Rimmer: Managers under pressure
The current “uncertain and demanding times” are reflected in the record number of lawyers receiving emotional support from legal mental health charity LawCare, according to its chief executive.
Elizabeth Rimmer said LawCare’s work in 2025, its busiest year so far, should be framed “in the wider context in which people in the legal sector are training and working”.
She went on: “The current geopolitical climate is contributing to increased regulatory complexity and economic pressures.
“The acceleration of the adoption of AI [artificial intelligence] is raising questions about the role of lawyers and the guardrails needed to ensure trust, quality and sustainability as this technology becomes more embedded in legal practice.
“At the same time managers are under increasing pressure to meet the evolving expectations of colleagues, clients, and regulators, often with little support for themselves.”
In her foreword to LawCare’s 2025 impact report, Ms Rimmer added: “The need for trusted, accessible and sector-specific support has never been greater.”
LawCare supported 753 people needing help last year, more than in any previous year, including Covid-hit 2020.
The most common issues for callers were stress (41%), career concerns (39%) and anxiety (34%).
Almost three out of 10 callers identified themselves as disabled in 2025, up from 21% the year before. Seven out of 10 callers were female, a slight decrease on the previous year.
The proportion of White callers fell from 70% to 60% in 2025. Just under a quarter were Asian, 6% Black (up by 4%) and 6% from mixed backgrounds.
Solicitors, whether private practice or in-house (10%), made up just over half of callers. A further 13% were trainee solicitors and 4% non-practising or retired solicitors.
The largest group of non-solicitors were barristers (7%), followed by chartered legal executives (4%), law students (4%) and non-lawyer staff (4%).
LawCare volunteers spent a total of 275 hours on the phone with callers and 95 hours on online chat. There was a 13% increase in the use of online chat, with 140 people helped in this way. A total of 73 people received “ongoing support” from one of LawCare’s peer supporters.
Looking to the future, the report said: “The challenges facing the sector are not going away. The pace of change will accelerate, economic pressures will persist and the expectations of clients, colleagues and regulators will continue to evolve, all placing increased demands on people in the law.
“Creating a sustainable legal sector requires collective commitment and action, from legal educators equipping aspiring lawyers with the tools they need for a healthy career, to workplaces embedding working practices that support mental wellbeing, and professional bodies leading the way in championing why mental health matters in law.”
LawCare received over £404,000 in donations in 2025, with most coming from its core funders, the legal professional bodies in each UK jurisdiction and The Solicitors Charity. Further funding came from trusts and foundations, charity partnerships and individuals.
