Hannah Beko, a former partner at an international law firm, is set to debut her wellness retreat next month in London as part of her ongoing crusade to shift the legal sector’s culture around mental health.
With over two decades of experience at leading firms like DAC Beachcroft and Eversheds, combined with years of coaching fellow lawyers, the founder of Authentically Speaking has witnessed firsthand how chronic stress is driving many professionals to the brink.
“The problem we have in law is that we don’t care for ourselves on a fundamental level,” said the mother of three. “We don’t switch off, we don’t rest, we don’t set boundaries, and we don’t say no. That needs to change.
“One of the first things I learned from my experience was that I needed to delegate. I was trying to do it all on my own. Building out a team was the game-changer; I suddenly had time again.
“I’m launching the retreats to give lawyers the space to reset, reflect, and reconnect with themselves -because a healthier legal profession starts with healthier individuals.”
Hannah’s mission is deeply personal. A few years after launching her consulting business in 2011, she faced an overwhelming mental health crisis.
Struggling with the demands of work and family, she was hit hard by her father’s prostate cancer diagnosis, which triggered intense stress and frequent panic attacks.
“It was a terrible time; I would freeze every time my phone rang. I couldn’t handle hearing the ringtone of my phone anywhere,” she recalled.
After seeking help from a business mentor, a coach, and therapy, she rebuilt her life and discovered the power of prioritising mental wellbeing - lessons she now shares with others.
After commencing coaching training, Hannah’s eyes were fully opened when she attended a seminar for lawyers.
“The coach was talking about goals and the lawyers in the audience just weren’t getting it,” she said. “That’s when I decided I would be the bridge between the two.”
In 2016, she founded Authentically Speaking, a platform dedicated to equipping lawyers with the training and support they need to thrive in their careers without sacrificing their health.
Since then, she has coached thousands of lawyers, spoken at industry conferences, written a book and appeared on numerous podcasts advocating for change, something she hopes her new wellbeing retreats will further drive in the industry.
Her resolve deepened further in 2023 after a heartbreaking personal loss. When her sister was hospitalised with metastatic brain tumours, Hannah became a temporary carer for her young niece. In December of the same year, her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away in August 2024.
“The trauma of it just broke my heart open,” she said.
“Everything I thought I knew changed, but I now understand more than ever how vital it is to look after ourselves.”
“I want to help change the culture in law so that stress isn’t just an accepted part of the job.
“Ten years ago, nobody was interested in talking about mental health and stress. Now, many lawyers are experiencing it and are pushed to the edge as a result.”
She added: “Many are getting to the point where they have to leave their careers for the sake of their mental health, but this shouldn’t be the only choice.”
Hannah’s retreat programme offers a mix of workshops, coaching, and mindfulness practices tailored specifically for legal professionals.
Attendees will participate in discussions focussed around personalised stress management and reduction strategies, work-life balance formation and setting professional boundaries among other things.
Hannah will also lead interactive sessions designed to help lawyers reconnect with their personal values, establish practical new thought patterns, and develop resilience strategies to prevent or recover from burnout and begin to tackle anxiety.
“Burnout shouldn’t be the price of a successful legal career,” she said. “Through these retreats, I want to show lawyers that prioritising themselves isn’t just possible - it’s essential. The legal industry has long accepted stress as inevitable, but I believe in a different future - one where lawyers can thrive, not just survive.”
To register for a place on the wellbeing retreat, email: hannah@authenticallyspeaking.co.uk .