Law firm encourages staff to get running to boost their mental health
A local law firm is helping staff to improve their mental and physical health by donning their trainers and heading out for a run after a day in the office.
Lanyon Bowdler has joined the Legal Runner programme, which is designed to encourage people in the legal profession to get together for a social run where they can talk openly about mental health issues.
The firm now has lots of staff across its seven offices taking part in regular running sessions, who say the project has been a great success.
Karen Clarke, of Lanyon Bowdler’s personal injury team, is a mental health first aider and said the Legal Runner project was an important initiative.
She said: “The mental health and well-being of staff should be a priority for every business, and it is well-known to be a particular challenge for us in the legal profession.
“As a personal injury lawyer myself, I know first-hand how traumatic it can be when supporting clients who have been through truly harrowing experiences, and the emotional toll can be tough to deal with.
“We offer a great deal of support to our staff, from training sessions on vicarious trauma to more practical activities such as the Legal Runner project.
“Legal Runner is the brainchild of the President of the Law Society, Mark Evans, and I had the pleasure of chatting with Mark for a recent edition of our Legal Lounge podcast, when he explained how the idea came about and why it raises funds for LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector.
“We also welcomed Rose Donnelly, from LawCare, for another edition of the Legal Lounge, and it was wonderful to hear how the charity is supporting people working in law.
“It’s so important that people know there is someone to talk to, whether they are in a serious mental health crisis or simply having a bad day, and we are pleased to be helping in our own small way.”
For more information, and to listen to the Legal Lounge podcast, visit the Lanyon Bowdler website at lblaw.co.uk.
