LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector

We're delighted to announce that our "Let's talk about vicarious trauma" webinar is on Thursday 5 September at 12.30pm. 💻 Sign up here - https://lnkd.in/eR8R_H42 Join us as we explore the impact of vicarious trauma on people working in the legal sector. 👉 Vicarious trauma occurs when people are indirectly exposed to trauma through their work with those who have experienced traumatic events. 👉 In the legal sector this can happen to anyone who regularly deals with cases such as domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, or other forms of trauma. 👉 Our specially invited webinar panel will share their perspectives and experiences, offering valuable insights into vicarious trauma in the legal sector. The webinar is an opportunity for you to enhance your understanding of vicarious trauma and its impact on mental health. Additionally, it will delve into ways the industry can better support its members. This webinar will not be recorded, so please make sure to attend the live event if you can. ** Please support LawCare when you register for our webinar** We're thrilled to see such high demand for our webinars, with hundreds of sign-ups each time we host one. When you register, consider making a donation to LawCare to amplify your impact. Every contribution is crucial in combating the stigma around seeking mental health support in the legal sector. Your donations help us meet the growing need for our helpline, providing vital emotional support from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. It's easy to donate when you sign up for the webinar, or you can contribute directly to LawCare here: www.lawcare.org.uk/donate #VicariousTrauma #LegalSector #MentalHealthAwareness #Webinar #LegalProfession #EmotionalSupport #BreakTheStigma #RegisterNow

We've followed the situation with interruptions of supply of critical #ADHD medication since they began last Autumn, and wanted to share our thoughts. As we say in the linked article, we stand in full solidarity and empathy with all those affected and we urge all employers in our #legalservices sector to be mindful of - and sensitive to - the associated challenges in how they are managing productivity and performance issues. Please let us know your thoughts, and any suggestions that others may find helpful, in the comments section below the article. #neurodiversity #neurodiversityinclusion #ADHDmedication #medicationshortage

“Legal professionals know what to do to support their mental health and wellbeing, but the challenge is around prioritising it.” Sharon Glynn talked to Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, about building a more caring legal industry for TThe Law Society "This is our moment to move things forward in a positive way so we're not having these same conversations in 10 years’ time.” 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDS4uaCF #ThrowbackThursday #MentalHealth #LegalSector #LegalProfession #Workplace #MentalHealthAwareness #Wellbeing #MentalHealthMatters #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealthSupport

Many schools in England break up this week so you may be taking some annual leave soon. If you are off on holiday, or simply having some time at home, here are a few ideas to help you switch off whilst you are away from work. 👉 Prepare - discuss your workload with colleagues; find out who will be covering your work - it might be best to pass your work over to several people. Let clients know as early as possible that you are taking some time off and who they should ask for in your absence. 👉 Set expectations - use the last day or two before your holiday to clear the decks, put ongoing work into a holding pattern, update clients on the progress of their matter. Let your colleagues know whether you can be contacted, and under what circumstances - don’t say you will be checking email if you don’t want to, or will be unable to. 👉 Checking email - if you must check email whilst away, disable email notifications so you don’t pick up your phone every few minutes, and don’t carry your work phone around with you. 👉 Set an out of office and voicemail while you are on holiday– if you are worried about an avalanche of emails ask for important emails to be resent after you get back, or you might want to say you will be back a day or two later than you actually are to give you time to catch up. 👉 Returning to work - you might want to book in something in the first week to look forward to:, a yoga class or lunch with a colleague. This is also a good time to review your working practices, and analyse how your colleagues handled things without you. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eRttcG7b #holiday #SwitchOff #MentalHealth #law #TimeOff #LegalSector

“When Tony was killed, I grieved his loss deeply… To my greatest surprise clients offered their support. Bates Wells understood that I needed time and space to come to terms with my loss. The door was left open for me to return to deliver my services when I was ready.” Read Tesse's story here - https://lnkd.in/eXjDcc_k In a tragic event, Tesse Akpeki's brother Tony was killed in a hit-and-run incident. This devastating loss threw Tesse into a whirlwind of grief and legal procedures involving coroners, hospitals, and the police. Despite the immense personal tragedy, Tesse received invaluable support from friends, clients, and Bates Wells where she heads the Onboard Governance Development Service. Their empathy and flexibility highlighted the importance of supportive networks and self-care during times of profound trauma and loss. Equally indispensable was getting compassionate and competent bereavement and trauma informed support from Brent Bereavement Services, Bereavement Care and Brent Talking Therapies. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eXjDcc_k #LegalSector #GriefSupport #Loss #Bereavement #MentalHealth #CommunitySupport #Empathy #Lawyer #law Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust RoadPeace Brake, the road safety charity Hickman & Rose

