Launched earlier this week, the group of Victorian lawyers officially signed onto a document that outlines their aims. Co-convener Justice Chris Maxwell, president of the Victorian Court of Appeal, said he is encouraged by the willingness of lawyers at all levels to step forward and commit to real, meaningful reform.

“I have been struck by the commitment of participants, their unity of purpose and eagerness to find new ways to address sexual harassment. I think there are signs of progress in the key areas on which real change depends: awareness, engagement and leadership,” Justice Maxwell commented in a recent statement.

Justice Maxwell is joined by Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) chief executive Adam Awty, Lander & Rogers chief executive partner Genevieve Collins, and Slater and Gordon CEO John Somerville. The signatories of the document include lawyers from BigLaw firms, courts, community legal centres and in-house legal teams.  

In the document, the signatories acknowledge that sexual harassment is pervasive in the legal sector, that cultural approaches are not resulting in sufficient change and that a greater focus on addressing root causes would prevent harm from occurring. The lawyers also noted that leadership is critical, that sexual harassment needs a sector-wide response and that there must be support for victims and bystanders.

On the issue of cultural change, one signatory noted it is “easy to have policies [but] harder to ensure that consequences flow”. Another said they have seen many instances of firms “saying one thing, but different things happening in practice when tough choices need to be made”. To combat this, they suggested reframing sexual harassment as a workplace safety issue and building a culture of real action.

“Eliminating harassment within the profession is something that every organisation involved in the law needs to be committed at a policy level and at a practical level,” Mr Awty said. “The LIV has, and continues to, develop practical measures so that all members of the profession work in a safe and support[ive] environment.

“But these ongoing discussions and sharing of ideas and practical solutions are also critical for the profession if it is to evolve and change. Combatting sexual harassment is not only an issue for women. Men need to take a leadership role together with women to bring real change to the profession, and individuals must take responsibility to drive effective action within their organisations.”

VIEW ALL

The group has recommended that their organisations embed gender equality into the culture, communicate that sexual harassment is unacceptable, facilitate better training and mentorships, and communicate expectations to create safe workplaces. Leaders should also be demonstrating a commitment by sending strong messages and must be responding “quickly and consistently” to poor behaviour.

Ms Collins said the Advocates for Change group would play an important role in promoting open dialogue on sexual harassment and experiences of those affected.

“Our Advocates for Change initiative promotes important dialogue across various levels of the profession. By discussing the causes, experiences and successful responses and practices by management, we are raising awareness and generating information and ideas which might otherwise not be considered,” she said.

Mr Somerville added that he is welcoming the opportunity to play a key role: “Harassment and bullying are a blight on society and diminish all of us. The fact that it is prevalent in the legal industry, which stands for justice and fairness, is an issue that needs urgent attention. That’s why I was very pleased to co-convene this important initiative and to see the enthusiasm and energy brought to bear by colleagues across the industry to identify ways to combat this blight.”

The Advocates for Change group was created following Dr Helen Szoke’s final report on the Review of Sexual Harassment in Victorian Courts, which found that sexual harassment was an “open secret” in the profession. In June 2021, a report by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner also found that one in three lawyers had personally experienced sexual harassment in their workplaces.

This also follows recent news that retired Supreme Court judge Peter Vickery QC had sexually harassed two of his former associates. This included putting his hands between the thighs of one woman and later kissing her on the lips, giving another sexualised poetry and contacting a victim after an investigation had started.