Puneet Kaur

In a research conducted by Mind, around one in three adults and young people said their mental health has gotten worse since March 2020, when the lockdown started. LawCare, an independent charity which offers support to the legal profession and legal community, found that 26 per cent of individuals call their helpline due to stress and 11 per cent of individuals call due to anxiety.

It is clear to see that the Covid-19 pandemic made a domino effect on the whole world including the legal sector in particular. Professions like the legal field can be extremely harsh as it has the notion of being competitive and always resilient. Most Solicitors state they work well under pressure but it is this pressure that creates negative stress and can start affecting performance.

It is this perception that legal professionals find it hard to speak up and speak out, whether it is to do with mental health affected by their legal career or personal issues they are dealing with.

Who is responsible?

The onus is usually own the individual to ‘fix’ their mental health but in reality we all have a collective responsibility to a make positive work environment for everyone. There is a long outstanding debate that stress and pressure part of ‘the job’ of being a solicitor. It is this approach which causes stigma around ‘mental health’ to legal professionals and the legal profession as a whole. It is understandable that stress would come within any job but when stress becomes excessive i.e. working long hours to meet client deadlines or demands, it can cause constant damage, lack of morale and increased leave from legal professionals.

Mental health is not a simple problem, it is quite complex with several issues. Depending on your legal field, the mental challenges you face will differ. For example, a solicitor working in private client will have different mental challenges and problems than a solicitor working in corporate or an advocate.

What can be done?

Law firms should focus on three aspects, in particular, when promoting employees’ wellbeing and offering advice and resources. These are support, training and culture. Undoubtedly, there are law firms which have been working towards improving this and implementing measures to tackle this issue but the issue is far from being resolved.
Be proactive rather than reactive, the commitment from employees should be clear to supporting its employees’ wellbeing. With firms returning to office working full-time, it is essential to introduce a safe space for discussions on mental health. Encourage everyday conversation on mental health where individuals can speak freely with zero judgement. When these issues are spoken about, you realise that most people face the same anxiety and stress. Storytelling is a great way to break down issues associated with mental health and build trust within a firm but also talking about it yourself or hearing about other people’s struggle can help you deal with your own.

Another aspect which could thrive Is introducing training on diversity and inclusion. The Law Society of Scotland’s wellbeing webinars are cater focused on positive mental health, and give tips on how to manage the ‘new norm’, as other solicitors are dealing with similar issues.

If you feel like listening to webinar will not help and you would rather speak about your concerns then there are other avenues you can explore. For example, LawCare is a free and confidential service for those who in the legal profession including staff and concerned family members. The service is provided over the phone, email or online chat service. After launching the Mental Health Awareness Week this year, they have continued to support and call for a change in legal culture.

It is still unknown if the current initiatives in place work for everyone or if the firms need to readdress these to ensure an all rounded support system for all staff. However, as more conversations surrounding mental health occur in the workplace, more issues can be identified and solved – more systems of support can be established and introduced. The more we talk about mental health, both within the professional setting and in wider society, the easier life will become.

Puneet Kaur is a senior solicitor at Inheritance Legal Solicitors. This article first appeared in The Scottish Lawyer.