LawCare

Addictions UK has received a request from LawCare for help with their survey about Stress at Work.
We Need Your Help
For fifteen years LawCare has been helping members of the legal profession in the UK and Ireland who are struggling with depression, alcohol addiction and, most of all, stress. We’ve now supported over four thousand lawyers in their recovery; helped them face their problems, make plans to deal with them, and rebuild their careers. But now we need to ask you to help us.
We know that the legal profession is very stressful because of the calls we get to our free and confidential helplines each day. What we don’t know is what effect stress is having on the lives of lawyers, or how many never get as far as calling our helpline. We have many unanswered questions about the levels of stress in law firms and barristers’ chambers, and we need those answers so that we can improve and develop our service to lawyers, their families and their staff.
As a charity we can’t afford to do a large market research project, but we have put together an online survey, and we’d like to invite you and your colleagues and associates to take part. It is completely confidential (at no point are you asked your name or any contact details) and should take no more than ten minutes of your time.
If you’re a lawyer or paralegal (even if you’re no long practising) please would you consider taking the survey?
It would also be very helpful to us if you could e-mail others and encourage others to do so too. In particular you might consider forwarding it to lawyers in your firm, company or chambers, members of your local law society or faculty, or other firms you associate with. Please click here to take the survey.
Thank you, your time is much appreciated. When sufficient responses have been collected results will be announced in LawCare News and on our Website.
What is Stress?
Stress at work is the fastest growing occupational health issue and is second only to musculo-skeletal disorders as a reason for absence from work. One in five workers had felt very, or extremely, stressed by their work according to research published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in May 2000.
HSE defines stress as:-
“The reaction people have to excessive demands or pressures, arising when people try to cope with tasks, responsibilities or other types of pressure connected with their jobs, but find difficulty, strain or worry in doing so”.
In itself, stress is not an illness, but if it is excessive and prolonged, it can lead to mental and physical ill health, including depression, nervous breakdown and heart disease. LawCare exists to prevent these problems from happening to members of the legal professions in the UK and Ireland.
What is LawCare?
LawCare is an independent charity that provides confidential support and assistance to members of the legal profession suffering from stress, addiction and other problems. Funded by the professional bodies that govern and regulate the legal professions, it is entirely independent of them.
LawCare provides help primarily through freephone helplines (see below) staffed by former lawyers with training in telephone counselling. LawCare also offers free (except for expenses) CPD accredited presentations and seminars on subjects including Stress Recognition and Management, Effective Email and Time Management. Call 01268 771333 for more details.
www.lawcare.org.uk / www.lawcare.ie
LawCare Helplines
For Solicitors, Law Students, Legal Executives and Paralegals in England and Wales: 0800 279 6888
For Solicitors and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man: 0800 279 6888
For Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland: 1800 991801
For Barristers in the Republic of Ireland: 1800 303145
For Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England, Wales & NI and Advocates in Scotland: 0800 018 4299
Email: help@lawcare.org.uk / help@lawcare.ie
For all administrative enquiries: 01268 771333