LawCare and academics launch 'Fit for Law' to combat stress in the legal profession

Legal mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare and academics at the University of Sheffield and The Open University launch a new free online resource on emotional competency and professional resilience for the legal community today.

The interactive resource, called Fit for Law, is part of an on-going project to promote psychologically and emotionally healthier ways of working within law and was developed based on evidence from focus groups with legal professionals across the UK and Ireland. The course takes 2-4 hours in total to complete but is broken down into smaller sections, and includes videos from legal professionals discussing wellbeing issues as well as a range of interactive activities.

Elizabeth Rimmer CEO of LawCare said : “We know from our work in supporting lawyers for over 20 years how difficult it is for lawyers to admit they are struggling with the pressures of work  - which often leads them to seek help when they are nearing crisis. We want to change this. Providing legal professionals with resources to enable them to understand and develop key emotional competencies such as emotional self-awareness, self-reflection and better strategies for emotional self-regulation will equip them more effectively for practice, enhance their wellbeing and potentially reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression.” 

Dr Emma Jones of the University of Sheffield said: “ The course being launched focuses on ‘Managing and Understanding Yourself’ and offers legal professionals practical tips, based on sound evidence, to assist them in developing healthier working practices to enhance their wellbeing. We are also developing a further course on ‘Working with Others’ and a tool kit for employers, to encourage positive organisational and cultural change in the legal workplace.”

The resources are available to everyone studying law or working in the legal profession in the UK and Ireland and could be used as CPD in some jurisdictions. For more information visit fitforlaw.org.uk

ENDS

For all media enquiries contact Gemma Matthews, Communications Manager on gmatthews@lawcare.org.uk or 0208 777 2176 /07813 949633

NOTES TO EDITORS

About LawCare

• LawCare is an independent charity offering emotional support, information and training to the legal community in the UK and Ireland. We work to promote good mental health and wellbeing in legal workplaces.
• We’re here to help through our confidential helpline, email, webchat and one-to-one  peer support network. The helpline number is 0800 279 6888 (1800 991 801in Ireland) and you can access other support, information and resources at www.lawcare.org.uk (www.lawcare.ie)
• We are here to help all branches of the legal profession: solicitors, barristers, barrister’s clerks, judges, Chartered Legal Executives, paralegals, trade mark attorneys, patent attorneys, costs lawyers, and their staff and families.
• Our support spans the legal life from student to training to practice and retirement.