---
title: Why it's important to protect the mental wellbeing of aspiring young lawyers
description: Studies show that younger solicitors & barristers experience poor mental health & lower overall wellbeing - we look at the importance of wellbeing strategies.
image: https://www.ukim-oh.com/hubfs/UKIM%20Occupational%20Health%20and%20Wellbeing/News-Blog/struggling-young-lawyer.jpg
---

# Why it's important to protect the mental wellbeing of aspiring young lawyers

 Date:  29/05/2024

 

## Addressing workplace wellbeing for young legal professionals

**Starting off a career is always hard, but when it comes to young aspiring lawyers, it seems to be more difficult to break-through into the immensely difficult, complicated, and undeniably competitive world of law.**

The amount of blood, sweat, and tears put into becoming a **junior [solicitor](https://www.ukim-oh.com/our-services/mental-wellbeing-for-solicitors)** or **[barrister](https://www.ukim-oh.com/our-services/mental-wellbeing-for-barristers)** is beyond what many may imagine. Not only does the competition and intense workload start as a student, but they last into the beginnings of their professional careers as juniors; only this is a time with added pressures of standing out, fighting for a position, and doing a lot of the seniors’ groundwork.

The hard work never seems to end, and there’s a huge struggle with finding their own two feet in a career filled with others who strive to be the best.

[A study from Law Society of England & Wales](https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-61-issue-04/stress-the-common-enemy/) found that **96% of respondents** experienced “negative stress” which impacts their health and day-to-day life. The same study also found that **39% of junior lawyers** had to take time off due to the stress; this was higher than the proportion of those senior.

### **Investment in mental health support is critical for those working in law**

There are more studies supporting the notion that younger solicitors and barristers experience **poor mental health** and [**“lower overall wellbeing”**,](https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/new-data-on-wellbeing-at-the-bar.html) and it’s time that these issues are addressed.

Not only is the poor wellbeing of younger generations in law concerning on an individual level, it’s also a serious issue for the future of the profession. With such studies showing negative impacts of being young or new to the field of law, it’s off-putting and worrying for many aspiring lawyers.

As law is an immensely competitive field and there’s always overwhelming workloads, it’s important that juniors have support to be able to progress. Without mental health support, their work quality and productivity alongside their mental health will decline.

Many encounter emotionally distressing cases, just like their seniors, and with less experience this can be very hard to deal with. They don’t have the long experiences to help them get through the tough cases and long-hours, and so guidance and support is necessary.

Investing in [mental health and wellbeing support for legal professionals](https://www.ukim-oh.com/our-services/mental-wellbeing-in-legal-services) can help young lawyers navigate their early careers and stressors so that they can flourish.

Ensuring that they have [psychological safety](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/solicitors-facing-burnout-psychological-unsafety) is very important as there’s not only a mental health crisis, but it also means that there’ll be more confidence in the quality of legal work.

#### Want more Occupational Health insights to help your business? You may also like to read...

- [NHS waitlist set to reach over 8 million by mid 2024 - can Occupational Health Services help?](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/nhs-waitlist-set-to-reach-over-8-million-by-mid-2024-can-occupational-health-services-help/)
- [UKIM Awarded Place on ESPO Framework for Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Programme Services.](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/ukim-awarded-place-on-espo-framework-for-occupational-health-and-employee-assistance-programme-services/)
- [Enhancing Employee Retention and Recruitment: The Role of Occupational Health Services.](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/enhancing-employee-retention-and-recruitment/)
- [Respiratory Health in the Workplace: The Importance of Occupational Health Services](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/respiratory-health-in-the-workplace-the-importance-of-occupational-health-services/)
- [What are the legal requirements and regulations related to Occupational Health and Safety?](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/what-are-the-legal-requirements-and-regulations-related-to-occupational-health-and-safety/)
- [How do Occupational Health services support employer duty of care?](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/how-do-occupational-health-services-support-employer-duty-of-care/)
- [How Investing in Occupational Health Services can lead to greater ROI ](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/how-investing-in-occupational-health-services-can-lead-to-greater-roi/)
- [Occupational Health Referrals for Employees and how to make them.](https://www.ukim-oh.com/news/latest-news/occupational-health-referrals-for-employees-and-how-to-make-them/)

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