Bar Wellbeing

A criminal barrister in his early 50s recounts how his life was turned upside down by a stroke, and offers some advice.  

It is 4.30am. I have to leave for court in four hours’ time. I can’t sleep, but it isn’t the imminent case that keeps me awake. My left arm has pins and needles. The sensation isn’t going away. In fact, it’s spreading to my leg. I put up with this for a long time, expecting it to stop. Then I settle for hoping it will stop, until eventually my wife is dragged from sleep by my increasing restlessness. We debate the situation. I insist forcefully that I’m fine to go to court, but it turns out that I can’t walk. I can’t even stand unsupported. By now, my entire left side is alive with strangeness, yet oddly dead. We agree that the court had better wait. Soon afterwards I am in A&E. Our lives are changing irrevocably as the minutes pass. The Acute Stroke Ward beckons, and my family and I enter uncharted territory. 

Lawyers suffering from stress can benefit from a new LawCare resource. The “wellbeing portal”, now available on www.lawcare.org.uk, is designed to assist in stress recognition and management. 

Going on maternity leave or pursuing other outside interests? With forward planning and good communication, career breaks can work. Freya Newbery offers some practical guidance.  

The Bar has traditionally embraced flexible working arrangements, which has allowed barristers to pursue a range of outside interests such as taking part-time judicial or academic appointments, or becoming MPs, writers, or actors, in addition to taking maternity or paternity leave. What it demonstrates is that a successful career at the Bar can be combined with time consuming outside interests.