Despite the prevalence of bullying, only 20 percent reported incidents to their employers
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism has released a comprehensive report examining bullying in the state's legal profession and offering recommendations for prevention.
The report, titled “Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers’ Experiences and Recommendations for Change,” surveyed more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers and revealed that bullying disproportionately impacts female attorneys, lawyers of colour, attorneys with disabilities, LGBTQ+ attorneys, and younger professionals. The release coincides with National Bullying Prevention Month.
The study, considered one of the first large-scale research efforts in the US on the topic, identified bullying as a significant issue affecting lawyers' emotional well-being, productivity, and career retention. Nearly 20 percent of respondents reported leaving a legal job due to bullying. Bullying behaviours included verbal intimidation, excessive criticism, unrealistic work demands, and physical or cyber intimidation.
"Bullying contradicts the core principles of professionalism and integrity in law," said Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford. "This report shines a spotlight on an issue that cannot be ignored within our legal community."
Survey data showed that bullying was most commonly reported by female attorneys (38 percent), lawyers with disabilities (38 percent), and LGBTQ+ lawyers (29 percent). Lawyers from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds also reported high rates of bullying, with Black and Hispanic lawyers experiencing particularly significant impacts.
Despite the prevalence of bullying, only 20 percent of affected lawyers reported incidents to their employers, citing fear of retaliation or concern that no action would be taken. Of those who did report bullying, more than half expressed dissatisfaction with their employer’s response.
The Commission outlined several recommendations to combat bullying, including implementing clear anti-bullying policies in legal workplaces, training on appropriate workplace behaviour, and the enforcement of anti-bullying standards in courtrooms. The report also highlighted the need for bar associations and law schools to promote education on bullying prevention.
The Commission intends to use the report as a foundation for future educational programs and continuing online legal education (CLE) courses to address the issue within the legal profession further.
