Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment Resources
for Law Practices

Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment of any kind are inexcusable workplace behaviours that undermine the integrity of the profession, harm individuals and damage workplace culture. All legal practitioners, other employees of law practices and members of the community should be treated with respect, courtesy and fairness.

Our commitment

The Law Society is a WE'RE EQUAL employer committed to treating everyone equally, regardless of their age, ability, gender diversity, sexuality, relationship and reproductivity status, race, religion and culture.

The Law Society condemns and has no tolerance for bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment, and accepts its responsibility to lead the profession towards the elimination of these unethical behaviours. We are committed to:

• Promoting respect, fairness and equity in the profession.
• Supporting those who have experienced bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment
• Supporting workplaces in addressing these behaviours.
• Advocating for systemic change to eliminate these behaviours.

The Law Society encourages all legal practices to commit to WE'RE EQUAL.

Support for Employers

Employers play a crucial role in creating safe and respectful workplaces. The below resources are designed to assist employers in addressing and preventing unacceptable conduct.

Bullying, Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policy Template

All law practices should have policy outlining the standards, responsibilities and procedures for preventing and addressing bullying, discrimination and harassment. The Law Society provides a template policy which can be amended accordingly.

Grievance Policy and Procedures Template

All law practices should have current Grievance Policy and Procedures outlining the processes available to employees for raising and resolving grievances. The Law Society provides a template policy which can be amended accordingly.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Having a Drug and Alcohol Policy allows law practices to foster safe, respectful and professional workplaces in relation to the use of alcohol in any setting connected with the legal practice or profession. The Law Society provides a template policy which can be amended accordingly.

Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment Reports and Reviews

There have been a number of reports and reviews highlighting the ongoing challenges presented by bullying, discrimination, and harassment in the legal profession.

SBS Inclusion Program

The Law Society has worked with SBS to provide a series of ten self-paced online on-demand courses which assist to build an inclusive and respectful workplaces. There are courses on issues such as appropriate workplace behaviour, disability, LGBTIQ+ and neurodiversity.

Create a Positive Workplace Culture

Positive Workplace Culture is not only good for staff morale and outcomes for clients, but it also helps to create an environment where bullying, discrimination and harassment is less likely to occur.

SafeWork Australia

Safework Australia provides a wide range of resources including Model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment, Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work and Preventing workplace sexual harassment – guidance for small business.

National Model Framework Addressing Sexual Harassment

The Law Council of Australia has developed a National Model Framework Addressing Sexual Harassment for the Australian Legal Profession to guide employers on meeting their responsibilities in addressing workplace sexual harassment.

Code of Practice for Commonwealth workplaces

The Australian Government has provided new code of practice, Work Health and Safety (Sexual and Gender-based Harassment) Code of Practice 2025, to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based harassment in Commonwealth workplaces. This code should be read and applied alongside the code for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work.

Other Training and Resources

The Society regularly holds CPD sessions on combating BDH, the Australian Human Rights Centre Commission has developed free eLearning courses on the positive duty requirements and the International Bar Association provides online training regarding bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession.