The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner’s Legal Services Research Centre draw on the first annual Victorian Lawyer Census to examine uncivil behaviours in legal workplaces. The research defines uncivil behaviours as demeaning verbal and non-verbal conduct, including ignoring colleagues’ contributions, speaking over colleagues, disparagement, snide remarks, professional discrediting, sarcasm and ostracism. The report found that 83 per cent of lawyers experienced or witnessed uncivil behaviours in the previous 12 months. It also found that 22 per cent experienced one or more such behaviours at high frequency and 24 per cent witnessed them at high frequency.
The Legal Services Research Centre also found that some cohorts, including female and non-binary respondents, younger respondents and LGBTQIA+ respondents, experienced and witnessed behaviours at elevated rates. The research links incivility with broader workplace culture problems, including excessive workload, conflicts with values or professional obligations and sexual harassment, and says those exposed to incivility reported higher rates of psychological distress, burnout and dissatisfaction.