International Men’s Day – In Conversation with Andrew Love

This week, ABC is marking International Men’s Day by highlighting positive male role models across the legal sector. At a time when toxic masculinity and damaging public role models are on the rise and perhaps influencing our younger generation, it has never been more vital to celebrate men who lead with integrity, empathy and authenticity.

Today, we are proud to feature Andrew Love, Senior Clerk at 5RB.

With almost 30 years’ experience, Andrew leads 5RB’s clerking team, oversees Chambers’ operations and supports the strategic development of all members’ practices. He is also a trained Mental Health First Aider – something that deeply informs his leadership style.

In his powerful article, Andrew reflects on the pressure men often feel to appear strong, self-reliant and unshakeable – especially in senior roles within Chambers. He speaks openly about the challenges of recognising vulnerability, the stigma of seeking help, and his own experience of navigating stress and unhealthy coping mechanisms earlier in his career.

Andrew emphasises that meaningful change must start with leadership. Creating a supportive Chambers culture requires:

– Proactive check-ins
– Empathy and openness
– Signposting to professional support
– A genuine commitment to wellbeing

Our sincere thanks go to Andrew for his candid reflections and willingness to share his personal journey. His openness strengthens conversations around mental health in Chambers and across the legal sector, helping to drive meaningful cultural change. We appreciate the leadership he demonstrates through his strength and openness.

The theme for International Men’s Day 2025 is “celebrating men and boys” and focuses on uplifting positive male role models and raising awareness about the overall well-being of men and boys. We’ll be sharing a new piece each day for the rest of this week, spotlighting men in Chambers who are driving positive cultural change across the profession.