What to expect when you call LawCare’s helpline

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or struggling with something, we’re here to listen. Our helpline is a safe, confidential space where you can talk to someone who understands the challenges of working in law. Here’s how to contact us, what to expect during a call, and what happens after.

How will the call start and how long will it take?

• When you call us on 0800 279 6888 you’ll hear a brief welcome message explaining our confidentiality policy and that we don’t give legal advice. Although our usual policy is to record calls, you can request not to have your call recorded by emailing us at [email protected] and we will arrange this for you.
• Once the message ends the phone will ring and one of our team will answer. All of our team have experience of working in law. You don’t have to give your name or any personal details if you prefer not to.
• Occasionally we may be on other calls when you ring, and you might get put through to voicemail. If this happens you can leave a message and we’ll call you back on or before the next business day, or you can try again later.
• The average helpline call lasts around 25 minutes, but you don’t have to speak for as long as that or may chat for longer, whatever feels comfortable for you. You matter and we’re here to listen.

What will I talk about?

• This is your opportunity to talk about the issues you’re dealing with, whether that’s something happening at work or at home, or a combination of different things. We’ve prepared this article with some examples of common reasons contact us. You can take your time, and please don’t worry if you find yourself feeling emotional or struggling to find the right words.
• If you’re unsure how to start, we may ask you simple questions about your role in the legal sector in order to get a better understanding of your situation. Knowing what you do and where you work helps us give the best support.
• We may also ask you about the support you already have and what other resources might help you.
• Simply talking to someone neutral who understands your working environment and will listen without judgement can be enormously cathartic. It can often help you to see your own way forward, and that may be all you need.
• We may also direct you towards information on our website such as personal stories from other legal professionals who have experienced something similar. LawCare doesn’t give advice but we can talk through different options for you to consider.
• There may also be other charities and groups that offer specialist help with your particular issue and we can point you in the right direction if needed.

What will happen at the end of the call?

• Near the end of the call, we may talk about ongoing support – reaching out to your GP or considering counselling, for example. We might go over what we talked about and discuss your next steps.
• Before the call ends, we will ask you a few quick monitoring questions. You don’t have to answer these questions if you’d prefer not to. We ask these questions to help us make sure we’re supporting the entire legal community.
• We will also ask if you would like a follow-up call from the LawCare team in three months to see how you are getting on. If you do ask for a follow-up call then we will need your first name, phone number, and ideally an email address so that we can arrange a suitable time for the call. Many people find the three-month follow-up call helpful as something to look forward to and think about how they might have changed their situation by that point.

What next?

• After the call it may help you to take a few minutes to think about what you’ve discussed, and note down any steps you decided to take. It can also be a good idea to do something nice for yourself to clear your head, such as taking a walk outside.
• Don’t forget you can call the LawCare helpline more than once. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself talking to the same person so you will need to explain your situation again. Speaking with someone new can often give you a new perspective.