Across broad swathes of society, and even Premier League football, mental health is becoming easier to talk about. The stigma is lifting.

Our legal profession is no exception – eminent law firms have used some of their vast resources to launch mental health networks and stress the importance of wellbeing. Successful lawyers have shared candid tales of their own experiences. So far, so good.

Writing in today’s Gazette, though, solicitor Karen Jackson reflects that warm words are often not backed by deeds. Jackson’s clients include people with a claim for unfair dismissal related to mental health problems and she is clearly disconcerted by the number of lawyers among them.

Her call is for a ‘kinder’ profession, where unnecessary sources of pressure, like bullying and presenteeism, are absent. Promoting and allowing more agile working is another contribution that could be made to lawyers’ wellbeing – a point made by firms interviewed on flexible working.

Law attracts perfectionists and the price for mistakes is known to be high. Clients bring the pressure of serious problems to their legal advisers.

This is a deeply competitive profession and many thrive on it. But can we in all conscience say that increasing flexibility and just generally being more considerate would make for worse legal advice? These are not the only sources of anxiety, depression and unproductive stress of course – but removing them would be profoundly helpful as we tackle the others.

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