LawCare asks legal Community to ‘Tell Ten’ for world mental health day – 10th October

Posted on05 October 2022

Legal mental health charity LawCare is asking the legal community to tell ten friends or colleagues about their support service this World Mental Health Day.

The charity, which offers free, confidential, emotional support to anyone working in the law including support staff and law students has supported over 10,000 people in the profession since it began 25 years ago through its helpline, email, online chat and peer support service. All the staff and volunteers on the support service work in, or have worked in, the legal industry so understand life in the law and all its challenges.

Elizabeth Rimmer, Chief Executive of LawCare, said: “LawCare’s biggest challenge has always been awareness – we want as many people in the legal community as possible to know about the service we provide so when they have a difficult time or just a bad day at work they know where they can find help. We’d like to ask for the community’s help this World Mental Health Day to tell ten friends or colleagues in the industry about us – tag ten people on social media in a post about LawCare or just send an email or text. With your help we can make sure we are there for everyone working in the law when they need us.”

Anyone working in the law in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man can contact LawCare for free, confidential, emotional support. You can call 0800 279 6888, email support@lawcare.org.uk, or access online chat at www.lawcare.org.uk . The charity also has a team of peer supporters, people who work in, or have worked in, the legal profession who may have been through difficult times themselves and can offer one-to-one support, friendship and mentoring over 2/3 telephone calls to those who need it. In some cases financial support is available to those who need it to pay for further counselling.

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS