One third of Scottish solicitors have experienced violence or threats because of work

Glasgow Sheriff Court - Image credit: Daniel

A third of Scottish solicitors have experienced violence or threats because of work, according to a survey by the Law Society of Scotland.

The survey of over 1,100 Scottish solicitors found that one in eight have been victims of violence, a third had experienced threatening behaviour and 27 per cent had received threatening communications.

However, only a fifth of physical attacks on solicitors were reported to the police, with women less likely than men to make a report.

Reports of threats were even lower, with just 12.5 per cent of incidents of threatening behaviour and 14.5 per cent of threatening communications reported to police.

The responses showed that certain sectors of the profession were particular targets, with around 70 per cent of criminal defence solicitors, 61 per cent of prosecutors and 54 per cent of family lawyers and having experienced threatening behaviour.

Almost half of defence solicitors reported more than four incidents in the last five years.

Those three groups were also particular targets if violence, with almost 40 per cent of defence solicitors, a quarter of family lawyers and nearly a fifth of prosecutors having been victims of physical attacks.

The vast majority of incidents took place within solicitors’ offices or in a court or tribunal environment, with clients, former clients or the opposing party’s solicitor accounting for over 60 per cent of violent incidents.

The research, which is part of the Law Society of Scotland Journal’s annual employment survey of solicitors, the first of its kind in Scotland.

In response to the survey, the Law Society is recommending changes to improve the safety of legal professionals and build a zero tolerance of violence or threats culture across the legal and justice sector.

The recommendations include improved reporting of incidents to the police; adopting a ‘safety-first’ approach, such as using smartphone safety apps, personal alarms or a buddy system, particularly for sole practitioners; adoption of robust policies and procedures by employers to deal with violent or threatening behaviour; specialist training on risk awareness; and providing support for solicitors who are victims of violence.

President of the Law Society of Scotland Alison Atack said she was “extremely alarmed” by the survey findings.

She said: “People often turn to their solicitor for help and advice when they are going through very stressful and difficult times in their lives.

“It’s vital that solicitors, who have chosen a career in law because they want to help others, can feel safe and secure while carrying out their professional duties.

“There should be no tolerance of any threat of violence towards legal professionals, or indeed anyone providing a service to members of the public, something that has been highlighted recently by the proposed Scottish Parliament bill to protect retail workers.

“We are also aware the Scottish Government Justice Secretary intends to introduce measures to strengthen the rights of victims and witnesses of crime.

“We intend to take forward our initial recommendations, including working with other organisations in the legal sector, as a matter of urgency to try to minimise the risk of violence against people working in the legal sector.”