Beyond Blue Monday: Olliers Solicitors announces programme of wellbeing activities

As the UK marks Blue Monday, we have announced a programme of wellbeing activities to support our lawyers’ mental health throughout 2026.

As the UK recognises Monday January 19 as the most depressing day of the year, we recognise that the mental health crisis facing the legal profession is a year-round reality that needs action.

Ruth Peters, Business Development Director at Olliers Solicitors, said that mental wellbeing in the sector needs immediate attention and firms should implement structural support for their lawyers.

LawCare “Life in the Law 2025”

The LawCare “Life in the Law 2025” report painted a bleak picture of the mental health within the legal sector:

• 60% reported poor mental wellbeing
• Burnout is the norm: The average burnout score in the sector is 37.8 (anything over 34.8 is considered high risk)
• 56% of lawyers see themselves leaving their current workplace within five years
• 32% are considering leaving the law profession entirely
• The 26–35 age group has the lowest mental well-being and the highest burnout scores

Ruth commented:

“Operating at the sharp end of the justice system, criminal lawyers face a unique triple threat: underfunded courts, traumatic case material and an “always-on” digital culture.

“Blue Monday might be a marketing concept, but for the legal sector, pressure on mental health is very real and it is constant.

“In criminal defence, the pressure is relentless. We deal with the deprivation of liberty, the protection of reputations and the navigation of a court system that is often at breaking point.

“However, we refuse to accept that burnout is just part of the job. As leaders we must provide a supportive working environment that prioritises the mental and physical health of our staff.

“You cannot provide legal brilliance and outstanding client care if your team is running on empty.”

We are leading the way by embedding wellbeing into our core business strategy for 2026. Current initiatives at the firm include:

• The Olliers Wellness Committee: An in-house group that leads on social responsibility and internal support
• Proactive Workload Management: Moving away from the “billable hour at all costs” mentality to ensure sustainable high performance
• A Culture of Psychological Safety: Encouraging junior lawyers (the group found by LawCare to be at the highest risk of burnout) to raise concerns without fear of career repercussions

2026 Wellness Programme

The Wellbeing Programme for 2026 is also being revealed today. It includes yoga classes, hiking, craft activities, axe-throwing and days out to events such as the Man United v Man City women’s Football Derby and a visit to the Banksy exhibition at Mayfield Depot.

Ruth added:

“Investing in our lawyers’ mental wellbeing isn’t just nice to do, it is the only way to ensure long-term sustainability.

“So, while we hope that announcing our 2026 Wellbeing Programme will give our lawyers a Blue Monday boost, the commitment to providing a supportive work environment that prioritises mental health is continuous.”

Additionally, we subscribe to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme and all staff have free, confidential access to professional counselling services.

Olliers Solicitors – an outstanding criminal defence firm

Olliers Solicitors is nationally recognised as an outstanding criminal defence law firm – partnering legal brilliance with unmatched client care.

Olliers specialises in the defence of individuals, businesses and other organisations across a broad range of corporate and financial fraud crime, regulatory offences, serious crime, sexual offences, professional discipline and motoring offences.

We have a formidable reputation for our pro-active approach to the investigative stage of a criminal case focusing on pre-charge engagement, discretion and nipping an investigation in the bud.

Olliers is ranked as a top tier law firm by both the Legal 500 2026 and Chambers Guide 2026. They are a Times Best Law Firm 2026 and the Manchester Legal Awards 2025 Crime Team of the Year, an award we have won eight times since 2011.

Headquartered in Manchester, and with a presence in London, our team of 29 experienced criminal defence lawyers is led by Managing Director Matthew Claughton, Commercial Director Stacey Mabrouk and Business Development Director Ruth Peters.