Harassment redress for legal workplaces
WELLINGTON: A 0800 phone line is being launched so legal professionals can discuss issues like workplace harassment.
The New Zealand Law Society has announced the initiative, which goes live tomorrow.
It follows a series of reports of young female lawyers and law students being sexually harassed by more senior lawyers.
The Law Care phone line would allow callers to discuss their experiences and receive information on the support available and how they can lodge a complaint.
Harassment could be of a sexual nature or include any other unacceptable behaviour that may have occurred as part of the persons’ work, the society said in a statement.
The Law Care phone line was part of a raft of initiatives developed by the Law Society to focus on addressing serious allegations of harassment and bullying occurring in the legal community.
The launch was simultaneous with a new online facility for lawyers to submit confidential reports of harassment and other unacceptable behaviour to the Law Society.
The Law Society recently announced a working group, chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright, set up to investigate whether the current regulatory framework, practices and pro cesses enabled adequate reporting of harassment or inappropriate workplace behaviour within the legal profession; provided adequate support for those affected by harassment or inappropriate workplace behaviour; and enabled effective action to be taken where such conduct was alleged.
The phone line would be staffed by five law society employees specially trained in dealing with harassment complaints.
It would initially operate from 9am7.30pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am5pm on Fridays.
Operators of the Law Care phone line would be able to provide callers with options about the services they could seek support from, including:
Registered counsellors or clinical psychologists with relevant expertise in the area.
Members of the Law Society’s National Friends Panel with specific expertise in sensitive issues.
Information about the online reporting facility and the Law Society’s complaints process.
Other formal or informal avenues for resolving the issues.
The Law Care phone number is 0800 0800 28. Callers are also able to email their concerns to lawcare@lawsociety.org.nz and request a call back. — NZME
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