Carers working in the legal sector either do not get offered support or do not take the support that is provided, a new study has found.
The poll of 235 legal professionals with caring responsibilities found that 73% had to take their own annual leave to take people to doctor’s appointments.
Many feel guilty for having to take time away from work and find themselves overcompensating for the amount of time they have missed. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said that they continued to provide care even though they felt that they were near breaking point.
Two-thirds of lawyers were offered no support at all in their organisation, but even where firms do offer support, this was taken up by just 31% of the survey respondents.
The research was jointly carried out by City firm RPC, legal charity LawCare and equality campaign group Next 100 Years, and published to coincide with Carers Week 2024.
Rachel Pears, a carer herself and head of responsible business at RPC, said individuals can be pulled away from their careers by caring responsibilities and it requires firms to foster inclusive and supportive cultures.
‘Too many people working in the legal sector (myself included) have a bad habit of wearing our busyness like a badge of honour, as if we are physically and mentally indestructible,’ said Pears.
‘We need to start to shift our thinking, collectively and individually, and acknowledge that we will all need a little extra flexibility and trust from time to time to be able to do our best work. That’s ok and not a sign of weakness or lack of commitment.’
More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) said their mental health was affected by their caring role, with 70% also reporting that it took a physical toll.
The survey showed that 57% of respondents believe their caring role negatively impacts their career progression, and 54% say it affects their work more generally.
Dana Denis-Smith, founder of the Next 100 Years, added: ‘Women are more likely to take on caring responsibilities, and for many it has an impact on their careers. Pay and progression take a back seat, while carers prioritise stability and focus on juggling pressures that employers might not be aware of.’
The report recommends that employers encourage flexibility to let carers attend appointments, and that this should be something given and proactively suggested, rather than treated as ‘earned’. Managers should be trained to have open conversations about caring with their teams and about the mental and physical impact it is having. Firms can develop a clear, defined policies for carers and line managers, with caring responsibilities factored into career progression conversations.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: 'Many people will continue to hold caring responsibilities and the profession needs to continue to adapt and embrace them.
'There also needs to be a degree of inclusive flexibility in and promotion of, for example, appraisals, promotions and people policies such as for carers or parents, to ensure we do not lose talented solicitors who can often be on the cusp of senior careers when they find themselves with caring responsibilities.'
Around five million people are unpaid carers in England and Wales, with that number likely to grow as people live longer and require help from working-age relatives.
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