Teri Kelly

Independent research recently commissioned by the Law Society revealed that 57 per cent of solicitors frequently experience very high or extreme levels of stress.

The Professional Wellbeing Project launched yesterday aims to address the needs identified in the research by providing practical supports, education and guidance across three pillars: workplace culture, resilience and wellbeing, and emotional and psychological health.

Teri Kelly, director of representation and member services, said: “The Law Society’s Professional Wellbeing Project has been designed to address the specific issues our members have told us they experience in the course of their work as solicitors.

“It aims to address the current stigma attached to talking about and seeking help for stress and mental health issues.

“The evidence shows that this is a global problem; legal professions around the world experience high levels of stress that negatively affect mental health and wellbeing.”

According to the research carried out by Psychology at Work last year, Irish solicitors have a lower wellbeing score than the lowest average population score in the EU. The main stressors are large workloads, high client expectations, and not having enough time to complete their work, among other findings.

Ms Kelly said: “It’s important to note these findings are considered a likely, but not definitive, representation of the membership as a whole.

“However, paired with the international research available and some direct feedback from members, we have a strong basis for developing a proactive programme to promote wellbeing among our members.”

She added: “We know that criminal law and family law practitioners in particular can be exposed to distressing materials, cases and situations in the course of their work. It’s not hard to imagine the negative impact this can have on solicitors’ wellbeing.

“US research even suggests that lawyers may experience significantly higher levels of vicarious trauma and burn-out than US mental health clinicians and social service workers.”

Some of the key tools and supports that solicitors will be able to access as part of the Professional Wellbeing Project include:

• Regular seminars and Continuous Professional Development training on these issues;
• Mental health and wellbeing signposts to confidential, independent services and resources where members can seek help and advice;
• An opt-in Employee Assistance Programme, which will be of particular help to sole practitioners and solicitors in smaller firms;
• An annual conference on the business of wellbeing;
• Best practice guidelines for firms on wellbeing;
• A Peer Support Network pilot; and
• Collaborations with mental health and wellbeing organisations.

Ms Kelly said: “We know that our members want to be there for each other in a real and effective way: solicitors want to know more about how to support colleagues who are experiencing distress or stress.

“The Professional Wellbeing Project, along with the existing supports already in place for trainee solicitors via the Law School Psychological Services, aims to meet these needs in an effective, modern and evolving way.”