Helpline open 9am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday
Webchat available: Mon 9am-1pm, Wed 1-5.30pm, Fri 9am-1pm
Helpline open 9am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday
Webchat available: Mon 9am-1pm, Wed 1-5.30pm, Fri 9am-1pm
Helpline 0800 279 6888 Monday - Friday 9am–5.30pm*
Webchat Monday 9am-1pm, Wednesday 1-5.30pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Email support@lawcare.org.uk
We offer free, independent and confidential support through our helpline, webchat and email service. We are here to listen and offer emotional support Our services are available to anyone in the legal community, including families and support staff. We support all sectors of the legal profession – solicitors, barristers, barristers clerks, judges, chartered legal executives, chartered trade mark attorneys, patent attorneys, costs lawyers and paralegals, including those studying and in training. All calls, chats and emails are responded to by trained staff and volunteers who have first-hand experience of working in the law. We understand life in the law. We provide a space to talk through how things are for you, whatever is on your mind. We can signpost you to other support agencies too.
You may like to read this blog on how talking helps from one of our helpline volunteers.
Our helpline meets The Helplines Standard, a nationally recognised quality standard which defines and accredits best practice in helpline work.
Confidentiality
Your exchanges with us will remain confidential. We only report statistics and nothing else. You don’t even have to give us your name. You can read our policies on confidentiality, data protection, service standards, and other policies, by clicking here.
If you have more questions about our helpline and webchat services, read our FAQ
Feedback
Have you used our support service? Let us know what you thought, how we helped, and what we could improve. Email feedback@lawcare.org.uk
*If you urgently need to speak to someone outside of our helpline/webchat hours call the Samaritans on 116 123.
The LawCare support service is for those who work in the legal profession and their families, we do not offer legal advice to the general public. If you need legal advice The Law Society of England & Wales, Law Society of Scotland or The Law Society of Northern Ireland can help you identify a solicitor close to where you live. You can also contact the Citizens Advice Bureau, or search for your nearest Legal Advice Centre online.
A chance to talk through your problem
It can really help to get things off your chest. Just communicating with someone who listens and understands can help to clarify the way forward. And even if a solution doesn’t immediately present itself, simply talking about it can be very cathartic. Many people who contact us say they did not need any follow up support, that a chat with us helped them decide what to do.
Immediate help
You can speak, email, or chat online to someone immediately who has been has been trained to offer emotional support. All our staff and volunteers understand the day-to-day pressures faced by legal practitioners and are able to help you work through your concerns straight away. You don’t have to struggle alone or have another sleepless night.
Reassurance
We’ve been operating for many years, which means that we’ve heard most things before. Other people have faced and conquered their problems, and we know you can too.
Extra support
We can put you in touch with a LawCare supporter who has had a similar experience. These are fellow lawyers who have had significant problems and overcome them, including issues such as disciplinary proceedings or alcohol dependence. They offer support to others on a one to one basis.
Confidentiality
Your conversations, webchat and emails with us will remain confidential. We only report statistics and nothing else. You don’t even have to give us your name.
Further resources
We have in-depth knowledge of the support provided by legal benevolent associations, professional bodies, regulators and legal special interest groups, and they may be able to help too. We can signpost you to these organisations.