tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74630871308088080462024-02-01T18:50:25.898-08:00LawCare and LifeThe view from the desk of LawCare's administrator, Anna Buttimore.Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-26619236073702023932011-08-11T04:16:00.000-07:002011-08-11T04:16:40.353-07:00What I Learned from Being IllLast week I caught ‘flu. Not an overblown cold but real, honest-to-goodness genuine influenza. I went to bed on Wednesday night and apart from staggering to the bathroom, didn’t get up again until Sunday evening.<br />
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Now that I am, for the most part, recovered, I have been looking back and trying to find something to learn from the whole painful experience, or something positive I can draw from it. I don’t want it to sound as though I was a philosophical adventurer, questing across the counterpane of my sickbed. I wasn’t; I was ill and it was horrible. But I might as well make those days of misery count for something. So here’s what I learned:<br />
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<ol><li>Your health really is the most important thing. It may be clichéd, but it is true. Value it, protect it, and don’t take it for granted. That goes for mental health as well as physical. You may tell yourself that you’re tough, that you can do those late nights, push yourself that little bit further, but you have no idea just how powerful are the forces (and I don’t just mean viruses) which can suddenly and unexpectedly humble you. </li>
<li>Allow others to help you. As I languished in my sickbed, my six-year-old made me a succession of Get Well cards, my ten-year-old took it upon herself to bring me iced water every couple of hours and my fifteen-year-old got the little ones their meals. I think they all rather enjoyed their roles and responsibilities and having the opportunity to be useful. During a crisis, allow others to step up and show what they can do. In fact, why wait for a crisis? </li>
<li>It’s good to be ahead. Luckily I didn’t have to worry too much about taking a couple of days’ sick leave, because I was well up-to-date with all my work and there were systems in place to allow others to deal with anything urgent that might crop up. Not that I’m going against point 1, or advocating being some kind of super-lawyer, but if you can keep on top of your work and prioritise effectively, then it gives you some peace of mind when the unexpected happens. Perhaps each day you would do well to finish by asking, “What if I’m not able to come in tomorrow?”</li>
</ol>I’m not completely recovered yet, and the post-viral fatigue stage isn’t much fun, but I am very much appreciating the little things – like being able to stand up long enough to take a shower – and hope to finally catch up on the housework at some point next week. Definitely getting the ‘flu jab this Autumn, though.<br />
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If you’re struggling with illness, whether physical or mental, remember that LawCare is here to offer you free and completely confidential support and advice. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div></div></font><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div></div></font><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div></div></font><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div></div></font><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-12824268211005464222011-06-07T06:29:00.000-07:002011-06-07T06:32:02.685-07:00Playing a Numbers Game?<p>Today LawCare passed a milestone – 200 case files opened so far in 2011. In real terms, that means 200 lawyers struggling with workplace stress, clinical depression, addiction to alcohol and / or drugs and a myriad of related problems, have called one of our free and confidential helplines and received assistance, advice, referral to professional help where appropriate, and ongoing support, often from one of our volunteers.<br /><br />In LawCare’s first year of operation – 1997 – 60 case files were opened. Since then the number of helpline calls has risen almost every year. The result of this has meant that we, the LawCare staff, expect the numbers to continue to rise each year. We even become anxious if calls are lagging behind last year’s figure, almost as though we want to reach some imagined target.<br /><br />But unlike many who work in the legal profession, we don’t have a target to reach. We’re not playing a numbers game, and we don’t have to “beat” 517 case files by the end of December in order to feel we’ve achieved something worthwhile. There are several reasons for this.</p><br /><ul><br /><li>We have little to no control over who calls the helpline. Whilst we do all we can to publicise our service, it’s a very personal and difficult decision for a suffering lawyer to seek help. We cannot “drum up trade” by encouraging people to call if they don’t want to.</li><br /><li>In addition, we have no control over the issues that cause lawyers to need to phone us. From changes in practice rules to difficulty getting PI Insurance, many of the issues which cause stress and anxiety are part of the professional world. When things are going well we will naturally have fewer calls. Our helpline call numbers peaked at the height of the recession when 25% of calls we received were from lawyers facing redundancy.</li><br /><li>The statistics for our website also came in today. Over 500 people a day are looking at www.lawcare.org.uk. Many of them may be seeking help and support with issues which are troubling them, and, due to finding it anonymously on our website, do not need to call the helpline.</li><br /><li>In the first half of this year we have given preventative education training to over 2,000 lawyers. Our most popular seminar is called “Stress Recognition and Management” and aims to teach professionals to cope with the stress they experience at work. Since LawCare began doing this training in 2004, over 32,000 lawyers have had this training, so that’s potentially 32,000 people who have been equipped to handle the issues most often raised on our helpline and who will thus will not need to phone for help.</li><br /><li>We don’t want lawyers to struggle or suffer stress. We don’t want them to turn to alcohol or drugs. Each of our case files is a person feeling such distress and despair that they need help to cope. One of my first tasks of each day is to read through the previous day’s case files. It’s not a task I enjoy - many callers are in desperate circumstances, and reading through their files can be sad and frustrating. If we have a target at all, it is to have fewer calls and website accesses, because that would mean that fewer people are going through difficulties.</li></ul><br /><p>Somehow, though, I suspect the number of helpline calls will continue to rise. And whilst we’d like not to be needed, we’re here when we are.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /></p>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-90819668506824234742011-05-24T02:35:00.000-07:002011-05-24T02:43:57.404-07:00My Left ElbowI’m a huge sceptic. I don’t believe in aromatherapy, reflexology or homeopathy. I find myself bewildered by the stupidity of people who make major life decisions based on their horoscopes, when I don’t even know my children’s star signs. I take all dietary advice with a pinch of salt, and I switch off Most Haunted because I don’t have the patience to watch gullible people working themselves into a state of panic in a dark room.<br /><br />So, naturally, I was more than a little dubious when I researched LawCare’s information pack on stress and discovered the list of illnesses which can allegedly be caused by stress. Headaches I’ll accept, maybe even high blood pressure and heart disease, but paralysis and cancer – give me a break. And surely colds and flu are caused by viruses, not a hard day at work? And muscle strain is caused by, well, straining muscles.<br /><br />But I have changed my mind about stress related illnesses, and my left elbow is the reason.<br /><br />Fifteen years ago my sister experienced some stiffness and pain in her left elbow. Various medical investigations showed it to be a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. She had a major operation and treatment, and is one of the lucky 5% to have survived that particular cancer. Eighteen months ago I started to experience similar pain and stiffness in my left elbow. Naturally I was concerned that my sister’s cancer had a genetic link, but my doctor seemed to think little of it and prescribed a gel to rub on, which made little difference.<br /><br />For several weeks I worried about my increasingly painful elbow. Well, I did when I had time. I have a pretty busy life, and in between working, raising my young family, trying to keep on top of the housework, cooking and laundry, running a youth group and staying up late at night writing novels there wasn’t much time to feel sorry for myself. Then we flew to Florida for a much-needed family holiday, and only a week into the trip I realised that my elbow no longer hurt.