At the time of finalizing the manuscript for this book, we are working in lockdown amid a global pandemic. As human beings, it is inevitable that such an invisible but pervasive threat will generates high levels of stress, anxiety and worry, impacting on our mental health and wellbeing in myriad ways.

For many lawyers, the pandemic has meant adjusting to new remote ways of working, often while juggling heavy family responsibilities and other commitments. This has significant practical consequences, from finding an adequate desk and physical place to work, and dealing with technical issues involving Wi-Fi and computers, to upskilling oneself in order to deal effectively with colleagues and clients at a distance. Emotionally and psychologically it also involves adjusting to new routines and rhythms, different ways of interacting (often with far fewer non-verbal cues to assist effective communication) and new work–life boundaries without the usual physical separations in place.

Other lawyers may have been furloughed (granted a leave of absence), set adrift from their usual moorings of work, colleagues and clients. This leaves them suddenly adjusting to a different pace of life and, potentially, experiencing a sense of isolation and loss. It may be a time of rest and relaxation, but it may also be a time of fear and anxiety over their job security and career progression. The forecasts of an economic downturn and potentially deep recession can only add to such fears, even for those still working, as they think about the possible impacts on the legal sector and their future role. Conversely, the pandemic may also highlight to lawyers their personal vulnerabilities related to their health, and may make salient the central importance of their own, and their families’, health and wellbeing. This personal reflection may cause shifts across the legal sector in the importance of work–life balance once the pandemic is over. In light of this, our book comes at an ideal time to rebalance the conversation towards a future that encourages healthy work practices for both individuals and organizations.