As a pastoral care service to help under-fire practitioners is unveiled, Rachel Rothwell looks at how lawcare and solicitors' firms work together to beat the pressure of stress.

There are some things that lawyers simply accept these days as being part and parcel of their legal role: at times long-winded CPD-accredited lectures, endless billing pressures - and stress.

Pressure at work can be a good thing, creating a buzz that gets things done.

But a recent survey by LawCare, the specialist support group for lawyers, found that almost two-thirds of calls to its helpline were from solicitors suffering from the negative effects of stress - and sinking under a wave of depression (see [2004] Gazette, 1 April, 4).

That lawyers are struggling to cope with the pressure heaped on them is nothing new.

But what is different these days is the number of support groups ready to throw them a lifeline.

Most Law Society-affiliated groups have their own helplines to provide advice and support to solicitors or trainees in distress.

And now, a new solicitors support network helpline has been launched with Society support to make it easier for practitioners to know where to turn.

Solicitors with problems - not just relating to stress - can call a single number and be directed to one of ten Law Society groups where someone from a similar background can offer help and advice.

It will be operated by LawCare, and is being supported by organisations such as the Young Solicitors Group, the Sole Practitioners Group, the Association of Women Solicitors and others.

Lawcare director Hilary Tilby says: 'The support network helpline will provide a single point of contact for what we call the lost lambs - those who do not know which group to turn to and are in danger of falling down a black hole.

Calls from the helpline will come through to me and I will talk through the problem and put them in touch with the right group.'

She adds: 'Stress is endemic to the profession.

But every branch of the profession has its own distinct sources of stress, and so care is best provided by the group closest to the caller.'

One section of the profession that can be most in need of help - but least willing to ask for it - is sole practitioners.

The Sole Practitioners Group runs an informal helpline where solicitors are invited to discuss their concerns.

Montagu Martin, a member of the group's national executive, is the man most likely to be on the other end of the telephone when a solicitor calls needing advice.

He says: 'As a group, we don't get as many pleas for help from sole practitioners as you would expect - they are a very self-reliant bunch.

But they are under a huge amount of stress because they have much less of a support network in their own firms, and they have to deal with pressure caused by finances, illness, staff absences and staff problems.

'Many sole practitioners believe they can't afford to take holidays, or even that the professional rules prevent them from doing so.

But we encourage them to take breaks and explain how the regulations do allow it.' He adds: 'Sole practitioners worry a lot about what happens if they fall ill or when they die.

We can offer practical advice and give information about things like professional indemnity and how to find locums.'

At the other end of the spectrum, younger solicitors are a lot more willing to seek help.

Last year, the Trainee Solicitors Group (TSG) received more than 700 calls to its helpline, which is staffed by specially trained newly qualified solicitors and trainees.

Depressingly, the substance of the calls was as predictable as it was shameful.

As many as 37% of the calls relating to training contract problems were about bullying and harassment.

Frequent complaints included trainees being shouted at or humiliated for asking questions, being subjected to insults and sly remarks made to other colleagues, and particular individuals being constantly given low-grade work.

Vidula Patiar, the TSG's education officer, says: 'Many of our stress calls are linked to bullying.

Trainees tend to call us because they are very reluctant to approach their firm about being bullied - and when they do they do not get much in the way of support.

I dealt with a call recently where the trainee who was being bullied raised the issue with his firm, and was told that there was nothing they could do because the partner involved brought in too much money and had major clients.'

Surprisingly, although trainees are willing to call the helpline, they are reticent about talking to one another.

Ms Patiar says: 'Trainees often don't talk to each other about problems very easily.

But the first thing we advise them to do on the helpline is to see whether others at the firm are having the same difficulties.

That is not always an option in smaller firms where there is only one trainee, of course.'

The LawCare helpline also receives a lot of calls about bullying.

Ms Tilby says: 'Bullying is no respecter of age, sex or creed.

Much of it takes place at the lower end of the profession but it exists throughout.'

The Young Solicitors Group, for solicitors who are less than ten years qualified, runs a helpline manned by young solicitors who have received counselling training.

Calls to the organisation show their members are suffering from their own unique sources of stress.

Hannah Wiskin, the group's vice-chairwoman, says: 'There is a huge amount of stress relating to career structure, as partnership becomes increasingly difficult to obtain.

Solicitors with five to seven years of experience are concerned about out-living their value in the larger firms.

If they are not made partner, they are being encouraged to move on.'

She adds: 'A lot of stress also relates to poor people management, because partners are simply not taught how to manage.

And there is a lack of trust.

It is not enough to be billing the right number of hours - you also have to be seen to be at your desk.'

The long-hours, target-oriented culture is an obvious source of pressure for solicitors in the City.

Many firms are approaching the issue from a health perspective.

John Barnard, human resources director at City giant Clifford Chance, says: 'Our Canary Wharf offices have a well-being centre, with an occupational health nurse and general practitioner on site.' He adds: 'But this is a service business, and there is a requirement that we deliver that service and look for committed people.'

Judith Hesketh, head of human resources at City firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, says: 'Obviously the welfare of our employees is of paramount importance, so we continue looking at ways in which we can assist them in dealing with stress in the workplace.

For example, we have organised "lunch and learn" sessions about creating optimum sleep and coping strategies.

We also provide a variety of in-house, health-related services for any employee requiring additional support.'

However, it is easier for the largest firms, which have the resources, to offer this kind of support to fee-earners.

Those in smaller firms are often not as lucky, although mid-sized defendant insurance firm Keoghs, based in Bolton, last year launched a range of 'well-being' services for staff, including on-site hypnotherapy, reflexology, Indian head massage as well as advice on nutrition and aromatherapy.

If some firms have not quite got the right approach, at least the issue of stress is on their radar.

LawCare has seen considerable interest in its free preventative education courses, which it provides to law firms and local law societies throughout the country, and is receiving more and more calls to its helpline.

Ms Tilby says: 'It takes a lot of courage to pick up the phone and call for help, which we do not underestimate.

Lawyers spend their lives solving other people's problems, and so they feel they should be able to solve their own.

They beat themselves up for being inadequate, when in fact they are just human.

But help is out there for them.'

- Solicitors Support Network helpline, tel: 0800 328 4203; Lawcare helpline, tel: 0800 279 6888