<br /><br />Discovering that my elbow pain was stress related has led me to accept that there could indeed be some strange and mysterious relationship between a whole variety of symptoms and our own feelings of being under pressure. And that’s partly why it’s so important that we address stress, manage and control it, and learn to deal with it before it does lead to something more unpleasant and permanent. And that’s why LawCare is here for lawyers.<br /><br />But I’m still unconvinced about homeopathy et al.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on: </em></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>18o0 303145 (Barriters in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-13464403746233742792011-05-17T02:09:00.000-07:002011-05-17T02:11:16.826-07:00Life ChoicesAs unbelievable as this sounds to me, my daughter leaves school next week. It seems only yesterday that I was waiting at the school gate to greet her after her first day in the nursery class. But she’s all grown up, and from next Friday she will be on study leave, returning to school only to take her GCSEs. She starts at sixth form college in September studying an eclectic variety of A Level subjects.<br /><br />Naturally this means she has to start thinking about a career. I admit I’m relieved that she never even considered being a lawyer. I think working for LawCare has given me a somewhat jaded view of the legal profession. I am sure there must be lawyers out there who are happy and fulfilled in their work, but since they don’t call our free and confidential helplines, I do not meet them.<br /><br />My daughter originally had her heart set on being an astrophysicist, until a teacher told her (incorrectly as it turns out) that to be accepted to read Astrophysics at any university, she would need to get all A* grades at GCSE. She was very unhappy to have to abandon her dream, but has quickly come up with an alternative career choice, which she is just as excited about.<br /><br />Did you always dream of being a lawyer? As a seven-year-old, did nothing seem more glamorous than Group Litigation Orders or the Landlord and Tenant Act? I always wanted to be a writer. So when my careers adviser at school asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I didn’t say “I want to work as an administrator for a charity which helps lawyers with problems like stress and alcoholism.”<br /><br />Career plans can change at any point, whether you’re a sixteen-year-old choosing A levels, or a disillusioned lawyer in a high street law firm. There are so many career options out there, and there is no shame in exploring and pursuing them. For help with lateral thinking, have a look at the Alternative Careers handout on our website for ideas as to 100 other things you can do with a legal qualification, other than practise law.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-28285721987168703702011-05-03T03:43:00.000-07:002011-05-03T03:44:18.041-07:00The Office EnvironmentThe LawCare admin office recently underwent an office move for the fifth time in our fourteen-year history.<br /><br />Our first office was a small suite of rooms on the top floor of 3 Bank Place in Porthmadog, and seems such a long time ago now. From there we moved onto a lower floor of the same building for a year before leaving Porthmadog altogether.<br /><br />I thought the latest move might be a stressful experience, and I would miss my old office space. In the event it took less than a day, and I’m quickly getting used to where everything is and enjoying the lighter, brighter and more structured environment.<br /><br />I think it’s very important for everyone to have a place to work where they can feel comfortable, secure and in control. Studies have shown that an individual’s surroundings are very important to a sense of wellbeing. Workers need to know that they have all the equipment, information and materials needed to do their job, and where they can find it. They need to have a comfortable chair, not be too hot or cold, and regular breaks with access to refreshing drinks and snacks, as required.<br /><br />It’s pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many lawyers struggle on without the books, supervision, secretarial support or even desk space they need. (I’ve written before about why I think “hot-desking” is a bad idea.) I’m aware that I’m very lucky to have such a comfortable office environment to enjoy, but if you’re forced to work in a draughty, ill-lit room, with faulty / inadequate equipment, LawCare is here to provide the support and encouragement you need to make the changes you need.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-67125939089160101902011-03-15T03:48:00.001-07:002011-03-15T03:48:49.898-07:00Finding SanctuaryI love my office. It’s a space which is just mine. I have a photo of my family on a shelf above my desk, a very organised and personal “piling system”, and everything is where I put it and is just mine to use. It’s like my personal sanctuary, and working somewhere where I feel in control and comfortable is very important to me. I’m lucky that my work isn’t too stressful, but if it was, I can’t help but feel that a neat and ordered personal office space would go some way to offsetting that and making it easier to do my job.<br /><br />Finding sanctuary outside the office environment can also be very beneficial. Although you wouldn’t know it to look at me, I really enjoy going to my local gym. It’s time on my own, pushing myself further each time, and I always reward my efforts with a few wonderful minutes in the spa afterwards. The steam room is where I do all my best thinking and resolve any issues troubling me. It’s another sanctuary.<br /><br />My friend loves going to her church spiritual centre and commented the other day that her dream is to live there permanently and never leave. Many people of a religious bent find their own sanctuary in their church, meetinghouse or mosque, but it needn’t be a dedicated building and you needn’t be a spiritually minded person– your local park, or even your own bedroom, can serve as a place you can go to think quietly, or just breathe deeply and unwind after the stresses of a long day.<br /><br />If work is wearing you down, try finding a place of sanctuary, in or out of the office.<br /><br />Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the gym.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-88637048703478207392011-02-08T05:49:00.000-08:002011-02-08T05:50:37.065-08:00Leave Me Alone!Those of us who work from home are frequently the recipients of envious looks and comments. When friends bemoan their workday lot (“signal failure on the Central Line this morning, utter chaos, I was an hour late for work”, or “I have to buy another suit, the dry cleaner couldn’t get the stain out”) the best I have to offer is “I tripped over the cat on the way to my study.” It’s easy to feel somewhat, well, jammy, as I go to work in my jammies.<br /><br />We tend to compensate by making much of the downside of working from home. You have to be disciplined, make sure you knuckle down to work instead of doing your tax return. (The fact that the work has to be done is generally a good motivator in that regard. I know that by the end of today I need to have written a blog, checked and updated two PowerPoint presentations, designed and submitted an advertisement and written to a counsellor. Given that my working day ends in 2 hours, I think the tax return may have to wait until this evening.)<br /><br />Then there’s the isolation. No office gossip, no water-cooler moments, no shared lunch breaks, no one to consult with, moan at or have meetings with. I sit alone, apart from the cat, for five hours a day, just getting on with my work in peace. Actually, I love it that way. When the children were off school recently, I got increasingly irritated when they “popped in” to ask for the Argos catalogue, or to let me know that they were going to a friend’s house, or just for a hug. Each time I turned back to my computer after the distraction I found I had lost my train of thought. I like to be left in peace to work, it seems. After twelve years of working from home alone, I don’t think I could concentrate in an office setting with all the banter and distractions.<br /><br />So actually, working from home is great. But it’s not for everyone. Some people need work friendships, colleagues’ photographs to look through, stationery cupboard liaisons, and new hairstyles to compliment. Others prefer to be shut away in an office, distracted only by the phone and the occasional client meeting. We are all different, but one common factor is that we will all work much more productively and effectively in the environment in which we are most comfortable. For you, it may mean dressing up in a power-suit and commuting to a modern, open-plan glass office. In my case, it involves sitting alone in my study in my Primark pyjamas.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland) </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">1800 202145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-61245539788039094382010-12-09T01:53:00.000-08:002013-02-11T02:29:59.353-08:00Quality of Life vs. SalaryA barrister friend of mine phoned me after the Government announced that child benefit would be stopped for those earning over £40,000. She has five children and was, naturally, a little upset by this policy decision. I have three children, so looking for solidarity she asked me how I would manage without child benefit. “The change won’t affect me,” I told her, “Since I don’t earn anything like £40,000. Not even half that, in fact.” She was astonished. “But you work in the legal sector!”<br />
