The legal sector is being encouraged to focus on mental health and wellbeing this month, with this week marking Wellbeing Week in Law, and Mental Health Awareness Week beginning on the 12th May.
Awareness weeks offer a prompt to pause and reflect on the issue at hand, and when it comes to our health there’s never a bad time to be reminded to take care of ourselves. As the legal sector mental health charity LawCare notes, ‘In a high-pressure sector like law, where stress and other mental health challenges are common, it’s more important than ever to value community and remember that support is always available’.
LawCare is taking advantage of Mental Health Week to celebrate the power of community, which it says is a vital tool for providing support, connecting different generations, and creating workplaces where everyone feels valued and can thrive. The organisation explains:
“As the legal sector evolves, so do the ways we communicate, collaborate, and support one another. While change can be challenging and may leave people feeling isolated – especially when it disrupts familiar ways of working – it also creates opportunities to strengthen relationships and find better ways of working together.”
One company that has embraced this approach is Setfords, which established a dedicated wellbeing team five years ago to support its Guildford-based in-house team and 600 consultants across the UK.
The team’s personalised support is available year-round, which Setfords says is integral to the platform’s success. ‘At Setfords, wellbeing isn’t a bolt-on — it’s built into everything we do,’ says Marissa Ayres, head of lawyer wellbeing.
“Our team is here to listen, connect, and support — whether that means helping a new consultant settle in, checking in during busy periods, or being a sounding board when life gets difficult. We’re in it for the long haul, not just the tough moments.”
The team act as frontline support, helping consultants navigate challenges, access practical resources, and feel connected to a wider legal community – a personal approach Setfords says has been especially valued in high-pressure practice areas like conveyancing.
Sonal Rabheru, senior consultant property solicitor, explains:
“As a property lawyer, the pace can be relentless — but having Raj check in and ask how I was doing made a huge difference. It’s not about needing someone to solve everything, but knowing someone is genuinely there to support you. That’s rare in our profession.”
Consultant solicitor Debjani Mukherjee agrees: ‘I’m definitely a happier person being a consultant at Setfords’, she says.
“The support here is exceptional — from the administrative and tech teams to the wellbeing team. I can focus on my clients and offer a more patient, thoughtful service, because I’m not drowning in everything else.”
For firms that don’t have the resources or capacity for in-house wellbeing teams, or for individuals who want to focus on their own wellbeing, LawCare has some advice: ‘Talk more’, the organisation suggests.
“Community matters, especially when work feels overwhelming. Take a moment to check in with a colleague, reach out to a client, or catch up with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Sometimes, choosing a phone call over an email can make all the difference in staying connected and supported.”
Sharing ideas and good practice can also offer relief and help people to feel connected, LawCare advises:
“Let others know about your community. Where do you find your support, offer help and collaborate with others?”
Chris Setford, CEO of Setfords, agrees that a strong community supports the legal profession on both an individual level and leads to better practice. He says:
“We built this firm around the idea that lawyers do their best work when they feel supported, trusted and empowered. The wellbeing team is a big part of that — and it’s one of the reasons we continue to attract top talent from across the legal industry.”
For more tips and advice on wellbeing in the legal sector, LawCare has a growing online community dedicated to improving mental health in law: find support and information at www.lawcare.org.uk