“Disability is not a minority issue, but historically, it hasn't been given the same priority as other diversity characteristics. The legal profession has been behind the curve in addressing that imbalance, and that's led to a historic perception that the profession is not inclusive of those with disabilities or neurodivergence.” Reena Parmar 🔊 Listen to the full disability, diversity and inclusion #podcast with Reena here: https://buff.ly/3R0dTO2 Reena discusses a number of topics including her experiences as a disabled woman from a minority ethnic background, her strategies for managing living with non-visible disabilities alongside a busy career in law and multiple carer responsibilities, her role The Law Society Disabled Solicitors Network and the disability network she co-led at Freshfields. A full transcript is available here: https://buff.ly/46Ho3t3 #DisabilityInclusion #DiversityMatters #LegalSector #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #DisabilityAwareness #AccessibleWorkplace #MentalHealth

Many thanks to The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys for this awesome write up of our "Let's talk about the billable hour webinar" during Mental Health Awareness Week. 👉 Exploring the future of the billable hour https://buff.ly/4cIxQTw It’s a cornerstone of the legal sector’s corporate business model, but are alternatives to the billable hour viable? Valued as a tool for managing performance and forecasting revenue, its use has been largely unaltered, with alternative approaches failing to gain traction. However, as law firms aim to become more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable, the cultural effect of the billable hour model and its impact on lawyers’ wellbeing comes into question. LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, tackled this topic in a webinar that offered some constructive ideas on how law firms could explore alternative solutions. Read more here https://buff.ly/4cIxQTw #LegalSector #FutureOfWork #Law #MentalHealth #Burnout #Stress #LawFirm #FutureOfWork #TimeTracking #Productivity #BusinessModels #LegalProfession

Later this year, on World Mental Health Day, we're running a webinar with Pembury Legal and we're looking our third panel member 👇 Please get in touch with Adam Shookhye if you're interested. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth

🌙 Top tips for better sleep 🌙 Struggling with sleep? These five tips will help you improve your sleep health:. 💤 Try to wake up at the same time every day, even if you had a restless night. This consistency helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep at night. 💤 Exercise: Regular physical activity enhances sleep quality and can help with insomnia. However, avoid exercising too close to bedtime as it might keep you awake. Find a time that works best for you and stick to it. 💤 Have a wind down routine: Establish a calming evening routine. Activities like reading, taking a bath, or preparing for the next day can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down. Practice mindfulness or use a meditation app to help relax your mind. 💤 Create a sleep sanctuary: Your bedroom should be a haven for sleep. Keep it cool, dark, and free from clutter. Ensure your bed is comfortable and supportive to promote restful sleep. 💤 Seek support: If you experience prolonged periods of poor sleep, consult a health professional for evidence-based support. Don’t hesitate to seek help if sleep issues persist. For more sleep tips have a look at our full list on here - https://buff.ly/3Iullxp We have lots of other resources about mental health for people in the legal sector on our website: www.lawcare.org.uk. You can also get in touch for emotional support - call 0800 279 6888, email support@lawcare.org.uk or visit the website to use our live online webchat. #SleepWell #SelfCare #HealthyLiving #BetterSleep #SleepTips #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #sleep #LegalSector #lawyer #law

"What has struck me the most over the last month, during which I have attended probably too many in-person events, is the fundamental skill that doesn’t really get much of a look in, and that is listening." In the latest edition of our Life in the legal workplace newsletter Elizabeth Rimmer considers how listening is crucial in workplaces for building trust and understanding - https://lnkd.in/ewKcPz29 "It is through listening to others that we understand people and their needs, and it is how we build trust and empathy, which underpins all healthy relationships. In our workplaces, we tend to prioritise our external communications on our websites and social media channels, broadcasting what we know and our achievements, over our internal communications with our people. Here, barriers to listening like jumping to conclusions or making assumptions, can easily get in the way." Read "Embracing human skills in the era of legal tech" here - https://lnkd.in/ewKcPz29 #LegalWorkplace #ActiveListening #WorkplaceCulture #CommunicationSkills #LegalTech #HumanSkills #WorkplaceWellbeing #Leadership #ListeningSkills #MentalHeallth #LegalSector