By Lucy Caulkett-
Sexual harassment and bullying is rife in the legal profession, according to an international survey.
The survey of 7,000 legal professionals across the world found that the most common form of sexual harassment was sexist or sexually suggestive comments. One in five of those who complained said they had been kissed or groped.
The most comprehensive and first research of its kind also found that “ridicule or demeaning language” is the most common form of bullying . Lawyers also said they felt most targeted in Government legal departments. This reprehensible practise has occurred in the UK where all 41 Government lawyers who responded said that they had been bullied
‘US Too?’, a global study led by the International Bar Association (IBA), found that a third of women lawyers have been sexually harassed at work, while half of women and a third of men have faced bullying.
The survey claims that UK respondents reported higher rates of sexual harassment and bullying than many other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
The finding of the survey which brought to the attention of The Eye Of Media.Com this morning, makes grim reading.Christina Blacklaws, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, echoed the message, saying: ‘Businesses, including law firms, should examine their workplace culture and procedures for dealing with complaints. Just as anyone is protected by the law, they should also be protected by employers.’
The disturbing survey, also found that perpetrators of bullying and sexual harassment have gone largely unpunished, with three quarters of sexual harassment cases and almost 60% of bullying cases never being reported.
Over half of bullied respondents have left, or are considering leaving, their workplace, and one in seven bullied respondents have left, or are thinking of leaving, the legal profession entirely.
The report acknowledges that tackling the issue may be difficult. The IBA also says that training and the revision of policies and standards have not been productive.
The survey found that younger legal professionals are disproportionately impacted by bullying behaviour and line managers and supervisors are the most frequent perpetrators, followed by other senior colleagues.
Horacio Bernardes Neto, IBA president, said: ‘It is deeply shameful that our profession, predicated on the highest ethical standards, is rife with such negative workplace behaviours.’
Mark Ellis, executive director, added: ‘The legal profession has been called upon regularly to advise other industries on bullying and sexual harassment. However, our ability to drive broader change is undermined if our own house is not in order.’