Bahl's qualified win

An employment tribunal last week found in favour of Kamlesh Bahl, the former Law Society vice-president, in her claim of race and sex discrimination against the Society.The tribunal found the Society was vicariously liable for the discriminatory behaviour of a former president, Robert Sayer, and a former secretary-general, Jane Betts.The tribunal, which sat in Watford, dismissed Ms Bahl's claim for victimisation.

No date has been set for determining compensation.

Claims of discrimination and victimisation brought by Ms Bahl against three past and current Law Society staff members were all dismissed.In a statement, Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'In the interests of bringing the matter to a close, the Society does not intend to initiate an appeal.' Mr Sayer told the Gazette that he was 'shocked by the judgment'.

He continued: 'I am relieved that counsel has advised me that the judgment is wrong in law.' Mr Sayer said he was considering an appeal.

The tribunal said that on the balance of probabilities Mr Sayer and Ms Betts were not conscious of their behaviour being in part motivated by race or sex.

The tribunal also found that Ms Bahl had deliberately lied under oath during the hearing, and that 'she was not a witness of truth'.

It also found that Ms Bahl tried to mislead the Law Society Council in December 1999 when she stated that no complaints were made about her while she was head of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Ms Bahl resigned as Law Society vice-president in spring 2000 following a report by Lord Griffiths that she had bullied Chancery Lane staff.Ms Bahl's lawyer, Sadiq Khan of London law firm Christian Fisher, described the tribunal judgment as 'a remarkable victory'.

He indicated that the Bahl team would call on the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission to investigate race and sex issues at the Law Society.