The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSBC) has just launched an online tool for lawyers to anonymously report instances of sexual harassment.
The new online reporting platform was inspired by VLSBC’s 2020 report into sexual harassment.
It’s a staggering statistic but more than a third of lawyers – rising to 61% of female lawyers – were sexually harassed while working. 81% said they did not report their most recent incident of sexual harassment for fear of losing work or reputation and a lack of confidence in existing reporting procedures within law firms.
Victims and witnesses of sexual harassment in the profession can now report instances of the misconduct which are reviewed by a sexual harassment complaints team.
The tool can be accessed through the VLSBC website.
Users can identify themselves or remain anonymous. They will also have control over how the report progresses, including deciding whether they want to make a formal complaint.
CEO of VLSBC, Fiona McLeay, says “We hope this tool will help address the serious problem in our profession by providing a platform through which people can tell us – anonymously – as much or as little as they like about their experience of being sexually harassed.”
Hopefully, the online reporting tool will encourage more people to come forward by removing the current barriers and eventually eliminating this behaviour in order to provide a safe workplace for all (regardless of their status and pay-packet).
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