Calls about bullying and harassment to legal mental health charity LawCare nearly doubled in 2018.
The most common problems were stress (26%), followed by depression (19%) and anxiety (11%). Some 68 calls concerned bullying and harassment. Other issues included disciplinary proceedings, career development, chronic illness, alcohol and drugs.
The majority of callers were women (64%) and 48% were trainees, pupils or had been qualified five years or fewer.
Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, said: ‘We remain increasingly concerned about the long hours and heavy workload culture in the law which significantly affects wellbeing.’
The charity helpline received its highest ever number of calls from lawyers last year—932 calls from 624 callers, 5% more than in 2017.