This seminar presented by Associate Professor Vivien Holmes and Emeritus Professor Tony Foley SFHEA builds on recently published research described as ‘one of the best works of recent scholarship relating to the legal profession’ and praised as making an important contribution to both applied and theoretical legal ethics (Jotwell June 2021). That work focused on the importance of sound ethical workplace culture for lawyer wellbeing.

In legal workplaces characterised by a ‘getting ahead’ climate, where rule-bending (if not breaking) was condoned, lawyers (especially young lawyers) exhibited heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression. This new work in development turns the focus to the role of ethical climate in eradicating sexual harassment and bullying in legal workplaces.