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08 October 2020 / Claire Williamson
Issue: 7905 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Mind over (business) matters

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The right mental health initiatives can support your people & your firm’s bottom line, says Claire Williamson

Working in the legal industry is demanding. With a culture where the extremes of the job are often applauded—late nights, tight deadlines, being constantly accessible by technology—it is little wonder that a quarter of junior lawyers have described their stress levels as severe, with one in 15 reporting that they had experienced suicidal thoughts. These shocking revelations in the Law Society Resilience Report 2019 (LSRR) sent ripples around the legal community (https://bit.ly/2GuWjS0).

Add in the challenges of the current climate and it is no surprise that 81% of firms in a Leading Minds’ survey reported increased requests from employees with their mental health since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Struggles with stress

Many solicitors are not simply experiencing stress, but struggling with it, which is going to have a huge impact on individuals’ health as well as a firm’s performance. Employees who are stressed are not working

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Katten Muchin Rosenman—Charlotte Hill

Katten Muchin Rosenman—Charlotte Hill

Katten strengthens financial markets and funds group in London

Hugh James—Keith Cundall & Lee Hart

Hugh James—Keith Cundall & Lee Hart

Hugh James expands national Serious Injury team with two new Partners

HFW—Rémi Ducloyer

HFW—Rémi Ducloyer

HFW continues Paris office growth with public law Partner hire

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A little-noticed provision of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has fundamentally expanded corporate criminal liability
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The law offers cohabiting couples surprisingly greater protection after one partner dies than when they separate during life
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