Balance business sustainability with mental wellness, Aderemi urges lawyers
The JAALS Foundation, in partnership with Mindsplace, held a Mental Wellness webinar on August 21, 2025, to mark the forthcoming birthday of Perchstone & Graeys partner Mr. Tolu Aderemi. The virtual event drew legal practitioners and other professionals from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Morocco and beyond, and centred on reconciling firm profitability with the psychological wellbeing of those who practice law.
In opening remarks, Aderemi described the legal profession as “a demanding one,” where long hours, relentless deadlines and constant scrutiny — often seen as hallmarks of excellence — also drive anxiety, stress and other mental-health challenges. He cautioned that the sector tends to prioritise physical health and financial outcomes while overlooking mental wellness, and stressed that poor mental health in the profession results from a combination of high expectations, client pressures and sustained workload rather than any single cause.
Keynote speaker Ms. Eniola Bello, CEO of Mindsplace, appealed directly to employers, urging them to treat employee mental wellness as a core business imperative rather than an optional extra. Bello highlighted common triggers such as prolonged work hours and chronic anxiety, and argued that deliberate investment in staff wellbeing is not only humane but also essential to sustainable business growth. “A sound legal mind is essential to providing excellent legal services,” she said, urging firms to establish proactive support systems for psychological health.
Both speakers emphasised that protecting mental health and maintaining business sustainability are mutually reinforcing objectives. They argued that prioritising mental wellness reduces burnout, sustains productivity and safeguards client service standards — making it both an ethical duty and an economically prudent strategy for law firms.
Aderemi also challenged the profession to confront stigma. He called on colleagues to avoid marginalising those experiencing mental ill-health, to encourage open discussion, and to foster workplace cultures where employees feel safe to seek help. He further urged law firms to adopt supportive practices and appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association to institutionalise communal frameworks for mental wellbeing across the profession.
The webinar underlined a growing consensus within legal circles that robust, sustainable business models must incorporate deliberate measures to protect mental health — for the benefit of practitioners, firms and clients alike.