You won’t regret reaching out for support

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

In this edition, Andrew Hart discusses the powerful response he received on social media after sharing about receiving support from LawCare in the early part of his career. His post ignited broader conversations about the often-overlooked mental health challenges in the legal sector. Andrew emphasises the value of the support he received and urges other legal professionals facing mental health challenges to seek help.

Like many other members of the legal profession, I was extremely moved when I read on LinkedIn the coroner’s ruling in relation to the tragic death of Vanessa Ford whilst “undergoing an acute mental health crisis”. Without giving it too much thought, I sent out a post on LinkedIn explaining how LawCare had been a great source of support to me when I contacted them around 20 years ago. The positive reaction my message received from my LinkedIn community was overwhelming. Typically, my posts get about 30 impressions, but this one received hundreds of responses and DM's. Past colleagues, friends, contacts, and strangers either expressed surprise that I may have been struggling at the time they knew me or thanked me for sharing my story.

Reflecting subsequently, it occurred to me that my experience over 20 years ago was not entirely analogous with current stories being bravely shared by members of the legal profession regarding experiences of toxic work practices and the impact this had on their own mental health. My situation, which led to me contacting LawCare, had nothing to do with the job and was caused by certain unresolved personal issues. In fact, in my case, the legal profession has not hindered but rather helped me to develop and thrive. This support came both directly through specific help provided by LawCare when I needed it, and more broadly through the motivation, drive, sense of purpose, and self-esteem that come with the challenging nature of the work that we do.

I don’t for one moment say this to lessen the experiences of those who have experienced mental or physical health issues as a result of their experiences in law. I have observed toxic behaviours in the profession caused by the high-pressure environment and billable hour charging practices, which encourage and reward excessive working. However, for me, as I suspect for many others, the positives of a career in law have far outweighed the negatives.

My message during Mental Health Awareness Week, therefore, would be for people in the profession who, like I was, are struggling but can't quite tie the reason to any easily identifiable issue. This can be a difficult situation, as it might make you doubt whether your particular challenges are sufficiently serious to warrant seeking help or make discussing them with friends and family harder for fear of being misunderstood.

When you are going through a difficult period, it can also be challenging to 'step outside of yourself' for a moment and recognise that the way you are feeling or behaving isn’t really characteristic of you and may be caused by a deeper underlying issue.

A downside - or upside, depending on how you view it - of a career in law is that it can be all-consuming at times. This may conveniently push personal issues to the background for a while; however, in my experience, these issues always come back to the surface in the end.

So, if you find yourself experiencing sustained or regular periods where you are not at your best, without an obvious reason, then I would urge you to reach out to connect with someone to ask for a bit of help.

There are many avenues: employee assistance programs, LawCare, mental health first aiders at the office, GPs, and so forth. Choose whatever feels comfortable to you, but remember, taking the first step is up to you. Every situation is different, of course, and resolution may take some work and time, but I am pretty sure you won’t regret it.

Andrew Hart is a Partner in BCLP's Corporate Transactions team

More about support from LawCare

Every day, we hear from people across the legal sector. We understand what it’s like to work in law and all the pressure that comes with it, both in and out of the office.

It’s easy to convince yourself that you are the only one who isn’t coping. People who get in touch with LawCare are often surprised (and relieved) to hear that other people have been in touch about similar issues, and they are not on their own.

We offer a safe and confidential space to talk, without judgement, about whatever may be on your mind. Your feelings are valid, whether you’re just having a bad day, or you are facing something more longer lasting.

Talk to LawCare on 0800 279 6888, email [email protected] or use our live online chat on www.lawcare.org.uk