Another law firm hit by new sex claim
Another top law firm is embroiled in claims of sexual relations between one of its solicitors and a law student.
A woman who attended Auckland University Law Students’ Society annual law camp in 2012 has told the
Herald a Chapman Tripp solicitor had sex with a law student at the event.
The incident, which the student said exemplified a “massive power imbalance”, involved a 19-year-old female student.
A spokeswoman for Chapman Tripp said the company was made aware of the allegations last week and investigated “immediately”.
“We have become aware that one of our junior lawyers may have had personal relations with someone on the 2012 law camp,” she said.
“Our obligations as an employer mean we can’t talk about the details of this situation.”
The firm was not made aware of the matter in 2012, she said, and has not had any correspondence with either Auckland University or the society about the incident.
Chapman Tripp ended its law camp sponsorship after 2012, though the company said this was unrelated to the alleged sexual relationship.
The spokeswoman said the firm would investigate and take action, should it be made aware of any incident involving inappropriate actions. A woman who approached the
Herald believed the firm should take responsibility. She said it was one thing to have “newly admitted law students put in a situation where they are pressured to drink and take part in nudity and sexual conduct to earn points by older law students. But it is a completely different ball game when you have solicitors representing law firms.”