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University to introduce a 'controlling anxiety' module to prepare students for world of work

BPP University Law School will also offer courses on “mindfulness on the go” and “managing your sleep” - iStockphoto
BPP University Law School will also offer courses on “mindfulness on the go” and “managing your sleep” - iStockphoto

A university for trainee lawyers is to introduce a “controlling anxiety” module in an attempt to prepare students for the world of work.

BPP University Law School will also offer courses on “mindfulness on the go” and “managing your sleep” from the end of the month.

The private university, which has branches in London, Bristol, Cambridge, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, prides itself on creating graduates who are “career ready”.

It says that students leave the university “not just armed with academic theory, but also the context, skills and behaviours you need to succeed”.

Jo-Anne Pugh, director of programme design and development at BPP Law School,said the new courses are part of a series of initiatives to boost wellbeing and mental health services at the university.

It follows research published earlier this year by the junior lawyers division of the Law Society, which showed that stress and mental health issues among young lawyers were on the rise.

Almost half (48 per cent) said that they had experienced poor mental health, a 10 per cent increase from the year before.

Meanwhile, 93 per cent of respondents said they felt stressed, with almost a quarter of them feeling severely or extremely stressed.

Ms Pugh said: “It wasn’t that long ago when mental wellbeing in the law was barely discussed. “The profession has moved on and all law schools must also do the same. 

“Our new programmes will introduce students to self-reflection, wellbeing and emotional intelligence. 

“Strategies for good mental wellness will be embedded within all our legal education and training to help prepare and support students for both study and their later working lives”.

Universities have come under pressure to step up their efforts to assist students with mental health issues.

Ministers have written to vice-Chancellors urging them to prioritise the wellbeing of new students, saying that learning is no longer the main purpose of higher education.