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I reminded her that I actually work in the <em>charity</em> sector, but it did get me thinking that many people seem to assume that lawyers and all those around them are well off – children at private school, a new car every other year and a second home in the Cotswolds. If there’s one thing the calls to the LawCare helpline over the last few years have demonstrated, it’s that that is no longer true, if it ever was.<br />
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We hear regularly from lawyers who are struggling financially or whose firms are facing failure. In 2009, one in four calls to the LawCare helpline was from a lawyer facing financial difficulty, often due to redundancy. SBA The Solicitors Charity (formerly the Solicitors Benevolent Association), which provides financial support to solicitors, reported that the number of calls from solicitors seeking their assistance in 2009 was 77% higher than in 2007, before the recession had taken effect. The Barristers’ Benevolent Association also reported a large increase in the numbers approaching them for help in 2009, especially in cases of bankruptcy, IVAs and serious illness.<br />
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In some cases, of course, there is an element of choice involved. One of the things I value most about my job is the flexibility, and the fact that I can work from home. If I wanted, I daresay I could get a higher-paid job elsewhere, but I like what I do. Studies have shown that employees value the working environment – from the company of colleagues to the standard of the canteen – more than they do the salary. A good firm that respects and supports its staff is rewarded with loyalty, high morale and a higher standard of work, even when the salary may not be as high as that available elsewhere. Conversely, a bad firm that overloads its staff, does not keep them informed of decisions or allows a long-hours or a bullying culture to flourish will find it has to pay higher and higher salaries in order to get and / or keep employees.<br />
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So it may well be that there are many working within the legal profession today who are earning well below that £40,000 rate and keeping their child benefit, but are happy in what they do, and with what they have. We can no longer assume that all lawyers are rich or even comfortably off, not only because of the difficult financial climate at present, but because for many in the legal profession, money isn’t everything.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 3030145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-29714231980558341292010-11-24T03:02:00.000-08:002010-11-24T03:03:34.406-08:00One Day at a TimeI recently watched a programme which showed some of the disgusting eating practices elsewhere in the world. I won’t go into too much detail, but one scene which particularly stuck with me was that of a man breaking open eggs and eating the almost-ready-to-hatch chicks from inside. Not only did it turn my stomach, but it also turned my mind to the hypocrisy of my attitude. What was the essential difference, I asked myself, between eating fluffy baby chicks fresh from the egg, and letting them live for a few weeks and then killing and eating them?<br /><br />So, in a rash moment, I decided to become a vegetarian.<br /><br />This was a pretty big decision for me, because on the whole I don’t much like fruit and vegetables, and I love meat. It has led to some raised eyebrows and general dubiousness from my family, but since I do the cooking and I was happy still to cook meat for them, they couldn’t really protest.<br /><br />I’ve now been vegetarian for a two months and have broadened my culinary horizons considerably. I’ve tried lots of dishes I would never have had before, and really enjoyed them. Carrot and cauliflower curry, pasta with pesto, pine nuts and parmesan, and soybean stir fry. (The alliteration of food is excellent when you’re vegetarian, as you’ll have noticed.)<br /><br />I’m not saying it’s easy, but a few tips have really helped:<br />· Don’t think about never eating meat again. At the moment, I’m still telling myself that it’s temporary, and come Christmas I will tuck into the turkey and bacon rolls with everyone else. (But I’d really like it if I found I didn’t want to, of course.)<br />· Take one day at a time. I can cope with not eating meat today, or for the next meal. I’m facing this challenge in bite-sized chunks.<br />· Plan ahead. I plan in the morning everything I will eat that day, and make sure it includes something to look forward to. Today it is a piece of sun dried tomato focaccia to go with my mushroom stoganoff. I also make the decision in advance that, however tempting the buffet looks, I will not be putting the sausages on my plate.<br />· Avoid temptation. For me, that means keeping out of MacDonald’s. It also means that I will avoid people who challenge my resolve. When I announced my decision on Facebook, one of my “friends” told me he was going to waft a bacon sandwich in front of my nose. I may need to avoid him for a while.<br />· Get support. One of my best friends is vegetarian, and has been for several years. Speaking to her regularly is very helpful and she gives me lots of recipe tips and encouragement.<br />Remember the reasons. I feel a lot healthier, and a lot better about myself. I’m also feeling slightly smug at finding out that I can do something I had never thought I’d be capable of.<br /><br />If any of this looks familiar, it’s because it’s the same framework of advice given by Alcoholics Anonymous to those giving up alcohol, and Narcotics Anonymous to those giving up drugs. Within the framework of a twelve-step programme, these simple principles have helped many thousands of people achieve sobriety and turn their lives around.<br /><br />While it may be much harder to give up an addiction than it is to give up meat, I can testify that it really does work.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)<br /></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-65695107710682153912010-11-23T03:42:00.000-08:002010-11-23T03:44:24.847-08:00PTSDA few weeks ago, while I was slicing bread, the knife slipped and I cut my finger badly. It was very deep and very painful, it bled a lot, and we debated going to hospital to get it stitched up. However, having spent three hours in A&E with my daughter (who broke her thumb playing dodgeball at school) the previous week, I really couldn’t face doing that again, so we just wrapped it up as best we could, and now it’s perfectly fine.<br /><br />The irony is that I’m <em>not</em> perfectly fine. I haven’t sliced any bread since it happened, and just looking at the knife block gives me a very unpleasant sensation somewhere between fear, nervousness and revulsion. At odd moments I find myself remembering, with a shudder, how it felt to have the knife slice through my flesh. I know this is stupid; it was a minor injury and healed quickly, and I’m a grown woman who should be able to forget about something so trivial and not let it affect my life. And yet there is still that strange residual anxiety which I suppose will only pass with time and plenty of practice with a Sainsbury’s tiger loaf as I persuade my subconscious that, yes, knives are dangerous, but not the extent that I need to avoid them altogether.<br /><br />Bizarre as this sounds, it has given me the smallest inkling of what it might be like to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many people who have been through shocking and distressing circumstances, be it terrorist atrocity, the horrors of war, or a car accident, find their personalities changed and their mental health compromised by the nightmares, flashbacks, sleep problems, anger and gut-wrenching terror. However strong a person you are, traumatic events can seriously impact your ability to live a normal life.<br /><br />To be diagnosed as PTSD the symptoms have to last more than a month and lead to avoidance of things that remind the person of the trauma. The trauma need not be something related to violence – receiving news of a serious illness, or being verbally bullied, can lead to symptoms of PTSD. Although up to 90% of people experience a traumatic experience at some time in their life, only 8% develop PTSD. Factors which increase the risk that a person will be susceptible to this problem include being in foster care or having an unstable childhood, being physically punished in childhood, or suffering from depression. Factors which reduce the risk include having a strong paternal figure, a high level of education and being older when the traumatic event happens.