The Pastoral Support Service (PauSe) is an initiative by the External Intervention Team (EIT) of the Law Society of NSW’s Legal Regulation Department. PauSe has been developed in response to the demands and stresses faced by many practitioners within the legal profession.
Its purpose is to provide support and guidance to legal practitioners to help them meet the challenges they face in their legal practice. PauSe provides assistance and an early intervention service for practitioners who may be struggling, in the hope of avoiding external intervention at a later stage.
PauSe has been publicised in presentations at Regional Law Society events and during continuous professional development sessions, with the goal of alerting legal practitioners to the support services the Law Society offers, should they require assistance.
PauSe is designed to assist legal practitioners to address difficulties they may be facing in their day-to-day legal practice, allowing them to proactively seek and receive support.
At present, the EIT receives referrals from colleagues, staff of law practices, or family members or friends of legal practitioners. The challenges that arise typically involve personal stressors stemming from the demands of the legal practice, including financial pressures, family or relationship issues, and health concerns.
While the issues that arise vary, nearly all stem from the inherent demands of working as a solicitor or running their own law practices.
PauSe provides solutions that are tailored to the circumstances of each practice. Sometimes, all that is required is someone experienced in legal practice being available for a legal practitioner to talk to about the problems they are experiencing. On other occasions, the assistance entails recommending practical strategies to help alleviate the pressures and to foster a healthier professional environment, including adjusting caseloads or reducing the number and type of clientele.
As a legal practitioner may be the subject of an ongoing regulatory or disciplinary matter, the EIT takes care to navigate any concerns the legal practitioner may have about interacting with the Law Society and looks to provide whatever assistance may be available and appropriate in the circumstances.
The Law Society’s website provides details of various resources which legal practitioners may access. These include the Solicitor Outreach Service, a confidential counselling service for NSW solicitors, and the Professional Conduct Advisory Panel (PCAP), the members of which are available to advise solicitors facing disciplinary issues.
Ultimately, PauSe represents the Law Society’s commitment to supporting solicitors maintain their wellbeing and to flourish and succeed professionally. By proactively addressing the challenges which arise in legal practice, and offering a listening ear, PauSe strives to reinforce a culture of support within the legal profession, providing solicitors with the resources needed to thrive amid the demanding nature of their work.
Practitioners wishing to speak to someone at PauSe can do by contacting the Professional Support Unit and asking to be referred.
Costs: [email protected] or (02) 9926 0116
Ethics: [email protected] or (02) 9926 0114
Regulatory compliance: [email protected] or (02) 9926 0115
