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Time to embrace a better legal future

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23 May 2019 / Sarah Goulbourne
Issue: 7841 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Bullying & harassment are rife in UK law. And it’s time for us all to act, says Sarah Goulbourne
  • Leaders of law firms need to have more faith in their people, to give them the opportunity to take control of their workloads and to flourish as business people and human beings.

The announcement this month by the International Bar Association that over half of UK lawyers have been bullied, and over a third of female lawyers experienced sexual harassment, is very disappointing. My immediate reaction was—why? When we have made so much progress in society to address mental health, to embrace gender equality and diversity, to tackle ageism? How did the legal sector get left behind?

I believe that, despite modern law firms going about their business in impressive modern office blocks, a mindset persists that’s stuck in Dickensian times. Most of the working world has kept up with a natural evolution, embracing flexibility and freedom, and building a culture of trust which allows their people to thrive.

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