Research revealed that 39% of new cases over the past 12 months were from ethnic minority groups, though this was a fall from 54% in 2021. primary clients were experiencing mental health issues and 34% had multiple health conditions or disabilities, whilst only 27% had no health conditions. Working with our partners, we funded access for 284 solicitors to LawCare for mental wellbeing support. Mental health assessments, with the possibility of subsequent therapy, were carried out for eight clients by our new partners at One Bright mental health service; seven clients accessed career transition counselling from Renovo; 21 clients benefited from AdviceWorks money management advice and a further 19 clients received welfare benefits or debt advice from Citizens Advice Manchester (CAM). The Big Report illustrated that the majority of our new clients last year were aged 50 or below, with nearly half (47%) being aged between 31 and 50. New clients aged between 50 and 71 accounted for 34% of those we helped; 11% were aged under 30; and 8% were aged over 71. We also supported more women clients in 2022, compared to the previous year – 60% of our clients (new and existing) were women and 40% men. The vast majority (90%) of primary clients were current or former solicitors, and 10% were solicitors’ dependents. The annual report shows that 50% of our primary clients had worked for small firms or were sole practitioners. In 2022, 1 in 7 new clients had worked for large firms, up from 1 in 10 in 2021. Nearly half (45%) of the solicitors we supported had been practising for less than 10 years – 25% had post qualification experience of 0 to 5 years; 20% had 6 to 10 years’ experience; while 36% of our clients had been in the legal profession for 11 to 20 years, and 19% had more than 20 years’ experience. A quarter (25%) of our new and existing clients were London-based, with 13% from the South East; 12% from the South West; 15% from the North West; 3% from the North East; 9% from the West Midlands; 4% from the East Midlands; 7% from the Eastern region; 7% from Yorkshire and Humberside; 2% from Wales and 3% from other areas. A total of 40% of those we helped lived in rented accommodation. Significantly, 62 LAWYER MONTHLY MAY 2023
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk3Mzkz