Welcome to Stiff Upper Lip

Challenging mental health stigma in the legal profession

Welcome to Stiff Upper Lip: a family barrister's thoughts on well-being and mental health within a profession that really isn't known for its openness about these issues (to put it mildly). I have had my own serious mental health crises and so this is a subject which matters a great deal to me. I hope, not only to offer solidarity and comfort to other lawyers who may struggle with their mental health, but to contribute to the policy discussion around workplace conditions and to explore why poor mental health is endemic in the profession. This is my small contribution to a very big conversation.

Are we working hard enough? - saying 'no' to the fetishisation of overwork

Malvika Jaganmohan and Charmian Jackson

Oct 28, 2021
5 min

Are we working hard enough? - saying 'no' to the fetishisation of overwork

Charmian Jackson and Malvika Jaganmohan, family barristers at St Ives Chambers in Birmingham, share their experiences of feeling like they're barristers who just don't work hard enough. Charmian's view Do I work enough? This is a question I pose to myself on a regular basis. It’s a strange question. Why should I worry? I’m a (fairly) successful barrister with a busy practice and a diary booked up for at least the next couple of months. But the truth is I don’t work as much as