Bullying in the legal profession takes many forms, affects 1 in 4 lawyers, and — surprise — the biggest bullies are rarely reported and rarely face consequences. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism urges all of us to participate in the “Stand Up to Bullying” Challenge.
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When people think about the topic of bullying, many associate it with children in classrooms and playgrounds, not adults in courtrooms and boardrooms. But according to a report on bullying in the legal profession published by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, 1 in 4 lawyers surveyed said they had been bullied in the workplace during the past year.
Findings from the Report on Bullying in the Legal Profession
The commission’s 2024 study of more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers is believed to be one of the first wide-scale research projects of its kind in the U.S.
Lawyers reported that bullying was perpetrated by opposing counsel, colleagues, judges and clients. The bullying included behaviors such as:
- Shouting, insults and eye-rolling.
- Spreading false accusations and malicious rumors.
- Being asked to say or do something that was unethical or improper.
- Physical intimidation, such as hovering, invading personal space and throwing objects.
The Repercussions of Bullying
While bullying is sometimes characterized as relatively harmless and intrinsic to an adversarial profession, lawyers who were bullied reported experiencing negative professional, emotional and physical repercussions. Indeed, nearly 20% of lawyers reported that bullying had caused them to leave a job practicing law.
Notably, only 1 in 5 bullied lawyers said they reported the bullying behavior to leadership, often due to concerns about retaliation, being perceived as “weak,” the bully’s status, or the belief that their employer would not take action.
Since its release, the report has served as a catalyst for discussions on bullying prevention in Illinois and across the nation. At its annual meeting in August, the American Bar Association adopted a resolution encouraging legal organizations to conduct studies on bullying in the profession, similar to the commission’s report.
As someone who has experienced bullying both in school and as a lawyer, it has been enormously gratifying to lead the Commission on Professionalism’s bullying prevention initiative and witness an emerging consensus around the importance of cultivating a more respectful legal profession.
October Is National Stand Up to Bullying Month: Take the 6-Day Challenge
During National Bullying Prevention Month, the commission aims to build on this national movement by inviting lawyers, law firms, bar associations and other legal organizations to participate in its “Stand Up to Bullying” Challenge. The challenge consists of six days of short actions that lawyers and bar association leaders can take to address and prevent bullying.
The Challenge
- Day 1: Commitment. Take the Stand Up to Bullying Pledge, committing to uphold the highest standards of civility and integrity in your professional interactions.
- Day 2: Awareness. Share your commitment to bullying prevention by posting about the pledge on social media (using the hashtag #LawyersAgainstBullying) or by sharing it with your colleagues or professional network.
- Day 3: Education. Read an article or listen to a podcast about workplace bullying.*
- Day 4: Reflection. Review the bullying behaviors in the commission’s Bullying in the Legal Profession report and consider whether you have experienced or witnessed bullying or have bullied others.
- Day 5: Action. Act to prevent bullying by investigating bullying policies in your workplace, practicing how to respond to bullying as a bystander, or seeking support if you have experienced bullying.
- Day 6: Plan. Add National Bullying Prevention Month to your calendar on repeat, and plan to share your Stand Up to Bullying Pledge with colleagues again next year, along with additional resources and strategies to prevent bullying in your workplace.
To review the Commission on Professionalism’s full Stand Up to Bullying Challenge, click here.
This October and throughout the year, we invite lawyers, law firms, bar associations and every legal organization to join us in standing up to bullying. We hope this challenge raises awareness of the impact bullying has on lawyers and helps foster workplaces in which everyone is treated with civility, dignity and respect.
*Read More About Bullying in the Legal Profession on Attorney at Work
- Are You Being Bullied at Your Law Firm?
- You Will Be Bullied — Be Prepared!
- Lawyers: Toxic Thoughts May Be Hurting You More Than You Know
- When Conflict Is Not Constructive: Using De-escalation Skills at Work
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