The Mercury Newspaper in Tasmania has published the damming results of a recent survey by the Tasmanian Law Society that reveal..
a culture of bullying in the workplace especially towards women.
The Tasmanian Law Society survey found 21 per cent of respondents were subjected to inappropriate behaviour including insults, humiliation and degradation.
Of those, 37 per cent said they had considered leaving their practice and 10 per cent thought about getting out of the profession.
Of the 48 per cent of lawyers who responded, 29 per cent thought the rules of practice and ethical guidelines were ineffective.
Employment and Equal Opportunity committee chair Audrey Mills said although there was evidence of bullying, there was no indication it was widespread.
The report goes on to say:
"We didn't receive reports of serious or significant cases," she said.
She said the committee had recommended the Law Society set up a mediation process after 37 per cent of respondents suggested it.
Another 34 per cent wanted a professional rule of practice to deal with the issue.
"I think it's good for the profession to be looking at these types of things," Ms Mills said.
"That's a much better approach than brushing it under the carpet and pretending it doesn't exist."
While litigation lawyers needed to be assertive at work, she said that did not equate with bullying behaviour.
"I know some quiet shy individuals who are in the profession as well," she said.
She said the survey tied in with the Law Council of Australia's move to draft model conduct rules for discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace bullying.
The Tasmanian Legal Ombudsman's last annual report gave two examples of bullying that the Law Society had resolved.
One case involved an older, larger and more experienced practitioner who bullied a younger female lawyer by becoming demanding, knocking her with his brief case and grabbing her arm.
Another case involved another male practitioner telling his colleagues during a telephone conference that "this is why we should never have female lawyers".
All we can say.. is what charming examples of the human species the above lawyers are.. we're just hoping that Tasmania is the final refuge for these types and that sooner rather than later the Tasmanian law society will come down on them like a ton of bricks..actually make that two tons of bricks.
