LawCare

02/11/2026

We’re really pleased to welcome Mark Evans as our new Chief Executive.

Mark joins us at an exciting time as we look at how we can reach more people and help make working in law healthier.

He brings more than 30 years of experience across the legal sector, from running a high street law firm to working in legal education and senior leadership.

Mark said: “A huge amount has changed since I started my career in law more than 30 years ago. We talk much more openly about mental health and wellbeing now, but there’s still a lot to do. Working in law comes with pressures, but poor mental health shouldn’t simply be accepted as part of the job.”

“I am really excited to work with the LawCare team and wider legal community. LawCare is for everyone involved in law, whatever their role and at every stage of their career. There are still people who don’t realise LawCare is for them, and I want us to change that. If you’re struggling, it doesn’t matter what your job title is or where you work. We’re here for you."

We’re delighted to have Mark joining the team and are looking forward to working with him.

LawCare has welcomed Mark Evans as its new Chief Executive. He joins as the charity approaches its 30th anniversary, with plans to reach more people across the legal sector and help make working in…

30/10/2026

Coercion in the legal workplace rarely looks like what we expect. It’s not always obvious. It doesn't usually involve shouting, threats or public humiliation. Instead, it appears quietly and persistently through exclusion, information withholding, excessive micromanagement, emotional manipulation and subtle but repeated behaviours that slowly erode confidence and professional identity.

In a sector built on judgement, trust and independence, that matters.

In this article, LawCare volunteer Elaine Pasini explores how coercion can develop in legal environments, why it’s often missed, and what leaders and teams can do to create healthier, more supportive cultures.

Coercion in the legal workplace https://buff.ly/psslxKP 🔗

Coercion can show up in the legal workplace through subtle behaviours that build up over time and affect confidence. It explains why this matters and what can be done to create healthier…

29/10/2026

If you’re a manager, the actions you take matter. This is reflected in our Life in the Law 2025 research, which highlights the vital role managers play in supporting mental health wellbeing at work.

Take a moment to reflect on how you support and manage the people around you. Are there small, everyday actions you could take that would help create a more supportive working environment? We've got a few suggestions:

• Check in with your team regularly and make time for a proper conversation, not just a quick catch-up
• Listen carefully and give people your full attention when they share how they’re doing
• Don’t cancel one-to-ones or check-ins, as they matter more than you might think
• Encourage proper breaks and support your team to step away from their desks during the day
• Respect non-working time by avoiding messages or emails outside working hours
• Communicate clearly and consistently so people know what’s expected
• Recognise and appreciate people’s efforts, not just their results

“Regular one-to-ones enable you to be able to discuss any issues, stresses etc before they become too big and also allow you to let managers know what pressures you are dealing with and if your mental health is being affected.” Life in the Law 2025 response 💬

If you can also think about the bigger picture. Look at how work is structured. Are workloads manageable? Do people feel supported? Is there space for honest conversations?

👉 Find practical support and resources for managers here: https://buff.ly/xyd5uLi

28/10/2026

Perfectionism isn’t a personality trait – it’s a coping mechanism

From the outside, perfectionism looks like high standards. From the inside, it usually feels like something else: a low background hum that says "if I get this exactly right, I’ll finally be safe". Safe from criticism. Safe from being found out. Safe from the suspicion - quiet, persistent, sometimes loud - that you’ve somehow been mistaken for someone more competent than you actually are.

That hum doesn’t come from your standards. It comes from your nervous system.

Many perfectionist patterns begin early in life. For some people, being prepared, getting things right or avoiding mistakes became a way of gaining approval and feeling safe. Over time, the nervous system learns to treat perfection as protection.

This is what it means to be, in a quiet way, a prisoner of the past. You’re not reading the email in front of you entirely in the present – you’re reading it through a lens shaped twenty or thirty years ago. A partner’s terse reply isn’t received as simply what it is (a partner’s terse reply); it’s received as evidence that you’re about to lose your footing. You’re not responding to the present moment. You’re reacting to an old one.

- Psychologist George Stuby writes about why lawyers struggle to switch off: understanding perfectionism and the nervous system.
- He suggests three body-based practices to try that can help.
- Read the full article: https://buff.ly/yoV1bD1 🔗

Perfectionism isn’t a character trait. It’s a nervous system pattern – and once you understand that the way out becomes clear.

27/10/2026

What if how you feel mentally isn’t all in your head?

When you're working long hours, it can be very easy to skip meals and just run on coffee. But over time, that can start to catch up with you.

There’s a strong link between your gut and your brain, and it might be affecting your mood more than you realise. 🍔 🧠

Sarah Shaw explores how nutrition and lifestyle can impact mental wellbeing in the legal sector.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/89xpAE2 🔗

Nutrition and lifestyle coach, Sarah Shaw, explains how what’s going on in your gut can have a real impact on your mood and mental wellbeing.

26/10/2026

Struggling to get good sleep in a busy legal role? You’re not alone.

We've got some simple and achievable tips to help you get better rest. These include:
- Get up at the same time every day: Wake up at the same time every day even when you have had a poor night’s sleep. This helps your body find a natural rhythm that will help you go to sleep at night. ⏰
- Exercise: Research shows that exercise improves sleep and helps sleep disorders such as insomnia. Exercising too close to bedtime though can sometimes inhibit sleep. Exercise when it’s good for you. 🏊‍♀️
- Spend time outside: Increasing the amount of time you spend outdoors can improve sleep quality, try and get out for a walk at some point in the day. 🌳

Read all ten top tips here: https://buff.ly/M0gMghR. We also have other resources about sleep here: https://buff.ly/NzoiYTK

Remember, if your lack of sleep is affecting you call LawCare's helpline in confidence. We're here to listen. Call 0800 279 6888, email: [email protected] or use the online chat on www.lawcare.org.uk.

23/10/2026

Would you feel comfortable speaking up if something wasn't right at work?

It's hard to raise concerns or challenge poor behaviour when you're worried about how people might react or what it could mean for your career.

Claudia De Silva looks at why people stay silent and what that can mean for their wellbeing and the wider workplace.

👉 Read the full article: https://buff.ly/SyXjXvf 🔗

When people in law firms are afraid to speak up, it harms wellbeing, teamwork and performance. Claudia De Silva explains why creating a culture where staff feel safe to be open is vital.

22/10/2026

Keeping on top of emails can feel like a never-ending job, especially when you're busy and new messages keep coming in. We've got some tips to help you manage your inbox, spend less time dealing with emails and stop them becoming another source of stress.

Top tips for email management - https://buff.ly/QipWBnt

Managing email can often feel never-ending, especially in a busy legal role. But these tips will help you stay organised, save time, and focus on what really matters.

21/10/2026

It can be hard to know what to say when you're worried about a someone you work with, especially if you've noticed changes in their behaviour or think they might be struggling with stress or substance use.

The Law Society of Scotland and MCG Consulting Ltd have put together a new Safe Conversations Toolkit to help people working in the Scottish legal sector, but there's lots in there that's relevant to anyone working in law wherever you're based.

There's information on what to look out for, how to start a conversation and how to support someone without taking on too much yourself.

It also includes examples of situations you might come across at work, as well as support for people working in small practices or on their own.

The toolkit officially launches at the Law Society of Scotland's Annual Conference on 29 October, with a session on how to use it. Trish McLellan from LawCare will be there too, so please say hello to her if you spot her.

Take a look at the toolkit: https://buff.ly/XdlBJU1

Legal practice is a high-performing, high-pressure profession. That environment supports excellence, but it also creates sustained pressure that can affect behaviour, judgement and wellbeing. This is not only a wellbeing issue. In legal practice, it is also a professional, cultural and risk issue. T...

20/10/2026

How do you know if what you're doing to support wellbeing at work is actually making a difference?

It's easy to introduce new wellbeing activities, but do we always understand what's causing the problems we're trying to address?

In this new article, Dr Nupur Yogarajah looks at how behavioural science can help us better understand what's affecting wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture.

She also explains why it's important to look at how work is organised and managed, rather than expecting individuals to take on all the responsibility for their own wellbeing.

Read the article here: https://buff.ly/3BWXQYf

Behavioural science can help legal workplaces better understand what affects wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture, and identify where change is needed and how to make it happen.