LawCare launches new wellbeing resource
A new online resource to help lawyers enhance their wellbeing and combat workplace stress has been launched today by mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare, working with academics at the University of Sheffield and the Open University.
The free interactive resource, called Fit for Law, is part of an ongoing project to promote psychologically and emotionally healthier ways of working within law and was developed following input from focus groups with legal professionals across the UK and Ireland.
Designed to develop emotional competency and professional resilience, it offers a course which takes two to four hours in total to complete, but is broken down into smaller sections. It includes videos from legal professionals discussing wellbeing issues as well as a range of interactive activities.
Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, explained: “We know from our work in supporting lawyers for over 20 years how difficult it is for lawyers to admit they are struggling with the pressures of work – which often leads them to seek help when they are nearing crisis. We want to change this. Providing legal professionals with resources to enable them to understand and develop key emotional competencies such as emotional self-awareness, self-reflection and better strategies for emotional self-regulation will equip them more effectively for practice, enhance their wellbeing and potentially reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression.”
Dr Emma Jones, senior lecturer in law at the University of Sheffield added: “The course being launched focuses on ‘Managing and Understanding Yourself’ and offers legal professionals practical tips, based on sound evidence, to assist them in developing healthier working practices to enhance their wellbeing. We are also developing a further course on ‘Working with Others’ and a toolkit for employers, to encourage positive organisational and cultural change in the legal workplace.”
The resources are available to everyone studying law or working in the legal profession in the UK, and Ireland and could be used as CPD in some jurisdictions. For more information visit www.fitforlaw.org.uk