“You Shouldn’t Have To Quit”: Helping Young Lawyers Survive & Thrive

How (and why) Caitlin McFee is on a mission to help lawyers prioritize their mental health for a sustainable career.

I stalkily approached Caitlin McFee on Instagram because of her inspiring work on how lawyers can take care of their mental health in such a competitive, cutthroat industry. She graciously overlooked my stalkiness and we had an all-out brilliant conversation on what’s wrong with the legal industry — and how to right it.

As a former lawyer, this topic is close to my heart. And it makes my heart soar to see the courage, energy and honesty Caitlin brings to her mission. The law needs more people like Caitlin!

Sally Clarke: What prompted you to create Law Life Balance?

Caitlin McFee: In the past, I have struggled with mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. When I started my training contract at a firm in London, I suffered. Many aspects of working in the legal industry exacerbated these underlying issues.

And I wasn’t alone. I saw a lot of peers and colleagues suffering too. The problem was that nobody knew what to do about it — or what help was available. And while we all felt alone, almost everybody in the firm was…