A new, free and online tool for lawyers and others employed in the legal industry to anonymously report instances of discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment and other forms of inappropriate personal behavior has been launched by the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner (LPCC).
The new tool, accessible from the LPPC website, enables targets, witnesses and others concerned by inappropriate behaviour to report what happened, where, when and to whom.
According to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, Anthony Keane, the new online reporting tool is intended to remove some of the barriers to reporting by placing the person making the report in control of the information they choose to share.
“I encourage anyone who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination or bullying in the legal profession and who is, for whatever reason, unwilling to make a formal complaint to visit the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner website and utilise speak safely,” Commissioner Keane said.
“Reporting of inappropriate conduct is a first step in promoting change.”
He said the new online reporting tool allowed anyone making a report to provide as much or as little detail as they are comfortable with.
“People making a report will be provided with a unique key to access their report and will be able to add to it later, if they choose, including being able to make a formal report should they become comfortable to do so.
“Anyone with information about such inappropriate behaviour in the legal profession was still encouraged to make a formal complaint via the LPCC website as opposed to reporting only through this new online tool.
“The LPCC recognises that there may be barriers to making a formal complaint, with people potentially fearing negative implications or repercussions from embarking on official complaint proceedings,” it said.
“The new online reporting tool allows anyone making a report to provide as much or as little detail as they are comfortable with. People making a report will be provided with a unique key to access their report and will be able to add to it later, if they choose, including being able to make a formal report should they become comfortable to do so.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher commended the Commissioner and his staff for their ongoing work to address harassment, bullying and discrimination in the legal profession in South Australia.
“All workers have a right to feel safe in the workplace,” Mr Maher said.
“The online anonymous reporting tool will not be a panacea for inappropriate personal behaviour in the legal profession but is one positive step in a broader strategy to address the problem,” he said.
