The Solicitors’ Charity report reveals sharp rise in support needs across the profession
updated on 15 May 2026
Ellie Nicholl (she/her) is senior content and engagement coordinator at LawCareers.Net
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Demand for support among solicitors in England and Wales has tripled since 2023, as practitioners face increasingly complex and overlapping challenges, according to The Solicitors’ Charity’s Big Report 2025/26.
The survey highlighted the impact of the charity’s work, with 93% of those supported saying the help they received maintained or improved their mental wellbeing. Findings also suggest that those seeking support are less likely to face a single issue, and more likely to experience overlapping challenges affecting their emotional, financial, professional and physical wellbeing.
Data was based on responses from individuals who have accessed the charity’s support over the past three years. London accounted for the highest proportion of cases (22%), followed by the South East (14%).
In response to rising need, the charity reported an increase in the scale of its support. In 2025, it distributed £1.27 million in financial awards and grants – £102,000 more than the previous year – with 113 additional awards made. More than 5,600 hours of direct case management support was delivered, alongside tailored referrals across four areas of wellbeing. This included 93 referrals to mental health organisations such as LawCare, which the charity also financially supports in delivering its core work and its Life in the Law report.
The report also points to a growing need for career-related support. Referrals for professional assistance rose from seven in 2022 to 40 in 2025, with many solicitors seeking help to navigate redundancy and other career changes. The average resettlement period was 92 days, with 63% achieving their desired outcome.
CEO of The Solicitors’ Charity Nick Gallagher commented: “What we are seeing is not just increased demand, but more complex need. Challenges rarely exist in isolation, which means support has to help alleviate the full extent of what someone is going through.”
