Ex-paralegal wins 45,000 in discrimination case

A London law firm has been ordered to pay a former paralegal nearly 45,000 for less than three months' work after an employment tribunal found the practice had sexually discriminated against her.The north London employment tribunal ordered four-partner commercial firm Zaiwalla & Co to pay out 43,149 for lost earnings, future lost earnings, injury to feelings and aggravated damages.

It also ordered office manager Terry Hodsdon to pay 500 for injured feelings, and senior partner Sarosh Zaiwalla to contribute 500 to the applicant's legal costs.Jyoti Walia, who is still working as a paralegal, brought the case complaining that the law firm failed to give her adequate work to assess her suitability for a training contract.

The tribunal decided that the firm had breached an implied term of her employment contract that she would be given substantive legal work, and that a 'proper adequate and fair' appraisal method would decide whether she would be offered a training contract.At the tribunal, Mr Hodsdon apologised for telling Ms Walia:'Linklaters take on 150 trainees every year and they retain 50 and the remainder of the wallies they get rid of.'But the tribunal described the firm as 'exceptionally bitter about the whole process...

There was a complete absence of remorse'.Mr Zaiwalla said he is appealing against the decision, and that the firm had taken on two female trainees after Ms Walia left.

Her solicitor, James Carnody of Steele & Co, said Ms Walia wanted to be left to get on with her career.

'The decision sends a clear message to solicitors' firms that discriminatory behaviour against paralegals or trainees is not acceptable,' he added.

Anne Mizzi