Scotland’s legal sector, while making progress in addressing mental health issues, is facing an accelerated crisis that demands urgent support. Mental health problems, affecting one in three people annually, have worsened in recent years, requiring comprehensive support across sectors, particularly in the legal profession. The demanding nature of legal work, long hours, high workloads, and…
The Law Society of Scotland launches new guide for creating a wellbeing strategy
The Law Society of Scotland has launched a new resource called the Guide to creating a Wellbeing Strategy to support the mental and physical wellbeing of legal professionals. The guide outlines a three-step process to develop a wellbeing strategy, including securing the support of senior workplace leaders and consulting with colleagues on the wellbeing support…
Recommendations made following Canadian study into well-being of the legal profession
The original report showed the Canadian legal profession had significantly high levels of psychological distress and depressive thoughts. These came from a number of different causes, including violence and incivility in the workplace as well as organisational risk factors such as emotional demands of the job, lack of resources, job insecurity, compassion fatigue and workload….
A US study has found that recent law graduates in hybrid working have highest job satisfaction
A new survey by the National Association for Law Placement and the NALP Foundation has found that fully remote work may be losing some of its appeal — at least for lawyers in the early stage of their careers working across the legal profession. For those fully working remotely, the numbers of recent law grads…
LawCare, a mental health charity for the UK legal sector, has issued advice to employers to combat loneliness
LawCare has issued advice to the beginning of mental health week in Scotland. This year mental health week was focused on combating loneliness. LawCare has encouraged individuals and employers to: Reach out to a colleague an informal chat about how things are going; Share experiences about the challenges they have faced working in the law…
Supporting the health and wellbeing of Black attorneys in Illinois
The Commission highlighted the long-held stigma of seeking help for mental health, as well as the daily microaggressions, the residual affects of intergenerational trauma and overt acts of racism as being unique stressors for Black attorneys. Dr. Arline Geronimus coined the term “weathering effect” to evoke the emotional erosion that comes with the constant stress of racism….
The Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales is consulting on proposed changes to its wellbeing standards
The consultation, running from the 4 March – 27 March follows increased concerns about the level of stress solicitors are experiencing as well as reports of bullying and harassment. The consultation addresses two key issues: The SRA has seen instances of serious, unfair and inappropriate treatment in the work place. There has been an increase in…
Legal Sector Workers United report claims that 7 out of 10 of its members have suffered issues with their mental health linked to their jobs
The Trade Union survey of it’s members reported that 71% of respondents said their position had negatively impacted their mental health. This is compared to just 14% who responded that it had had a positive affect on their mental health. While 59% suggested their work was the biggest threat to their mental health. This survey…
Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten launches a new resilience training programme for lawyers
On the 30th of June 2021, the Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten (NOvA) opened registration for a new resilience training programme for lawyers. The training is designed to give lawyers practical assistance to address threats encountered during the course of their daily practice. The NOvA developed the training in recognition of the fact that during the…
Canada launches national wellbeing study of legal professionals
A partnership of the different Canadian law societies, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, the Canadian Bar Association and the Université de Sherbrooke is coming together for a first-of-its-kind national study on the well-being of legal professionals. The study is based on the fact that legal practitioners are amongst the grouping of professionals most…