April 1, 2025
AUTHOR Daniel Smallwood
The legal profession is confronting a wellbeing reckoning.
Studies continue to illuminate a concerning landscape: a significant portion of lawyers report high stress, anxiety, and even burnout in their work lives. Nearly two-thirds of legal professionals have experienced burnout as a result of their work Law firms are recognizing that the traditional “grin and bear it” culture is unsustainable — and that supporting mental health is now a business imperative, not just a buzzword.
Legal Wellbeing: London, a wellbeing event (taking place on September 10, 2025) aims to be a catalyst for change in this area. Hosted by Clyde & Co in the heart of London, this one-day conference will bring together mental health and wellbeing experts, law firm leaders, and those charged with their firms’ people strategy to collaboratively tackle the profession’s wellness challenges.
As part of its global conversation on Legal Wellbeing (a New York edition is slated for May 8th) the London wellbeing event will build on those discussions, challenging attendees to rethink how legal organizations can cultivate healthier, more resilient workplaces.
Nearly two-thirds of legal professionals have experienced burnout as a result of their work
Key Themes and Discussions at Legal Wellbeing: London
Designed around forward-thinking themes that address both individual and organizational wellbeing and packed with keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive wellbeing sessions centered on topics such as:
- Leadership Transformation: Redefining what it means to lead in the legal profession and the evolving role of leaders in championing systemic wellness initiatives. How can law firm leaders set the tone from the top and model a culture of wellbeing?
- Sustainable Practice Design: Shifting from ad-hoc wellness fixes to holistic approaches that embed resilience into the firm’s culture and operations. Explore building workflows and policies that prevent burnout before it starts, aligning wellbeing with strategic business goals.
- Data-Driven Strategies: Leveraging analytics to measure the impact of wellbeing programs and identify areas for improvement. What metrics can demonstrate the ROI of wellness initiatives? Attendees will hear about tools to track engagement, retention, performance and make the case that healthy lawyers drive healthier profits.
- Inclusive Leadership: An interactive panel session on why empathy, collaboration, and inclusivity are reshaping leadership frameworks. Diverse perspectives (including junior lawyers, partners, and HR experts) will discuss how an inclusive approach can boost psychological safety and team morale.
- Networking and Community: Beyond formal sessions, Legal Wellbeing: London will offer multiple opportunities to connect. Networking breaks and roundtables will enable attendees to share stories and solutions with peers and industry leaders who are equally committed to improving lawyer wellness.
- The ROI of Wellbeing: A dedicated discussion linking wellness initiatives to business outcomes. Expect case studies showing how prioritizing mental health and work-life balance leads to tangible benefits like higher staff retention, improved client service, and enhanced firm reputation.
These themes underscore the event’s core goal: providing a strategic blueprint for holistic health, wellness, and resilience across the legal profession. Rather than treating wellbeing as a mere HR issue, these conversations position wellbeing as integral components of law firm strategy and long-term success.
The speaking faculty features a rich mix of voices – from veteran law firm leaders to pioneering wellness advocates – ensuring a 360-degree exploration of the issues. Confirmed speakers include:
- Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare – a leading mental health charity for legal professionals – who brings deep insight into supporting lawyers’ psychological wellbeing.
- Sam Jardine, Partner at Fieldfisher, and Matt Fairclough, Partner at Clifford Chance – representing major law firms’ perspective on managing talent sustainably and preventing burnout in high-pressure environments. They, along with partners like Emma Danks (Taylor Wessing) and Will Normand (Travers Smith), will share how big firms are starting to overhaul their cultures and expectations.
- Stuart Woollard, co-founder of the Maturity Institute, and Sadie Restorick, co-founder of Wellity, offering an outside-in view on workplace wellbeing. Their thought leadership on organizational health and resilience will help attendees tie wellness to performance and innovation.
- Andrew Cheung, General Counsel at Pinsent Masons, and Harry Clark, an associate at Mishcon de Reya – adding diverse perspectives from in-house legal leadership and junior lawyer experience, respectively. Hearing from different levels of seniority will enrich discussions on what meaningful support looks like at every stage of a legal career.
In addition to keynote talks, the agenda features dynamic panel discussions and hands-on workshops.
What Attendees Can Expect at Legal Wellbeing: London
Beyond absorbing great ideas, attendees of Legal Wellbeing: London will walk away with practical takeaways and an energized outlook on driving change in their own organizations. Here’s what participants can look forward to:
- Actionable Strategies: This isn’t going to be abstract theory – sessions are geared toward ready-to-implement advice. Expect to learn concrete strategies and best practices that you can bring back to your firm, whether it’s launching a new wellbeing program, refining your flexible work policies, or training leaders in mental health awareness.
- Fresh Perspectives: Through discussions of emerging trends (like using data to tailor wellness programs or the role of technology and AI in workload management), you’ll gain insights to evolve your firm’s strategy. The content is curated to help legal organizations stay ahead of the curve in supporting their people.
- Networking and Support: With lawyers, HR professionals, and consultants all in the room, the networking opportunities are immense. You’ll be able to connect with peers who face similar challenges and build a community of practice for ongoing support. These connections can spark new collaborations and keep the momentum going long after the event.
- Inspiration from Leaders: Hearing the personal experiences of law firm partners and wellbeing trailblazers can be incredibly motivating. Attendees will have the chance to engage with speakers during Q&As or coffee breaks – an approachable atmosphere is a hallmark of Inside Practice events. Don’t be surprised if you come away inspired to champion new initiatives and with a list of experts you can reach out to for guidance.
- A Vision for Change: Most importantly, the event offers a space to envision what a healthier legal profession looks like. Through the keynotes and final discussions, participants will collectively chart a path forward for a more resilient, human-centered law workplace. The goal is for everyone to leave not only informed, but empowered to drive positive change in their organizations.
Join the Movement
Inside Practice’s Legal Wellbeing: London is more than just a wellbeing conference – it’s positioned as a movement to reshape legal culture. The urgency around lawyer wellbeing has never been higher, and this event offers a prime opportunity to be part of the solution. Whether you’re a law firm partner searching for effective wellness strategies, a legal HR professional looking to build out a wellbeing program, or an attorney who simply cares about the human side of practice, this summit promises value for you.
Join us on September 10, 2025. Register your place here.
