A review into the sector found the toxic culture was widespread and often saw women and junior staff as ‘less than’.
“When the justice system fails to meet expected standards of conduct, it is not just the individual victim-survivors who suffer – the community’s confidence in the system will suffer,” Dr Szoke said. The 83-page report described in harrowing detail the experiences of women and men working in the courts or VCAT, who spoke of disturbing experiences of harassment perpetrated by lawyers, judicial officers and barristers.
One participant spoke of how they were cornered at a party, in a photocopy room by a much older man who spoke about his sex life and visiting prostitutes. The report also detailed the personal and professional harm caused by inadequate responses of disclosure of sexual assault.