Behind the briefcase: The human cost of legal compliance

Posted 2nd May 2025

In our recent webinar (recording link in our 2 May edition of the COLP Insider newsletter), we tackled an often overlooked yet critically important issue in the legal sector: the personal toll of compliance and leadership responsibilities in law firms.

Wellbeing and risk: a conversation long overdue

The session brought together leading voices on wellbeing in the legal sector, all of whom offer a range of professional support. We welcomed:

Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO, LawCare
Nick Gallagher, CEO, The Solicitors’ Charity
Andrew Bigby, Practice Advice Manager, The Law Society
Plus, Sam Bray, Sophie Cisler and Ed Marshall from Jonathon Bray

A candid conversation took place about the mounting regulatory pressures faced by those within the legal profession. We also discussed those people tasked with ensuring their firms remain compliant, ethically sound, and well-run – often with little support themselves.

Compliance stress from the inside out

The ‘call for help’ moment is not something unusual at JBL – that is, when a COLP, COFA, or another person with some responsibility within a firm reaches out to us, overwhelmed, not because they’ve done something wrong, more usually – but because they are terrified they might.

These are professionals who care deeply, yet find themselves battling anxiety, sleepless nights, and the ever-present fear of SRA sanctions or reputational fallout. Such a person on the phone in tears with such worries is not a nice place to be.

And the reason? They often feel that they can’t keep up with the pace of regulation anymore.

The culture of silence and isolation

A key theme emerged during our session: isolation.

Those in compliance or leadership roles often feel they have no one to confide in. The (inaccurate) belief that admitting stress can be seen as weakness. And when you’re the firm’s ‘moral compass’, as one panellist described, the weight of ethical and regulatory responsibility can feel intensely personal.

But as the panel stressed, this isn’t just about workload – it’s about culture. Firms that encourage openness, empathy, and proactive support can dramatically reduce that burden for their team.

Support does exist – but it’s underused

Across the panellists, one thing came out more than anything else – each of their services provide a non-judgemental and safe space for those who wish to access them.

Elizabeth Rimmer highlighted LawCare’s confidential helpline and resources, urging firms to normalise mental health conversations and treat wellbeing as a key component to running a law firm, not just an HR checkbox. LawCare is passionate about anyone in the legal profession (whatever their role) being able to put their hand up and ask for help – without fear of feeling, or being viewed as, weak. There is much work that can be done to prevent risks within a firm – as Elizabeth said, prevention is just as important a piece of this jigsaw as knowing what do and where to go when help is needed.

Nick Gallagher shared how The Solicitors’ Charity provides emotional, financial and professional support for solicitors (and their dependants) in a time of crisis. This support may include therapy, housing costs, and essential bills, to name a few. The charity also works very closely with a number of other organisations and makes referrals to them (for example, counselling services, professional career coaching, and many more). Although there is a current trend of those earlier in their career accessing these services, the service is open to practising solicitors at all stages of their careers.

Andrew Bigby noted that The Law Society, whose Practice Advice Service offers confidential compliance, professional and ethics guidance, prides itself on the help, advice and solutions his team offers to the legal professionals who contact them. This service is staffed by former solicitors (with a rather impressive number of years of experience between them) and so they are very aware of the pressure of working within a firm and how that can impact on a person. Andrew said that The Law Society may not have always be front of mind for such help – but they’re keen to work to change that. In its 200^th year, The Law Society has launched its Get Involved programme.

It is worth noting that all of the above services are free. They have all seen significant rises in their usage, and whilst it is excellent that these vital services are being accessed, it only further highlights that there is a need to be having open and honest discussions about wellbeing in the profession. The other key point that was stressed is that, if one service cannot help, they will be able to point you to another who can.

The regulatory landscape: mounting risk, mounting pressure

A thread running through the discussion was the growing weight of regulatory expectations, particularly from the SRA. Investigations, thematic reviews, and steep fines have made the threat of becoming ‘the next cautionary tale’ all too real. Not to mention the ‘lead time’ that some investigations can take and the impact that has on the individual, their families, and their firm.

Still, there was cautious optimism. The SRA’s recent focus on workplace culture and leadership – if paired with empathy and a genuine desire to support – could become a force for good.

Takeaways

These are important for everyone, but if you also hold regulatory or leadership responsibility in a law firm, here are the messages to remember:

You are not alone. The stress you may feel is shared across the profession, even if rarely spoken aloud.
Use the support available. LawCare, The Solicitors’ Charity, and The Law Society all exist to help you navigate the pressure. Lean on your colleagues in your firm, and make sure you are making use of any consultancy service you are signed up to.
Talk about it. Open conversations about mental health and compliance anxiety create safer, stronger workplaces.
Shape the culture. A resilient compliance culture starts at the top – and it’s built on openness, trust, and empathy.
Know when to escalate. If you’re overwhelmed, don’t wait. Getting help early can prevent crisis later.

Final thoughts

Wellbeing is an essential a building block of compliance, just as much as having an up-to-date FWRA, an AML policy, staff training, regular file reviews, etc. In fact, it could well be the cornerstone block ….. if everyone in your firm feels well (emotionally, physically, professionally, financially) then that will naturally translate into their work. With less stress, overwork, burnout, there will be fewer mistakes and people will sleep more soundly.

But this needs to be more than an initiative – a token ‘Wellbeing Policy’. It has to take a holistic approach. As the old adage goes – “Actions speak louder than words ….”.

A healthier legal profession starts with small, consistent changes. What can you do?

With special thanks to all of our panellists for sharing such important information during this session.

Working together, we can create healthier, more resilient teams – and ultimately a stronger legal profession.

Jonathon Bray