<br /><br />Despite having a high level of education, solicitors are not immune to PTSD, and specialist counselling and treatment is required when it occurs. Whether your fear, flashbacks and anxiety are the result of losing your job or an encounter with a violent client, LawCare can be a good starting place for finding the help and support you need.<br /><br />Right, I’m off to make myself a sandwich.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-45818241059098336902010-07-28T03:17:00.000-07:002010-07-28T03:18:23.172-07:00Wanting to WorkMy fourteen-year-old daughter has discovered that £5 per week pocket money just isn’t going to keep her phone topped up or buy her the new guitar she wants, so she needs a job. When I was fourteen I had a Saturday job at BHS. I was so new to the world of work that when I was sent off for my lunch break on my first day I came back ten minutes later having eaten my sandwiches. No one had told me that I got a whole hour off.<br /><br />Unfortunately things seem to have changed since then, because BHS no longer employ anyone under the age of sixteen. Neither do the other usual suspects – fast food places and supermarkets. So we started calling into small independent shops, and none of those will have her either. Finally, with a heavy heart, she accepted that the dreaded paper round was the only answer and headed to the newsagent, only to be told that they had a long waiting list of youngsters in a similar position and she was unlikely to make it to the top of the list before her sixteenth birthday.<br /><br />I haven’t been unemployed since my time at BHS, so seeing Gwen’s dilemma is giving me a small glimpse of what callers to LawCare’s helpline who have been made redundant are going through. Wanting to work, needing to work, knowing that they have the capability and skills to do an excellent job, and yet, through no fault of their own, finding themselves feeling superfluous and undervalued. Many have excellent professional qualifications and years of experience, and yet find themselves shut out and turned away time and time again. It is demoralising and frustrating and it’s not surprising that it dents their self esteem and can lead to despair and depression. It’s not easy to help these people, but with the recession easing there is at least hope on the horizon.<br /><br />Gwen knows that in August 2011 she will turn 16 and can then go and toss burgers or stack shelves to her heart’s content. I hope unemployed solicitors also know that it isn’t forever; that they do have something to offer to the professional world, and that they are of value.<br /><br />Anyone need a babysitter?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-20544210376717813292010-05-11T02:01:00.000-07:002010-05-11T02:02:42.762-07:00Praise Where It's DueWe recently received an email at the LawCare office which brightened Monday morning for all of us. With the writer’s permission, I’m going to quote from it:<br /><br /><em>I attended your course … this morning. To be honest, I only attended because I had to visit a client in [Town] the previous evening and it occurred to me that I could fit in the course this morning whilst I was in the area. Anything for a free CPD point, I thought.<br /><br />Whilst the course focussed on the stresses faced by those who have been made or think they might be made redundant, I can assure you that as a sole practitioner responsible for running every aspect of his own business, a lot of what was said hit home with me. Had I been ticking boxes for symptoms of stress I would have run out of ink (apart from IBS – I am happy to say that I don’t get that).<br /><br />As I said on my feedback form, and I note one or two others have said in your ‘feedback’ section, I think this course should be compulsory for all lawyers – it has certainly made me think very seriously about actually addressing the issue of stress (if only because even I realised some time ago that being stressed out does not make me as effective as I need to be to run a successful business) rather than reaching for another beer at the end of a long day.<br /><br />Your presentation was a very pleasant surprise, and it is extremely reassuring to know that there is an organisation out there that is trying to help. When I have put some of your ideas into practice I shall make a donation.<br /><br />In the meantime, maybe you could try to persuade the Law Society that all lawyers would benefit from this course, failing which they could at least publicise your website more vigorously (unless they have been doing this already and I have just been too stressed out to pay attention.)<br /></em><br />Our presentations are generally well received (it’s free CPD, what’s not to love), and all attendees are asked to fill in a feedback form which seem to indicate that we’re doing a good job. But it’s still encouraging to receive additional feedback like this.<br /><br />I may have occasionally mentioned on here that I also write novels. They are not vanity published, so I do actually make money from them, but not much. But what really makes all the effort worthwhile are the emails I receive from readers who have enjoyed my books. I have a folder in my email called “fan mail” and its contents are worth far more that any royalties to me. Which is a good thing too, because the royalties from my last book were less than £1,000.<br /><br />Not that I’m suggesting that lawyers should be paid in compliments, but we don’t say “to pay a compliment” and talk about “Praise where it’s due” for nothing. Compliments, praise, approval, whatever you like to call it, it’s all worth something, and it is owed. Those who are doing a good job - whether a writer, a lawyer, a secretary, or someone giving a seminar - should be told as much – failure to do so is robbing them of the satisfaction and encouragement they are entitled to.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-64992352414243561892010-04-28T03:26:00.000-07:002010-04-28T03:28:59.856-07:00Helping Those Who Cannot HopeThis blog is late because our family was stuck in America by the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano grounding our flight home. We ended up being away for a month, but despite the uncertainty and potential for worry we decided to hope that everything would be resolved before too long, and in the meantime enjoy our extended holiday.<br /><br />You may have heard the often quoted line from the Bible that the most important things are “Faith, Hope and Love.” Someone once commented to me that they understood why Faith and Love are so special, but what is so wonderful about Hope? Surely things like generosity, honesty or kindness are more important qualities to cultivate?<br /><br />Depression is the most common mental illness, with one in four people suffering from it at some point in their lives. It is also an illness which robs people of hope. On the LawCare helpline we often hear from people who are so severely clinically depressed that they really cannot see any hope to their situation. The call may go something like this:<br /><br />Caller: “I just feel so bad, I can’t cope.”<br />LawCare: “Have you considered going to speak to your GP?”<br />Caller: “He won’t be able to help me.”<br />LawCare: “He might prescribe anti-depressants.”<br />Caller: “I’d only get addicted to them.”<br />LawCare: “Most of the newer types of anti-depressants are not addictive.”<br />Caller: “They won’t work.”<br />LawCare: “Perhaps your GP would refer you for some counselling.”<br />Caller: “That won’t do any good.”<br />LawCare: “Would it help to have a LawCare volunteer to speak to regularly?”<br />Caller: “It won’t make any difference, it’s not worth it.”<br />LawCare: “What other options have you considered?”<br />Caller: “There’s nothing that will help. I don’t know why I phoned you. I knew you wouldn’t be able to do anything. Goodbye.”<br /><br />This may sound extreme, but calls from those who have been robbed of hope can be just like this. The caller genuinely cannot see any solution to their current predicament, no matter what is suggested. The good news is that there really is hope. Anti-depressants, especially when combined with counselling, do work. People do recover from depression and learn to find hope, optimism and even happiness again. Many of them, while subject to repeated episodes of this illness, learn to recognise and deal with it in the early stages – and it is much easier to treat depression if it is caught early, whilst there is still hope.<br /><br />If you don’t think hope is as important as faith and love, just imagine what it must be like not to have any. That’s why LawCare is here to help.