The Law Society of Ireland has published new research, Wellbeing at the Foundation of the Legal Profession: Research and insights from a decade of trainee solicitor counselling in Ireland, which examines the impact of its innovative Trainee Solicitor Counselling Service.  

The research was launched at an event at the Law Society on Wednesday 19 November.   

The aim of this new research is to understand more about what motivated trainee solicitors to engage with the Law Society’s Trainee Solicitor Counselling Service and how it has influenced their personal and professional lives.  

The research collates qualitative data outlining the responses of 500 of the 3000 trainee solicitors who have accessed the free counselling service over an eight-year period, between 2015-2023. 

The findings provide fresh insight into the challenges faced by trainee solicitors and the lasting difference that mental health support can make to individuals, their firms, and the profession as a whole.  

This is a unique model developed with trainee professionals in mind. It is designed specifically to support them as emerging lawyers. That is why the vast majority access the counselling service. They are ambitious, interested in personal development and driven to succeed. It helps equip lawyers of the future to be more self-reflective and connect well with clients. It also supports trainee solicitors with the ordinary challenges of life including bereavements, relationship challenges and general mental health. 

The Law Society is unique in building this service into its professional practice course.

President of the Law Society, Rosemarie Loftus, said: 

“The Law Society has been offering counselling sessions to trainee solicitors for over a decade. The figures tell a great story. Since 2014 our team of psychotherapists has provided over 16,400 fully funded counselling sessions to almost 3,000 trainee solicitors, from 385 legal workplaces around Ireland.  

“One in two trainee solicitors from our current intake have engaged with counselling in the first three months of their Professional Practice Course. This is a huge benefit to these professionals, to their teams and future clients.’’ 

To better understand why trainee solicitors engaged with the counselling service and the impact of the service, this new research has analysed the data and has provided insights under key themes including: 

• reasons for engaging with the counselling service, 
• impact of counselling on personal life, and 
• impact of counselling on professional life. 

What are the reasons?

One trainee solicitor stated the counselling service offered “the opportunity to work through and deal with issues that were impacting my personal relationships.” 

Another stated: “It helped me to see my strengths in a work environment so that I gained more confidence in my abilities.” 

President of the Law Society, Rosemarie Loftus, said:

“The Trainee Solicitor Counselling Service is about influencing legal culture, promoting openness around professional wellbeing and mental health, and helping solicitors to thrive.  

“The Law Society is proud to invest in building a strong and empathic legal profession through strategic and innovative psychological services like this.” 

About trainee solicitor counselling sessions  

The Law Society’s Trainee Solicitor Counselling Service offers six free counselling sessions to each trainee solicitor enrolled in the Professional Practice Course. Its goal is to integrate psychological insight and wellbeing into professional life, to eliminate stigma by promoting open dialogue around mental health and assuring trainees that engaging in a course of therapy enhances professionalism and is encouraged within the legal community.