Sexual harassment is reprehensible, and the Law Council of Australia is committed to helping protect every member of the legal profession and to eliminate these behaviours from all workplaces.
"The Law Council of Australia takes its role as a leader of the legal profession very seriously, and believes it has a vital part to play in stamping out sexual harassment and ensuring effective responses," Law Council of Australia President, Juliana Warner said.
As part of its National Action Plan to Reduce Sexual Harassment in the Australian Legal Profession, in 2021, the Law Council developed a National Model Framework Addressing Sexual Harassment for the Australian Legal Profession.
"This Framework is designed to assist the legal profession to proactively prevent and respond to sexual harassment and guide firms in the development of their own sexual harassment policies," Ms Warner said.
"While the Framework was only released four years ago, there have since been a number of significant changes in the law addressing workplace sexual harassment and new obligations imposed on employers, partnerships and individuals.
"In light of these reforms, we felt it necessary to update the Framework to make sure employers understand their responsibilities and amend workplace policies to reflect new laws and best practice.
"The Australian legal profession prides itself on upholding the principles of justice, integrity, equity, and the pursuit of excellence in service to the public. Sexual harassment, in all its forms, offends these very foundations of the profession.
"I commend the Framework to the profession and encourage workplaces to take this opportunity to review their existing policies and ensure they are fit for purpose."
