Law Care reports rise in bullying

The number of solicitors being bullied by their colleagues is growing, according to recently updated research.

Of the telephone calls made to Law Care, the charity offering health support and advice for lawyers, the number concerning bullying and cruel treatment by colleagues rose from 24% in 2001 to 28% so far this year.

The percentage of bullying-related calls in 2000 was just 15%.

Among the calls received recently was one regarding a firm where the partners had installed closed- circuit television in the offices of all assistants so they could keep tabs on what they were doing.

Law Care also heard from a solicitor who had been single-handedly running a busy department because the partners repeatedly suggested that they would make him a partner, and sent him to regular partnership appraisals.

When he finally had a breakdown under the pressure, they admitted that they never had any intention of making him a partner.

Anna Jones, Law Care's administrator, said: 'Most of the bullying cases we deal with are where the bullying is done by a partner or an immediate superior, although we have had calls from solicitors being bullied by secretaries.'

She stressed that firms had to take proactive steps to deal with the problem of bullying, as it led to low staff morale and a fast staff turnover.

Said Ms Jones: 'Often the bullies themselves have a problem, for example, being jealous of another member of staff, and they will often leave the firm as well as the victim of bullying.'

Of the 158 calls received so far this year by Law Care, 100 were regarding stress and depression.

Most victims of bullying were solicitors qualified for five years or less, whereas solicitors who had been qualified for more than 11 years were more likely to suffer from alcohol problems.

Victoria MacCallum