Mental Health in Law Firms: Setting the Stage for World Mental Health Day

​With #WorldMentalHealthDay just around the corner, it's a fitting time to reflect on how law firms are addressing mental health—particularly for those in business services support roles. We recognise that not all firms are alike; some have made significant strides in supporting employee well-being, including for non-fee earners, while others are still navigating how best to provide consistent mental health support across the board.

To further this important conversation, our Managing Director, Adam Shookhye, will be chairing a webinar (a collaboration between LawCare - the mental health charity for the legal sector and Pembury Legal) on World Mental Health Day,(Thursday, 10th of October). Hosted by Rose Donnelly from LawCare, the webinar will explore the impact of workplace culture and practices on the mental health of professionals in roles in business services, admin, HR, IT, finance, knowledge/professional support, and risk and compliance.

The session will feature an esteemed panel, including Eric Rugundu, Julie Hedge, and Justine (Joss) Thompson, who will share valuable insights into how leadership, firm culture, and practical strategies can shape mental well-being in law firms.

We hope this discussion will encourage those working in the legal industry to consider how their own firms support mental health—and to reflect on where improvements can be made.

For those interested, you can register here: Register for the Webinar.

Why This Discussion Is Important

As a recruitment agency specialising in legal business services and support roles, we occasionally come across professionals who are leaving law firms due to issues with the work environment or culture - though this is not something candidates easily disclose. While we’re not mental health experts, we believe this is an important issue that warrants more attention, particularly for non-fee-earning staff. These professionals often face pressures that go unnoticed or unaddressed, leading to heightened stress, burnout, and ultimately, staff turnover.

A survey conducted by the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division found that 93% of junior lawyers report feeling stressed at work, with 25% experiencing severe stress. While these figures focus on lawyers, we know from experience that the pressures are just as acute in business services roles such as HR, admin, IT, finance, and risk and compliance.

The ‘Blame Game’ and Its Impact on Mental Health

We’ve observed how law firms’ culture of assigning blame can hinder efforts to improve mental health. The legal profession is built on identifying faults, which is essential in the courtroom, but it can be detrimental in the workplace. The ‘blame game’ often manifests when workloads become unmanageable or when mistakes are made, leading to a culture where employees are hesitant to speak up about their struggles for fear of being blamed or seen as weak.

When stress is handled by placing blame rather than providing support, it drives employees to remain silent until they reach breaking point. We’ve seen professionals leave firms not because they couldn’t handle the work itself, but because they felt unsupported when the pressure became too much.

Proactive Mental Health Care: Striving for the Ideal

We understand that law firms are demanding environments, and some level of stress is inevitable. However, it’s worth considering whether a more proactive approach to mental health could help alleviate some of the burden. This involves creating a culture where mental health is prioritised across the board—especially for business services staff who often work behind the scenes but are crucial to the firm’s success.

Is a mental health utopia achievable in a high-pressure legal environment? Perhaps not fully, but we believe significant progress can be made with the right mindset and commitment. It starts with leadership and a firm-wide recognition that mental health is an integral part of long-term business success, not just something to address when things go wrong.

Moving Beyond ROI: Why Respect and Value Matter

While improving mental health undoubtedly has financial benefits, it’s essential to remember that the value of a mentally healthy workplace goes beyond return on investment. Every employee deserves to feel respected and valued—not just for their productivity but as individuals with their own challenges and needs. In our recruitment work, we’ve encountered professionals who left law firms because they felt unseen or unappreciated, highlighting that lack of recognition can be a major factor in staff turnover.

When employees feel heard and respected, they are more engaged, creative, and loyal to their firm. Law firms can foster this environment by ensuring that all staff—especially those in non-fee-earning roles—are included in decision-making processes, provided with clear paths for growth, and offered regular opportunities for feedback. Recognising and rewarding contributions beyond billable hours or performance metrics can go a long way in creating a culture where everyone feels valued. Mental health initiatives should focus not just on alleviating stress but also on building a sense of belonging and respect within the firm.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

We hope this article sparks some thoughts about how your law firm approaches mental health and prepares you for our upcoming webinar next week. Are you taking proactive steps, or are you waiting for problems to arise? How can we make positive change happen? How does your firm handle the unique pressures faced by business services professionals?

We believe this is a conversation that needs to be had. Law firms must start addressing mental health in a way that goes beyond billable hours and performance targets. By creating a culture where all staff feel supported, valued, and respected, firms can build stronger, more resilient teams.

Join us for the webinar on Thursday, 10th October, where we’ll explore these topics further and hear from experts on how to address mental health challenges in legal sector support roles. This is a great opportunity to reflect, learn, and take positive action within your own firm.

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Webinar Details:

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• Date: Thursday, 10th October

• Time: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

• Topic: How Workplace Culture and Practices Affect Mental Health in Legal Sector Support Roles

• Register here:

  Register for the Webinar

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Let’s make World Mental Health Day a moment to reflect on how we can all do better to support the mental well-being of every member of the firm.