Knowledge & resources

Cultural and systemic change are needed in family dispute resolution workplaces if we are to tackle the wellbeing crisis.

The recently launched Resolution ‘Wellbeing in Family Law Report’ makes sobering, if not unsurprising, reading.

• 89% of respondents have experienced negative wellbeing because of their work.

• 26% of respondents are currently considering leaving the profession due to concerns over wellbeing.

A key theme of this year’s Resolution National Conference was wellbeing. We are all currently well aware of the additional strain that family lawyers are under at the moment due to increased workloads, juggling working from home with the office, and managing and working with our clients in these difficult and unprecedented times.

“Trauma does not just happen to other people - it happens to us, our friends and family and our neighbours. While humans are an extremely resilient species, able to rebound from relentless wars, family violence and man-made disasters, experiences like these inevitably leave traces: on our minds, our emotions and even our biology and immune systems. This matters not just to those who are directly affected, but to the people around them.”

Reflective practice gives us time and space to understand how we are really feeling and how family law may be affecting our own wellbeing.

Individual therapeutic support benefits family law professionals – which in turn helps clients.

A follow-up wellbeing webinar in partnership with LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, exploring practical ways to address findings from our sector-wide report.

In terms of religious festivities this April, the three main monotheistic faiths will each be observing a particular element which involves discipline and focus. Christians worldwide will be observing Easter. Members of the Jewish faith will be observing Passover.

“It’ll all be over by Christmas!” With that famous phrase in mind, we went into lockdown in March with a roughly three-month horizon. After six months – and still counting - we all face the reality and uncertainties of living with Covid-19 for an indefinite future.

With the court system creaking with the strain of under-resource and Covid-19, looking out for each others’ well-being is more important than ever.

From paralegal to partner – why you need resilience and how to find it

With mental wellbeing for family lawyers even more in focus now, it is worth remembering that despite the scary statistics, there are resources and strategies to hand…

Mark Randall uses his 40 years of experience using mindfulness based techniques to reset, refresh and re-calibrate himself whilst working in highly stressful, unpredictable and complex trading environments.

Elizabeth Rimmer shares practical tips on how to manage the day to day pressures of working in family law.