Blogs & opinions
You are currently filtering for: Wellbeing
What it's like to become a Mental Health First Aider
Catherine Hart, a solicitor and member of our Wellbeing Steering Group, describes her experience of becoming a Mental Health First Aider and why everyone should consider undertaking the training.
Getting comfortable with vulnerability in the legal profession
For Mental Health Awareness Week, James McFarlane, legal counsel at NatWest Group and founding member of the Men's Wellbeing Group, discusses vulnerability, why solicitors are so bad at it and how we can all help make things easier for ourselves and others. Dispel some myths and find out what an 'it's ok to' document is below.
How trauma shapes legal processes and why it matters
Trauma, overwhelm and distress can have significant impacts on solicitors and clients alike. Rebecca Norris, co-founder of the specialist training company Trauma Informed Law, examines why trauma literacy is so important to legal practice, and how to recognise and understand distress within ourselves and others.
Mental health first aid: where the boundaries lie
On World Suicide Prevention Day, which is marked each year on 10 September, Inclusion and Engagement Consultant Lynn Pilkington discusses where the boundaries lie when helping someone through a mental health crisis, be it a friend, colleague or client.
Stress: listening for lightbulb moments
In light of Stress Awareness Month, Olivia Moore, our Careers and Wellbeing Manager, reflects on the implications of stress and the conversations which have helped put this into perspective.
Supporting employees through hidden struggles: Why addiction awareness in the workplace matters
Steve McCann, Director of MCG Consulting, brings over 20 years of experience in the legal industry and professional development to open up the conversation on addiction in the workplace and what practical changes every business can make to ensure colleagues feel safe and supported.
Supporting your staff through a crisis: Why forward planning matters
The Law Society of Scotland’s Outreach and Engagement Manager, Amber Shadle, shares a real time example of how prioritising staff wellbeing has been integral to managing a crisis and why forward planning is crucial to putting your colleagues first.
Wellbeing skills for line managers: Sign up for our free four-part Lawscot Wellbeing series
Olivia Moore, the Law Society’s Careers & Wellbeing Manager, shares our new Lawscot Wellbeing training series, which targets managers with essential skills in supporting teams and developing yourself.
Developing resilience for law: An essential skill or an excuse for poor working practices?
Olivia Moore, Careers & Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, explores resilience and how much it's within our own ability to develop, or when it's unduly influenced by structural or cultural barriers at work.
Mental Health Awareness Week – Women in Law
Lou Murphy Careers and Wellbeing Manager reflects on the Law Society’s well attended Women in Law event, held last month during Mental Health Awareness Week.
The fear of leaving – embrace your holiday!
Feeling anxious about taking annual leave? Solicitor Nadia Cook shares her personal tips for overcoming holiday stress and strategies to truly disconnect and recharge during your time off. This blog offers practical advice for everyone, as well as specific guidance for managers on supporting employee wellbeing by encouraging them to embrace their breaks.
Move more! Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
We'll be offering a range of webinars on key topics during Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place this year from 13 to 19 May. Now in its 23rd year, the week is an important opportunity to make time for our mental health and to tackle the stigma that remains a challenge in this important area.
Moving with awareness to boost your mental health
Claire Jacques from Lawsight Ltd discusses how being aware of your movement can boost your mental health. Claire Jacques a former lawyer who has retrained as a UKCP registered psychotherapist offers some top tips on moving with awareness.
Women's Health; Understanding endometriosis and adenomyosis
Nicola Rylatt, Solicitor and member of the Wellbeing Steering group talks about endometriosis and adenomyosis, the impact it can have on a woman’s life and ways employers can help.
Why is bullying still such a big issue for the legal sector?
LawCare Chief Executive Elizabeth Rimmer discusses why bullying is still an issue in the legal sector, what impact it makes, and how we can change this by working together.
We need to talk about mental health in the Scottish legal sector
John McElligott, Chief Operating Officer of Kara Connect discusses mental health in the Scottish legal profession, why wellbeing matters and what employers can do address wellbeing issues.
How to stop being stressed to the nines
The theme for International Stress Awareness Week is "“Beyond Stress Management – From Stigma to Solutions.” Careers and Wellbeing Manager Lou Murphy shares provide some solutions that can help prevent and manage stress.
Risks to mental health in the workplace
As World Mental Health Day approaches on 10 October Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, delves into the topic of psychosocial risks, telling us what they are and offering some practical steps to mitigate risks in the workplace.
Countdown to the conference - an insight into the upcoming RSA panel session
Andrea Steer, Head of Operations & Proposition at RSA Risk Consulting gives an insight into what to expect from a panel session led by RSA at the Law Society Annual Conference 2023. With a handpicked panel of guest speakers specialising in mental health, the panel will share their insights, experience and knowledge of these key issues facing the workforce in today’s legal profession. This is one not to miss.
The power of connection in the legal profession
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, our Careers and Wellbeing Manager Lou Murphy considers how connecting with colleagues can help you, others, and the profession as a whole.
Taming the overtime monster for work-life balance
Andrew Laing, Solicitor and Health & Wellbeing Champion at COPFS and member of the Lawscot Wellbeing Steering Group, talks about the motivation for moving away from a long-hours culture, in response to another question we received from our 2022 annual conference.
Profile of the Profession: Why do we ask you about your wellbeing?
Ensuring a healthy, sustainable profession is at the heart of our work, making it vital we understand as much as we can about our members' wellbeing, explains our Careers and Wellbeing Manager Olivia Moore.
Wellbeing isn’t just for your office’s in-crowd
Catherine Hart, Partner at Digby Brown and member of the Lawscot Wellbeing Steering Group, talks about what to do if you feel like your manager puts others' wellbeing above your own.
Stressed to impress - putting the legal sector on a healthier footing
Olivia Moore, Careers and Wellbeing Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, discusses how widespread stress is among lawyers and the key drivers that contribute to stress becoming unmanageable.