It is good to create a space that will help switch you from a "home" mentality to a "work" mentality each day

Covid19 has forced many to work from home without any preparation, and some lawyers will be experiencing a great culture shock. It may seem fun at first to be free from the office, but many lawyers derive a lot of energy and inspiration from working with others. Lockdown can have a negative impact on motivation, morale and work performance – all of which can play a huge factor in one's mental health.

The transition to homeworking isn't always one which comes easy, especially in these current circumstances, but it can prove to be a refreshing experience when you make it work for you.

While I very much enjoyed the team that I worked with in a legal office, I was tired of the rigid office atmosphere; the need to be present and of course what seemed to be endless meetings. When setting up my own private practice from home, I was looking at an alternative way to work which allowed me to maintain the quality of work and provide flexibility to suit my clients.

It's vital to find a way of working that suits you, and I've provided some tips below that helped me transition from office life to homeworking, which will hopefully help you now and in the long-term.

One aspect that I have found to be a real gamechanger is creating an office set-up if possible. It is worthwhile to create a space that will help switch you from a "home" mentality to a "work" mentality at the start of the day. It's always worth garnering inspiration for a physical set-up before choosing. I consider this to be a vital investment, and it is worth spending funds on a comfortable office chair; desk; good printer/scanner and computer.

Due to the current government guidelines around social distancing and home working, this has forced many of us lawyers to go paperless, which can help to avoid storage issues, as not every lawyer may have the space. The only paper that I keep are the court bundles, which are destroyed after the cases are completed. With the courts moving towards digital bundles anyway, going paperless in this time can help you get ahead with the future of legal work.

The beauty of home working is that you set the routine, and one way to overcome the difficulties of working in this new way is to see positives in the little things. For example, no more daily commutes, which means you have more time for yourself. I no longer have the 2 to 3 hours journey into Central London – it is now a short walk from the lounge to my office room.

If I am in my office, I usually start at 9am and finish between 6pm and 8pm, which I can keep flexible depending on my commitments and obligations. The routine you set yourself can be a huge help in creating a flexible schedule to suit any family needs, as well as any professional endeavours too.

In the day (in normal times), I have the flexibility to see clients in various venues in London and the South East, while also attending professional groups and women's business lunches. Any errands can also be arranged around this without feeling guilty. The benefit during this lockdown, is that you have the flexibility to factor in some activity during the day, whether this be walking the dog or fitness training, or spending more time with family, whether that be those in your household or catching up virtually.

Outside of home comforts, it's vital to consider the logistics of working with colleagues and maintaining the same level of support for clients. I have the invaluable Helen who deals with the admin, and we communicate daily to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

Speak to your colleagues about your work and how you're adapting to working from home, whether this be the positives or the challenges you're facing. Video conferencing services are great ways to keep this "face-to-face" contact going.

Similarly, many may worry that homeworking can damage their working contacts, and can impact on the amount of work that comes in. This is when regular communication with others is vital to ensure that contacts and clients are kept reassured and supported during this difficult time – it's likely that they will be experiencing their own difficulties, and having a supportive legal team will be a great benefit to their peace of mind as well as for you and your law firm.

Communication is not just important from a business perspective, but also one to ensure your personal wellbeing. I am fortunate to have other family lawyers that I speak with and socialise with on a regular basis, but I absolutely recognise that others may not have such a social network. For many lawyers, legal life is all they have and mandatory homeworking can lead to many feeling isolated from the outside work.

Consistent communication with colleagues in this tricky time is a great way to ensure that your professional life and mental health is well supported. Make sure to check out any virtual networking events too!

Linda Lamb is a solicitor and director at LSL Family Law