ability to be self-sufficient can come in handy, both when you’re drafting a contract to a tight deadline and when following a bearing in the dark near a big drop. But it’s less useful when it comes to our mental health. Lawyers become so used to solving problems that we think we can do the same when we’re struggling. So we keep on going, thinking we’ll get on top of it eventually, like we do with everything else. Given the typical legal workplace is competitive, hierarchical and highly-pressured, we rarely like to admit we aren’t coping, through fear we’ll be called out and our seat at the table offered to another who can better withstand the heat in the kitchen. Conversely, I’m always struck by how quickly people open up when out in the mountains. It doesn’t matter what they do for a living, how much money they earn or where they’re from. The mountains are a universal safe-space and a great leveller when it comes to our mental health. I’ve heard it’s something to do with walking side-by-side. Not looking at each other is less confrontational and people feel safe to start talking. Perhaps it’s because we have the time to be interested, away from the pressure to be interesting. Then there’s the sense of awe and wonder that getting closer to nature can bring, particularly if you spend most of your days in front of a screen. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people take a deep breath in, followed by a long, contented sigh quite early on in the walk, as they feel their busy minds start to slow and their bodies relax. So that’s why I love this photo. It's just three people admiring the view, perhaps talking rubbish, or maybe not saying anything at all. But it reminds me of the power of connection and that we don’t have to face our troubles alone. If you want to share what’s on your mind with someone who understands, then call LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector on 0800 279 688.

💬 Feeling anxious about mistakes? You're not alone. Last month, many people reached out to LawCare for emotional support, with anxiety and career concerns being common themes. What’s really standing out is how many callers are deeply worried about mistakes - whether it’s something they think they’ve done in the past or a fear of making a mistake in the future. We’ve spoken to people struggling to sleep because of these worries, finding it hard to focus or think about anything else. If this sounds familiar, remember you’re not alone, and we’re here for you. Talking can help. 📞 Call us for a confidential chat. We’re here to listen and support you on 0800 279 6888. You can also get in touch using our online chat at www.lawcare.org.uk or via email support@lawcare.org.uk #MentalHealthSupport #Anxiety #LegalSector #CareersConcerns #MentalHealthMatters

"When in doubt, simply ask the person you are speaking to, in a kind and respectful way, about their personal terminology and language preferences.” It seems simple, but people often miss what’s obvious. Many thanks to The Law Society and Reena Parmar for sharing this tip about inclusive communication about disability.

🏃♂️💙 Support mental health in law with a Legal Runner Top! 💙🏃♀️ A huge shoutout to Mark for modelling these awesome Legal Runner tops - proving you can look great while supporting a fantastic cause. With a donation to LawCare, you’ll be helping to promote mental health in the legal sector while receiving a high-quality running top in your choice of red, blue, or green. 🔗 Order your t-shirt here - https://lnkd.in/euiBNJ5t Whether you're planning to take up running, stay active, or just enjoy more time outdoors, this is the perfect motivation to start fresh in 2025. Here’s how it works: ➡️ Choose your donation amount ➡️ Add your size and colour in the text box ➡️ Receive your top within 14 days 💪 Make 2025 your year to support a great cause, stay active, and look good doing it. #LegalRunner #MentalHealthAwareness #NewYear #Running #MentalHealthMatters

Whatever you're getting up to over the festive period, it's important to take some time to prioritise your wellbeing! Fitting in a moment of calm, or doing an activity you really enjoy can help us be free of some of the expectations of this time of year, and look after your mental health during a sometimes busy, stressful, or lonely time. How will you take some time for yourself? Let us know how you'll fit in a festive moment of wellbeing in the comments! 🎄

📱 Technology is essential in the legal sector, boosting efficiency and flexibility, but it can also impact your mental and physical health. 🧑💻 Even if your firm is still working out its policies, we've got some simple tips to help you build a healthier relationship with technology. Read the fully article "Managing tech to manage your mental and physical health" by Leigh McKay #MentalHealthInLaw #LegalSector #DigitalWellbeing #HealthyTechHabits #WorkLifeBalance #MentalHealthMatters