September 9th was Are You Okay Day?.  Are You Okay Day is a national day dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention. Such a day has never been more important. In light of Are You Okay Day, we acknowledge the additional pressure lawyers across the state are under.

Lockdown 2.0 in Sydney is entering its 13th week. That’s 13 weeks of balancing working from home with carer/parent responsibilities. For lawyers, it has also meant the added pressure of rolling court disruptions, vacated hearing dates, appearing via AVL or email, restricted access to clients in custody, etc.

The Chief Justice of NSW has reached out to the legal community acknowledging the growing pressures on legal practitioners due to COVID. He has acknowledged that it may be difficult to make AVL appearances, file documents, comply with court timetables, etc as a result of working from home.

While this time is difficult for all practitioners, the pressure can be exacerbated if you are in your first years of practice. There are a number of resources available and everyone is encouraged to reach out.

Outreach services:

• Solicitors Outreach Service 1800 592 296
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
• Mental Health Line (NSW) 1800 011 511