Lawyers Face the Axe
15th June 2010
LAWYERS SEEK ADVICE ON NEW CAREERS AND REDUNDANCY
Originally published in Scottish Legal News e-bulletin, 15 June 2010
A charity that provides health support and advice to solicitors has reported a surge in the number of lawyers seeking information on redundancy and alternative careers due to the recession.
Figures for the beginning of 2010 from LawCare show that by far the most popular downloads from its website are those giving advice about potential new jobs for lawyers and job losses.
The charity has also received a rise in calls from every branch of the profession, including those employed in private practice, sole practitioners and their families, with solicitors in Scotland "particularly effected" by the economic downturn.
Hilary Tilby, chief executive, said: "Generally there has been a rise across the board but Scotland has been particularly affected.
"There has been a 50 per cent rise in the number of calls received from solicitors in Scotland."
Data from across the UK shows that as of the end of May, the alternative careers information pack - which includes a list of 100 other jobs a lawyer might consider - had been downloaded 3,159 times.
The pack about redundancy had been downloaded 1,669 times.
Together they account for more than four out ten of all downloads from the site.
Ms Tilby said that with the demand for other information packs relating to problems including dealing with alcoholism and managing stress, this clearly shows the high number of lawyers who are facing a change of career, either through choice or due to the recession.
She added: "The legal profession can be rewarding, but there are also stresses and strains of being a legal practitioner.
"A career change is not a decision to be taken lightly, but we would advise that they look at all the options."
Last year, the charity recorded its busiest year to date, with a 10 per cent rise in lawyers reporting stress and other problems.
Of the 549 cases dealt with, 410 related to stress, 47 to clinical depression, 32 to alcoholism, three to illegal drugs and 57 to eating disorders, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and other issues.
More than 2,500 additional telephone calls were made or taken in relation to these cases - a quarter more than the previous year.
Just over half of callers were able to identify a primary cause of their distress - a quarter of whom cited redundancy.
Despite official figures showing that the economy is no longer in recession, Ms Tilby said there was no sign of pressures easing.
She said: "In the first quarter of 2009, the recession-related case files opened was five per cent of the total, but in the first half of 2010 it was up to 25 per cent."