In 2018, the International Bar Association (IBA) conducted the largest-ever global survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession. Nearly 7,000 individuals from 135 countries responded to the survey, from across the spectrum of legal workplaces: law firms, in-house, barristers’ chambers, government, and the judiciary.
The results provide empirical confirmation that bullying and sexual harassment are rife in the legal profession. Approximately one in two female respondents and one in three male respondents had been bullied in connection with their employment. One in three female respondents had been sexually harassed in a workplace context, as had one in 14 male respondents.
The report provides a succinct analysis of that data, to raise awareness about the nature, extent, and impact of the problem and inform the development of solutions. It also outlines 10 recommendations for achieving positive change and highlights steps the IBA will take to lead by example.
