Demand for mental health support in legal sector reaches record high, LawCare report finds
updated on 04 February 2026
Reading time: three minutes
More people in the legal sector sought mental health support last year than ever before, according to LawCare’s newly published Impact Report 2025. The charity, which provides emotional support to people working in the legal sector, supported 753 individuals in 2025 – more than in any previous year, including during the covid‑19 pandemic.
LawCare’s live online chat service saw a particularly sharp growth, with 140 people supported through chat, a 13% year‑on‑year increase. LawCare highlighted that this increase signals the continued need for accessible and confidential mental health services beyond traditional helpline and email channels.
The report broke down the job roles of those who sought support in 2025, showing demand across all levels of the profession. Of the people contacting LawCare:
- 42% were solicitors in private practice;
- 13% were trainee solicitors;
- 9% were in‑house solicitors;
- 9% were paralegals;
- 7% were barristers or pupil barristers;
- 4% were law students; and
- 4% were chartered legal executives.
Despite growing awareness of mental health and a rise in workplace wellbeing initiatives, the report revealed that legal professionals continue to face persistent challenges including stress, anxiety, burnout and heavy workloads. These findings echo LawCare’s Life in the Law 2025 research, which shows that wellbeing issues remain widespread across the sector.
Find out more about work/life balance in the legal profession, including advice from Elizabeth Rimmer.
LawCare CEO Elizabeth Rimmer warned that awareness alone is not enough to address the pressures legal workers face: “People in the legal sector are still under significant pressure, and the need for immediate and confidential mental health support continues to grow. LawCare delivers this work with a small team and limited resources. Sustaining and growing our services to meet this increased demand is a key priority.”
The report outlined the breadth of LawCare’s work over the past year, from helpline services to peer support, training and research. It includes firsthand accounts from individuals who used the service, reflecting the significant difference early emotional support can make during periods of overwhelm or crisis.
The charity highlighted growth in several key initiatives. Its 25 Club, a three‑year funding commitment scheme for individuals and organisations, has expanded rapidly, providing more stable financial backing. LawCare raised £404,467 in 2025, helping sustain and strengthen its services. Meanwhile, its volunteers, including its 82 trained peer supporters, collectively delivered hundreds of hours of emotional support.
LawCare also launched a new reverse mentoring toolkit in partnership with the University of Leeds, helping legal workplaces become more inclusive and supportive, especially for junior staff and underrepresented groups.
The charity also ran a number of free webinars, which were attended by more than 1,000 people and covered topics such as addiction, intergenerational differences, sustainable career building and the findings of the Life in the Law study.
Looking forward, LawCare stresses the urgent need for organisational change, as legal professionals navigate rising workloads, regulatory pressures and shifting workplace expectations. Recommendations include:
- reducing burnout by managing workloads more effectively;
- embedding flexible working; and
- equipping managers with the time and skills required to support their teams.
Note from the LCN content team: if you’ve experienced any of the issues mentioned in this article, there are several organisations you can contact, including LawCare, your university's support service, Nightline and Student Space. If you need support now, text SHOUT to 85258 to chat to a trained volunteer.
