A charity which supports struggling solicitors said it has seen a 50% rise in clients amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The Solicitors’ Charity, formerly the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association, said that in 2022 it funded 284 solicitors to access emotional wellbeing or mental health support.

The figure is contained in the charity’s annual Big Report, which shows that almost £1m was spent on supporting solicitors and their dependants in England and Wales last year. CEO Nick Gallagher said: 'Our charity helped 50% more new clients to access support and advice for their pressing needs. We are proud to have awarded a total of £962,229 to those solicitors facing financial and personal difficulties, particularly during the UK’s cost-of-living economic downturn.'

The number of new clients experiencing multiple health conditions increased by 50% last year, the charity said. There were 60% more new cases where clients had mental health issues, compared to the year before.

The charity awarded £962,229 – plus £25,316 in secured loans – to help people in need, with a mix of one-off financial awards covering a range of necessities, such as household equipment, medical aids and adaptations to housing; grants and payments to partner organisations to provide services; and living allowances.

To help address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, in spring 2022 The Solicitors’ Charity made additional one-off payments to help all its primary clients with their domestic fuel bills. One of the clients helped was a London conveyancer, who contacted the charity when he had no job, was in debt and had become homeless following a family fallout.

He said: 'The financial support and accommodation provided by The Solicitors’ Charity really helped me get back on my feet. The best thing now is being debt-free, having a roof over my head and a warm room. If the charity hadn’t been there for me, I don’t know what would have happened. They’ve been massively helpful and a real lifesaver.'

Law Society vice president Nick Emmerson said: 'The Solicitors’ Charity survey echoes research from the industry on mental health and wellbeing.

'The Law Society’s 2022 PC Holder Survey found a 30% increase in members reporting that their work goes beyond their contracted hours and impacts their personal life.

'We’ve called on the profession to take stock of its culture. We have a collective responsibility to make a positive work environment for everyone. We must talk about how some working practices contribute to an increased risk of poor mental health and how we can work together to change things.

'Tackling excessive working hours and workloads, as well as ensuring better supervision and support, especially for junior lawyers, is essential. We must all take responsibility for our mental health and wellbeing and look to change our businesses so colleagues can have a rewarding career and a supportive workplace.'

 

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