Young barristers are heavily in debt and facing a long term depression, the chair of the Bar Council's youth wing warns.
In an address to the organisation's annual conference on Saturday, Louisa Nye will say many find it "difficult to stop worrying" at a time when lawyers are characterised in the media as a "scourge on society".
Young barristers start their careers with accumulated debts of up to £70,000, she will go on, at a time when many are earning the "lowest of sums" for important work that is undervalued by society.
Nye, who is chair of the young barristers' committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, will admit that she herself had suffered from anxiety and depression.
"I have lost a close friend who took her own life, in part under the strain that this job and circumstances can place on people," she will tell the conference.
"Today's cohort of young barristers is in a particularly vulnerable position. They are financially vulnerable – as a consequence of tuition fees and increases in the [Bar Professional Training Course] fees, we now know that young barristers can have anywhere from £30,000-£70,000 debt when they start out in the profession.
"Many are making repayments over their first five years of practice, if not substantially longer. Young criminal and family barristers are receiving the lowest of sums for carrying out important work, and many are struggling to maintain a living."
Nye, who is a member of Landmark Chambers in London, will add: "Parts of the media have reports almost daily where lawyers are criticised for the work they do and characterised as a scourge on society.
"Young barristers live in deeply uncertain and difficult times … And it is difficult against that background not to feel somewhat lost and somewhat depressed."
She will point to the Wellbeing at the Bar report published last year which highlighted high levels of stress and anxiety felt by barristers.
Nye will say: "The survey found that one in three barristers finds it difficult to control or stop worrying. One in six barristers said that they felt low in spirits most of the time."
0 comments: