One in eight solicitors comes under attack because of their job

Almost a fifth of prosecutors and four out of ten criminal defence lawyers have been the victim of violence as a result of their job, a survey has found.

Research by the Law Society of Scotland revealed overall about one in eight solicitors (12 per cent) had suffered an attack linked to their work – while a third (33 per cent) had been threatened in some way.

More than 1,100 solicitors across the country were questioned for the survey, the first of its kind to be carried out.

It revealed 40 per cent of criminal defence solicitors, 25 per cent of family lawyers and 19 per cent of prosecutors had been victims of violence.

But only a fifth (20 per cent) of such attacks had been reported to the police, according to the research.

Nine out of ten (90 per cent) of violent incidents took place either within lawyers’ offices, or a court or tribunal setting, with clients and former clients responsible for more than 60 per cent of such assaults.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of solicitors had received threatening communications – with 70 per cent of defence lawyers, 54 per cent of family lawyers and 61 per cent of prosecutors having suffered some kind of threatening behaviour.

Alison Atack, the president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “I am extremely alarmed by the survey findings. People often turn to their solicitor for help and advice when they are going through very stressful and difficult times in their lives.

“It’s vital that solicitors, who have chosen a career in law because they want to help others, can feel safe and secure while carrying out their professional duties.”

Ms Atack was clear there “should be no tolerance of any threat of violence towards legal professionals”, adding that new Justice Secretary Humza Yousa “intends to introduce measures to strengthen the rights of victims and witnesses of crime”.

She also said the Law Society was taking forward a number of measures “as a matter of urgency to try to minimise the risk of violence against people working in the legal sector”.

It wants more attacks on solicitors to be reported to the police, and is also recommending legal professionals use safety apps on smartphones or personal alarms.

Solicitors need specialist training on risk awareness, and should also receive more support if they have been the victim of violence, it added.