Blog: 21 October 2022 - Helen McGrath, Head of Public Affairs

Well now…..

It’s frustrating to be in a situation where you have an awful lot to say but can’t say it. As lawyers, we are faced with frequent situations where we provide counsel, options, and remedies - but never personal opinions. Significantly, the apolitical nature of our role requires that fine line of objective impartiality. We must cloak ourselves within the professional standards required of us.

I recall vividly the feedback I received as a first-year undergraduate; my assignment littered with “I think…”. The booming voice in the small paper littered office, “No one cares what you think”. The first significant and as it turns out, helpful advice I ever received. From that point on I only ever ‘considered’; and even then, I considered purely on the facts before me with a detached analytical application. But we are only human after all and lawyers in local government are an impassioned group. We must be in fact, to do what we do. The tension this creates, when we can see the impact, when we invest our lives to making a difference, can be a difficult and heavy load to bear.

Studies have shown that by nature, lawyers have a tendency to be far more pessimistic as against the general population as a whole. There’s a very good reason for this if you think about it. We are trained and programmed to foresee (and therefore plan against) every conceivable avenue of what could go wrong. We tend therefore to bring this into our personal lives. It is incredibly important therefore that we recognise the impact of this on our own wellbeing. We are not machines, and there can be huge benefits to taking the time to talk to others, in a safe space, about all the issues currently facing you in your professional, or indeed personal life.

The LLG Governance Conference provides an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues. A space within which that ‘awful lot to say’ can indeed be said. A cathartic opportunity to unburden and unwind. If you feel unable however to share your story, then a discreet and confidential service is provided by Lawcare; the mental health and well-being charity for the legal community. They provide a telephone helpline, an email service and online chat for free. It’s an invaluable service for the legal community and one you should consider. Sometimes, it's not always easy to recognise the impact upon us of our busy lives.

It is not a failure to seek support or reassurance. On the contrary, it is a great strength.

Helen McGrath

Head of Public Affairs

Helen@llg.org.uk