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</em><br /></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-26601033511065147682010-03-17T02:56:00.000-07:002010-03-17T03:29:54.698-07:00Boring Tasks<div>The printing firm LawCare uses to print LawCare News recently sent me their newsletter which included the information that they can also manage our mailing list. So whereas, at the moment, they print 1,500 copies of LawCare News and deliver them to me, and I spend about two full working days putting them in envelopes, sticking on address labels and stamps, and traipsing to the post office with them in three large boxes, I could simply email our mailing list to the printers and they’d deal with all that. For a fee, naturally.<br /><br />Appealing? It would remove one of the duller, more menial and repetitive aspects of m<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7knkBxOTgKK6gyLIr6RiKDkLSjpYQoRdNeLUvue6u_pAV_eaEivLjy_GImIEld-wCWKEtKaPC8YjdJ2kXbHiN33_EW5o0rOOdKRU8lNjv5Po261CHJk-Dql1O6EE5n-qmsiRMrVoaWBE/s1600-h/Child+labour+at+LawCare+-+March+2007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449547970479313426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7knkBxOTgKK6gyLIr6RiKDkLSjpYQoRdNeLUvue6u_pAV_eaEivLjy_GImIEld-wCWKEtKaPC8YjdJ2kXbHiN33_EW5o0rOOdKRU8lNjv5Po261CHJk-Dql1O6EE5n-qmsiRMrVoaWBE/s200/Child+labour+at+LawCare+-+March+2007.JPG" /></a>y job, admittedly, but I’m not tempted for a moment. I actually rather enjoy those hours of stuff, seal, stick and stamp, over and over and over again. I generally do it in my comfortable lounge rather than my office because there is more space to spread out. Sometimes I put the TV on, but daytime television is extraordinarily bad so mostly I stick to the radio. Phone calls and other, more urgent, work are often, but not always, a welcome interruption. Sometimes I continue with the task in the evening as I watch House or America’s Next Top Model (my guilty pleasure) and sometimes I even have help from the rest of the family. The photo above shows clear evidence that LawCare is employing child labour!<br /><br />Even those boring and mindless tasks have their place. I’m not saying that I would like to stuff envelopes for a living every day, as opposed to for a couple of days every four months, but it is a chance to relax, take some at-work “down time”.<br /><br />I worked for Argos one summer when I was a student. Since it was Welsh Wales and I was English, I was in the stock room where there was no danger of my having to interact with a customer whose language I was unable to speak. For eight hours a day I ran around the warehouse, up and down ladders, collecting items customers had bought and delivering them to the collection point. At this point I had nine O levels (and was studying for my tenth, in Welsh), four A levels and had completed the first two years of my English degree so I was somewhat overqualified for the job. But I loved it. There was almost zero stress and I got fitter than I have ever been before or since.<br /><br />Almost all jobs – even within the legal profession – involve aspects which are dull, repetitive, and could just as easily be done by someone with no qualifications at all, and yet you still have to do them. Rather than putting it off indefinitely, or being frustrated by the mindlessness of it, why not try to see it as a chance to relax, give your brain a break, and enjoy some stress-free time?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)<br /></span></div>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-19842308404585128832010-03-05T03:16:00.000-08:002010-03-05T03:18:35.952-08:00Do or Die DeadlinesOn 14th April I am going to Salt Lake City, Utah, and will be visiting a company there called Leatherwood Press. I am supposed to be delivering them the final manuscript of my fourth novel, the one they asked for around this time last year. Unfortunately I haven’t finished it yet. That deadline is looming pretty large at the moment.<br /><br />Douglas Adams once said “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”<br />Sadly, not all of us can have the enlightened attitude to deadlines that the late lamented comic genius did. In the legal profession, a missed deadline or time limit can result in being unable to pursue a claim, major problems for your client, the potential for a costs award against you and a possible negligence claim. For all lawyers, and particularly those working in litigation, deadlines are crucial, and a fact of everyday life. They can also be a tremendous source of stress.<br /><br />It’s a sad fact of life that prolonged stress can lead to clinical depression. Depression is exhibited in symptoms that include an inability to concentrate, a lack of motivation or interest in anything, sleeplessness, overwhelming apathy and hopelessness. The depressed lawyer may make it in to work, but he will not open the post – he may even hide it, hoping that if he ignores it, it will go away. He will shuffle papers around, may even tap at the computer for a while, but he will not get any productive work done. (I’ve been saying “he”, but of course women suffer from depression too.)<br /><br />Depression and deadlines don’t mix. If you, or a colleague, seem to be suffering from any of these symptoms – including indifference to matters which might be regarded as urgent – get help. Call LawCare, and see your GP as soon as possible. Right away. Some things are even more important than deadlines.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle<br />of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-5604016761701516952010-02-17T01:44:00.000-08:002010-02-17T01:46:14.595-08:00Making MistakesWhilst I decry the poor standards of literacy these days, it also extremely entertaining to see the mistakes that are made. This morning I received two items in the post which caused me to laugh out loud. The first was a letter from the NHS National Blood Service telling me about a venue change for my blood donation sessions. It included the sentence, “In order to make this change as inconvenient as possible we have included with this letter a map detailing the new venue.” The second was a catalogue which had, among the many lovely things advertised, a pair of lighthouse bookends. I considered getting these for my brother-in-law, who is passionate about all things maritime, until I read in the description that “these naïve bookends will look delightful in any room in the house”. I’m sure James would not appreciate bookends which are immature and innocent about the ways of the world.<br /><br />Punctuation is a particular minefield. I still laugh to remember the full-page advert printed many years ago for the Prudential Building Society with the tagline, “Were here to help you.”<br /><br />You may also have read recently that the Co-op was criticised by the Plain English Campaign for selling a product which the label called an “Ambient Sausage Roll”. They have since admitted that this was an error.<br /><br />As an English graduate, I believe that correct and intelligent use of the language is vital. That’s not to say I haven’t made some howlers in my time. Whilst working as an estate agent I made a typo that led to property details going out for a house which had a “dully fitted kitchen”. I also had something of a problem understanding my boss’s handwriting when transcribing the notes he had scribbled while visiting a property, with the result that the particulars stated that a lovely country cottage had “river frontage with flashing lights.” I later discovered that should have read “river frontage with fishing rights.”<br /><br />Fortunately my boss at the time was very understanding – I seem to remember he found it very funny. Unfortunately there are those in authority in legal organisations who don’t seem to understand that to err is human, and that occasionally lawyers – especially trainees, pupils, the newly qualified or the overworked and stressed – will make mistakes. Yes, I know that even a small mistake in drafting a document or contract can make a crucial difference, but it is troubling how often we hear from lawyers who are being berated, belittled and bullied over the consequences of what was often, in reality, a very minor mistake. Many have sleepless nights weeks later over a simple error, not because of its consequences to the related matter, but because of the reaction of their colleagues or superiors. Others make mistakes and then get themselves into terrible trouble trying to cover it up – paying shortfalls from their own money, burying files, even leaving the firm in order to avoid the consequences.<br /><br />As professional as you try to be, it’s inevitable that occasionally you will get something wrong. Don’t let an oversight or blunder become something that kills your career or mental health and wellbeing. If you’re struggling to come to terms with a mistake, free and completely confidential support is available from the LawCare helplines.