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This has always been a stressful profession. I have been part of it for 29 years now. Nothing is different. I had mad clients when I was doing legal aid, I have been punched on more than one occasion. The chaos that drug addled clients bring to your working day takes its toll. I have listened to the child victims of rape, the adult victims of domestic violence, the vulnerable who have had their children removed from them. I have been on my knees with stress. College does not prepare you for any of this. If these junior lawyers think it’s a picnic for those in charge of them then they need to think again. It’s crap for us as well. Not only do we have to bring enough work through the door to pay your wages but we have to worry in case you make a mistake that means we can’t find PII insurance at an affordable rate, that means everyone out of a job. We have to deal with client complaints, we have to deal with our ownn case loads and supervise yours. We have to have broad shoulders to pick you up when you say you can’t cope. We get to go home late and worry about the whole thing at night. Who is there for us? Do the junior lawyers worry about our health and our stress levels?