Why it matters
Holding up the system to the light and asking what it might become.
Legal professionals are trained to solve immensely complex and messy problems, maintain composure, and just keep on going. Behind the calm exterior, lies the hidden toll of the, sometimes, punishing pace of relentless deadlines and demands. This other reality often emerges when systems within which we work simply no longer make sense. Expectations conflict. Contradictions go unspoken. And over time, pressures shape more than just the work, they shape the people who are tasked with the work.
‘This is Absurd’ names that reality.
This festival is part of Well Within the Law, a wider Law Society initiative supporting legal workplaces to build healthier, higher-performing cultures. It’s based on a simple principle: many of the challenges facing the profession are not individual, they are structural. And before those structures can be enhanced,, they will need to be seen clearly.
What the festival offers
- A space for honest reflection.
- Language to name what legal professionals often carry in silence.
- Stories that shift perspective without rushing to resolution.
- A shared atmosphere that makes room for humour, discomfort, and insight.
This is not a policy forum. This is not a wellness workshop. This is not another panel trying to fix burnout. It is a cultural moment - one that opens the door to something different: dialogue, reflection, and collective insight.
Part of a Larger Change
‘This is Absurd’ forms part of the Law Society Psychological Services’ initiative. This initiative aims to strengthen the impact and performance of the profession, from how people lead and relate to each other and to clients, to how systems are designed and how legal teams perform.
It complements the Law Society’s clinical supports (, Trainee Counselling), learning pathways (The Complete Lawyer, Micro-Credentials), and direct partnerships with legal organisations nationwide.
Together, these initiatives represent a single commitment: to make professional wellbeing a foundation of thriving legal workplaces.
To learn more about how Psychological Services works with legal workplaces, visit or get in touch at ps@lawsociety.ie.