<br /><em><br /></em><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</em></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-47694757243229220352010-02-04T02:35:00.000-08:002010-02-04T02:38:26.577-08:00How to Have a Holiday without the Horror of coming Home<p>I’m late posting the blog because I had a day off on Monday. The upshot of this was that on Tuesday I returned to a groaning email inbox with five volunteer updates, two volunteer references, a volunteer enquiry, a questionnaire from a journalist, and several other queries to deal with. I’ve only just caught up, and suspect I’ll be busier than usual until Friday.</p><p>At LawCare we advise lawyers to take their full holiday entitlement, but many are reluctant to do so because they fear the pile of work to which they might return. A week’s worth of unanswered phone messages; emails from increasingly irate clients whose deadlines are now that little bit closer. Any benefits gained from a week in the sun evaporate at the sight of the mountain of files, folders and paperwork spilling out of the in-tray and across the desk. </p><p>A good firm will, of course, arrange for someone else to cover the your work in your absence, or at the very least field emails and phone calls, but it may be necessary for you to organise this yourself. There are several things you can do to ensure that you have a relaxing holiday and don’t need to worry about what you will return to:</p><ul><li>Let clients know as early as possible that you are taking some time off, and exactly when you will be away. </li><li>Tell them who will be dealing with your work in your absence, and give them any necessary phone numbers and email addresses.</li><li>Two or three days before you go away, contact clients to remind them that you are going on holiday and update them on the progress of their matter.</li><li>Accept that reasonable clients do not expect their lawyer to be available all the time, and unreasonable clients are welcome to go elsewhere.</li><li>Out-of-office reply is not recommended because it can be used by spammers to harvest your email address, but set your email to forward to your secretary or a colleague.</li><li>Even if you are simply going boating on the Norfolk Broads, tell anyone you think may be tempted to pester you that you are going backpacking round Africa and there is no mobile signal.</li><li>Remind yourself that you are not a heart surgeon, and none of the matters on your desk are so ‘life or death’ that they cannot wait a few days.</li></ul><p>I managed to finish painting my kitchen on Monday, and now I’m eagerly looking forward to three weeks in America in April. I may miss that blog date entirely…<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /> </p>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-86864202868547499162010-01-19T06:41:00.000-08:002010-01-19T06:42:13.191-08:00The Lawyer MentalityI have started wondering recently whether being a lawyer makes you grow suspicious and sceptical, always expecting the worst in people, and assuming them to be motivated only by personal greed or to have a hidden agenda. I have noticed recently that some of the lawyers I speak to seem to take this mistrustful attitude, and it made me suspect that they are trained not only to anticipate all that can go wrong, but to think the worst of the people they deal with. Or maybe it’s a natural consequence of regularly dealing with unscrupulous, bitter, ruthless and often downright criminal people. Perhaps seeing such people day in, day out, makes you naturally jaded.<br /><br />I came across something similar about a year ago. I got chatting to the grandmother of one of my daughter’s classmates and learned that she and her husband, both in their seventies, were struggling to bring up their young grandchildren because their good-for-nothing son and his drug addict girlfriend had abandoned them on their doorstep when the youngest was just six weeks old. They got no help from the government apart from children benefit, and the children had never had a holiday. The grandparents have never had so much as a weekend off, and were shattered. I offered the only help I could – I said I would have all three children come to my house every Sunday afternoon to play with my children. I’d cook them a meal, and the grandparents could be guaranteed one afternoon off every week.<br /><br />At first they accepted, but before that first Sunday I had a terse phone call saying they’d changed their minds because they weren’t sure they could trust me. Well, they didn’t say it in so many words, but that was what it boiled down to.<br /><br />I was naturally upset. I’d tried to do something helpful, and I’d been accused of – well, I’m still not quite sure what. It took my best friend to explain that these people had obviously been through some tough times and were very protective of the children because of that. They probably hadn’t met very many good or kind people in their lives. So when I’d offered to do something good for them they had assumed I had some ulterior motive or there was something in it for me.<br /><br />I am sure it is very helpful to a lawyer to be wary and sceptical. I remember when I moved house that my solicitor went to great length to warn me about possible floods, subsidence, and a myriad of other potential disasters, and I thought how cynical she seemed to be about my lovely new home (which so far, has neither flooded nor subsided) but there is a danger that this attitude could lead to a depressed and pessimistic outlook which could lead to problems outside the office.<br /><br />There are good people out there who do kind and decent things just because they can. The millions of people who have contributed to the Haiti Disaster appeal are one example. LawCare volunteers are another. Our volunteers don’t offer to support people through tough times because they think they can get business out of it, or because it looks good on their CV; they genuinely care about their fellow lawyers, and they want to help those in need.<br /><br />You may encounter some selfish and cruel people who care only about themselves, but there are many good people out there. If life as a lawyer is making you feel jaded and sceptical, give us a call and speak to someone nice who only wants to help.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-1907950494017362342010-01-05T04:35:00.000-08:002010-01-05T04:38:39.562-08:00Just a Couple of Christmas DrinksIn past years we have noticed an increase in the number of calls to LawCare’s helplines related to alcohol misuse in January and February. The festive period seems to be a time when we can all eat, drink and be merry with a valid excuse, and many people who might have been only slightly worried about the amount they were drinking during the year suddenly find that when the restraints are off , they have good cause to be concerned. In the cold January light of day they look back at the excesses of Christmas, and New Year, and all the days in between, and see a disturbing pattern.<br /><ul><li>There may have been the usual family rows, generally caused by people who usually lead busy lives suddenly finding themselves thrown together over the holidays - but perhaps more than one was fuelled by alcohol-induced anger.</li><li>There may not have been enough wine or sherry to go round, leading to alarming feelings of panic at the realisation that it’s Christmas day and the shops are shut, so you can’t buy any more.</li><li>You missed that good Christmas film or TV special because you were drunk.</li><li>When colleagues ask, “How was your Christmas?” you find you can’t remember all of it.</li></ul>It’s too early to say whether the trend for more alcohol calls will be true of 2010, but if you are worried about how much you drank over the Christmas period, and what it might say about your level of alcohol intake generally, do give us a call. Our helplines are free and completely confidential. We could help make it a much happier New Year.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on: </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Barristers Clerks and Judges in England and Wales) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland) </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 313145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-68957044370513181522009-10-08T03:35:00.000-07:002009-10-08T04:16:44.062-07:00Desk RageI arrived at my desk this morning to find the most bizzarre selection of objects strewn across its surface:
<br />
<br /><ul><li>Three different chocolate bars (Galaxy, Dairy Milk and Sainsburys) all opened but with only a couple of squares eaten (no complaint)</li><li>a £5 note (no complaint there either)</li><li>A book of TS Eliot poetry</li><li>A carrier bag containing what I initially thought were onions, but turned out to be daffodil bulbs.</li><li>A flash gun, case and assorted bits of an old Canon film camera, <em>but no camera.</em></li></ul><p>I work from home, and last night, it appears, my eldest daughter decided to escape the children's party in the lounge by doing her homework in my office. For science she had to compare the properties and ingredients of different types of chocolate. (Why didn't I ever get cool homework like that?) In English she is studying TS Eliot. She is also doing GCSE photography (the camera is in her schoolbag) and Grandma, visiting for the little one's birthday, had given her the bulbs since she is a surprisingly keen gardener for a teenager. Still no idea what the £5 note is about, unless it's payment to me for the use of my desk. Which, to be honest, I think is well deserved. I don't like sharing my space.</p><p>"Hotdesking" became popular in the 1990's, as firms started to introduce flexible working time arrangements and discovered that they could save space by having one worker use the desk recently vacated by a part-time colleague. Other workers could be semi-peripatetic, just plopping down at whichever desk happened to be convenient to do whatever they needed to do.</p><p>One website which praises hotdesking says "one has no more rights of exclusive ownership to an office desk than one has to a seat on a bus, a restaurant table or a stall in the office toilets". True, but humans are territorial and we like to mark our space. Look at your desk now. Do you have a family photograph somewhere on it? A cute little homily you like? Your special mug? It may belong to the firm, but it's <em>your</em> desk.</p><p>Your desk is also somewhere you are guaranteed to have the tools needed to get your job done. You know that your favourite pen and notepad are here. You know that your files are within reach, and where to find everything on the computer. The chair is comfortable and adjusted to the right height, and you know the extention number of the phone <em>and</em> that is has your personal message on the answering service. You need that assurance and comfort in order to do your job properly.</p><p>Hotdesking isn't common in the legal profession yet. Personally, I hope it stays that way. Lawyers face enough stress in their day-to-day work without finding daffodil bulbs and camera equipment in their workspace. Although chocolate and money might be a bonus.</p><p><span><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:
<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)
<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)
<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Barristers Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)
<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)
<br />1800 313145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span></span></p>
<br />Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-90776668302898428352009-08-26T03:27:00.000-07:002009-08-26T03:31:00.728-07:00Happy Holidays<p>It’s the middle of the school holidays, and everyone is away on holiday. My husband and eldest daughter are at a church youth camp. My middle daughter is at Brownie camp. My contact at our printer’s, account manager at the stationer’s, and the director at the treatment centre I am trying to arrange a bed at, are all on holiday. As are half the LawCare volunteers and a good number of the counsellors. It’s all most inconvenient!<br /><br />Actually, I don’t begrudge them a moment of it. After all, I had a wonderful week at my favourite beachfront hotel on the north coast of Majorca last year, and am looking forward to a peaceful and relaxing stay with friends in Wales next week. Holidays are important. A news programme recently interviewed several people in a luxury resort somewhere about the rising cost of holidaying, given the escalation of fuel and food prices. Would they be forgoing their foreign holidays in future? The overwhelming answer was No. Whatever the cost, a holiday was a priority. One man explained “It’s what I work all year for.”<br /><br />We regularly get stressed and overworked lawyers calling our helpline who have not had a holiday in several years. We have several pieces of advice with regard to taking holidays:</p><ul><li>Be sure to take your whole holiday entitlement. </li><li>Tell everyone that you are out of the country – backpacking in Belize or somewhere equally incommunicado – even if you are just painting the spare bedroom. </li><li>Screen calls and switch off your mobile. DON’T answer calls from the office.</li><li>Preparation is vital – you won’t relax if you know you’re going to be coming back to a huge pile of work. Assign someone else – or better still, several people – to deal with matters in your absence. Ensure clients know that you are going away, and who they should ask for in your absence.</li><li>Set your office voicemail to answer, but not to take messages, giving a call-back date which is actually a day or two after your return, so that you are not inundated with phone calls the day you come back.</li><li>Switching on your Out of Office Reply on your email can invite spam unless you have a very good spam filter. Instead, set up a forward to a colleague or your secretary, and have that person send a standard reply to all genuine enquiries asking them to contact you on your return.</li><li>Once on holiday, don’t fill every moment. Make sure that for every day you are visiting the sights or enjoying the theme parks you have a day just relaxing round the pool or strolling round the shops. If you insist on trying to pack too much in to your week away you will return to work needing another holiday to get over the first one.</li></ul><p>Have a great time!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Barristers Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)<br />1800 313145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /> </p>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-40093825879925390212009-08-20T01:50:00.000-07:002009-08-20T01:57:57.337-07:00Out of TouchI’ve just been listening to a discussion on the radio about the huge pay gap between ordinary workers, often on minimum wage (£5.73 per hour), and the high-flying bosses of their companies who earn what, to ordinary people, seem like obscene amounts (around £2.5 million per annum in some cases). Apparently several MPs have called for a “High Pay Commission” and it was mentioned that they may go so far as to introduce a national maximum wage. <br /><br />One caller raised the point that the bosses of these companies – and bankers seem to be the biggest offenders – are completely out of touch with the everyday lives of their workers, in a “let them eat cake” type of way. It goes both ways, however. Those of us who are average have a hard time understanding the challenges of those we might consider “mega-rich”.<br /><br />Although I come from a middle-class family, and went to University, I am often hard-pushed to feel sympathy for those callers to the helpline who are suffering the effects of the recession to such a degree that they can hardly afford the school fees any longer, may have to do without a new car this year, and might even have to move to a smaller house where the children would have to share bedrooms. Because I have never had a new car (mine are usually at least five years old when I buy them) have never even considered sending my children to private school, and my two youngest have shared a bedroom for many years, these things doesn’t seem like so terrible from where I’m sitting.<br /><br />But I have come to appreciate that actually, financial trials and tragedies are difficult and painful whatever your starting point; whether you are a FTSE100 CEO having to give up the private helicopter and second home in Monte Carlo, or a factory worker faced with working a short week due to cutbacks and thus unable to take the family to Butlin’s. Losing something which was important to your lifestyle is difficult and upsetting, whatever that thing may be. The legal profession is traditionally a well paid one, with ample financial rewards, but many lawyers are finding that they are struggling even to make enough money for the necessities of life. LawCare is here to provide support and empathy as they face this challenge; but we are also here to help those whose trials are outside our personal fields of reference. Whether you are on minimum or maximum wage, the pain of loss and financial challenge is the same, and we are here to offer non-judgmental support and advice.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1800 303145 (Barristers in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-74701070550099977872009-08-19T06:18:00.000-07:002009-08-19T06:21:34.546-07:00Obamacare and LawCareI’m feeling a little riled at the moment, and it’s the Americans again. President Obama has finally told Americans that since every civilised country provides healthcare for its citizens as a basic human right, it is high times the USA had a system approximating the NHS. So what happens?<br /><br />The greedy, profiteering health insurance companies get the general population fired up against this “evil” idea with warnings that granny will be told to potter off quietly when her times comes, and there will be a two-year wait for essential operations. What is worse, they use the NHS to illustrate how bad “socialised healthcare” can be by dragging in some disaffected MP and unsuspecting member of the British public, and telling outright lies about how the NHS puts a value of £15,000 on six months of life. (In reality, this is the maximum the NHS will pay for additional experimental treatment predicted to prolong life by six months, but this is in addition to the regular, non-experimental kind.)<br /><br />Twelve years ago my sister felt some stiffness in her elbow, so she went to her GP who thought it was arthritis. She wasn't convinced, so she went to see a different doctor who referred her to an oncologist. She had several tests and it was discovered that she had a bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. The survival rate for the type she had is 5%.<br /><br />She was offered an immediate amputation of the arm, but she is a talented musician and wanted to keep the arm if at all possible. So she went to see a top specialist who thought he could remove the bone and give her a titanium prosthesis instead so she could keep her arm. But there was a risk that the two-week delay while the prosthesis was made could allow the cancer to spread.She decided to go for this anyway, and two weeks after her diagnosis she had the bone removed from shoulder to wrist, and the titanium bone put in. It was a very long operation, and she was in hospital for some time afterwards for ongoing treatment.<br /><br />But it was a total success, she is still playing the piano and flute and has full control of the arm, although it is a little weaker than the other one. Every year she goes back to the hospital for further tests, just to keep an eye on everything and make sure the cancer hasn't spread.Had my sister been American she would have had the amputation. I can’t imagine any insurance company agreeing to a titanium (read: precious metal, very expensive) prosthesis, when it was a risky procedure and a simple and cheap amputation would have been safer. Not only that, but if she was privately insured she would have had to pay a large deductible. And if she didn’t have insurance, she would have had a choice of death or bankruptcy.<br /><br />Unfortunately it is still true that, as wonderful as the NHS is (and I do believe that it is), there are some things you still have to pay for. It is difficult to get treatment for addiction on the NHS because NICE guidelines say that containment or control are better than cure. There can also be a long waiting list for counselling on the NHS, so we often have to ask other charitable bodies for funding for people. We also have a very small Welfare Fund, which we use sparingly, if help cannot be obtained from any other source. We agree with President Obama – as good health as can be achieved is everyone’s basic right. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span><br /></span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-77086163628745656062009-06-08T04:07:00.000-07:002009-06-08T04:09:04.919-07:00Why I love BlackberriesLast week I wrote an article based on the furore caused by an email from a partner at a large London firm who suggested that lawyers should be available to contact by email even when they are away on holiday. In the article I lamented the fact that Blackberries now make it possible for us to access and respond to our email from anywhere, which means that many lawyers are finding themselves effectively on call at times which were usually relatively restful – the commute, their lunch hour, dinner with friends and, yes, whilst backpacking in Nepal.<br /><br />I don’t own a Blackberry – funds don’t permit – but I have recently changed my opinion of them. They can be very useful from the point of view of the person receiving an email message sent from “my wireless Blackberry mobile”, in that they are quite fiddly and difficult to use, so messages tend to be very short and to the point.<br /><br />I recently responded to a lengthy email from the director of one of the treatment centres on LawCare’s database who wanted to have an advertisement for their unit in LawCare News, and to have their services promoted by LawCare in other ways. This was not something it was appropriate for us to do, but knowing that he would not be happy at the decision, I wrote an equally lengthy and detailed email in response, explaining exactly why we could not oblige. I fully expected a long-winded response which would be at best pleading, at worst belligerent and demanding, and go into considerable argument explaining exactly why every single alcoholic calling the LawCare helpline should be given details of one particular treatment centre. But I had the good fortune that he responded using his Blackberry, and wrote simply “OK”.<br /><br />Looking back through my email I realise that there are several where the responses have been short and to the point - “Yes”, “No”, “Thanks” and “August” - and they were all sent using a Blackberry or similar device. I rather like such decisive brevity, and I can’t help but think how much easier it must have been for the lawyers in question just to dash off a quick reply from the back of a taxi than to spend valuable office time composing a long email which would, ultimately, say the same thing.<br /><br />Perhaps I need to add a codicil to my article decrying the use of Blackberries when on holiday. I recognise that they can save time and streamline the working day, and anything which helps lawyers work more efficiently and free up time is valuable. But for goodness’ sake, remember that it has an “off” switch.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463087130808808046.post-51023853710841630762009-05-21T03:18:00.001-07:002009-05-21T03:24:34.731-07:00Taking a GambleI can smugly say that I don't gamble. Well, not much. I have bought a raffle ticket as part of the entry requirement to a school fete on occasion, and once I won a bottle of champagne which I then generously donated back to the school, since I don’t drink alcohol. I'd like to think that they re-raffled it, but I suspect that there was, in fact, some unnatural merriment in the staff room on the last day of term.<br /><br />My other foray into gambling came in the latter part of last year. The jackpot to the Euro Lottery was up to £92 million and finding myself in the Post Office with a pound in my pocket, I decided to invest in the right to dream for a day, and I bought a ticket.In my 24 hours of planning exactly how to spend such a huge sum, I discovered some interesting truths about myself. For example:<br /><ul><li>However rich I was, there is no way I would ever have any plastic surgery. </li><li>Similarly, I would never send my children to private schools. Not because I think they are elitist and out-of-touch with the real world (much) but because my children are happy and doing very well at the schools they attend now, and those schools are within easy walking distance. </li><li>I am nicer than I thought - the plans which most excited me were those involving anonymously paying off mortgages or giving large cash gifts to friends and deserving causes. </li><li>However much money I had, I would never buy a brand new car. Probably a car that's one or two years old (as opposed to the twelve-year-old car I just scrapped), but never something straight from the production line. I just couldn't face seeing it depreciate by half its value as I drove it off the forecourt. </li><li>There are no houses currently for sale in my area - even with asking prices of over £1 million - which I like well enough to tempt me to leave the home I currently live in. </li></ul>What I really learned about myself, then, is that I don't actually want or need £92 million. I think discovering that was well worth £1. The punchline to this is that I won. I got four numbers out of the six, and won £6.10. So despite a considerable return on my investment for my foray into gambling, I shan't be doing that again. Hubby Dearest (who is an accountant, and thus genius) says that the National Lottery is "a tax on people who are bad at maths". Anyway, I promise faithfully never to gamble again (unless it's the only way to get into the fete), however much I find myself longing to pay off your mortgage.<br /><br />Apparently, gambling is on the increase due to the recession. Online gambling is one of the few growth industries at the moment, and it seems that many people, finding that their money is earning little interest, are deciding to see whether they can generate income by gambling with it instead. My gamble might have resulted in a 400% profit, but remember that’s the exception. Last year I updated LawCare’s Gambling Information Pack, and it was frightening to see how addictive gambling can be, and what terrible positions people often find themselves in. If you are struggling with this problem, LawCare is here to help.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LawCare’s free and confidential helpline is available 9-7.30 Monday-Friday, 10-4 weekends, on:<br />0800 279 6888 (Solicitors, Law Students and Legal Executives in England and Wales)<br />0800 279 6869 (Solicitors, Advocates and Law Students in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man)<br />0800 018 4299 (Barristers, Clerks and Judges in England and Wales)<br />1800 991801 (Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland)</span>Anna Buttimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14559142770865747131noreply@blogger.com0