Death threats, intimidation and physical violence faced by solicitors

News

Solicitors across the legal profession have faced death threats, intimidation and physical violence just for doing their job, new research has revealed.

The Law Society of England and Wales surveyed solicitors on the risks and threats they have experienced in their day-to-day working lives.

• Almost half (49%) of solicitors who responded said that either they or their firm received a threat in the past 12 months, with some experiencing multiple incidents.
• More than a third (38%) feel that there is a threat to their personal safety because of their chosen profession.
• One in eight (13%) reported having considered leaving the profession because of the threats they faced.

A solicitor working in social welfare said: “I have been threatened to have my house set on fire, my family harmed and also told they hoped I got cancer and suffered an awful death,” while another lawyer told of a “threat to travel to our office and burn it down.”

A property solicitor faced a ”threat of physical violence by a client who waited in the firm car park” while a witness “jumped out of the witness box and across the front bench to try to attack” a solicitor in a childcare hearing.

Measures solicitors have taken to combat the threats include installing panic buttons and thumb print scanners, and not being allowed to work alone or when there is no security present.

“Whether drafting a Power of Attorney for a sick relative, fighting for better education provision for a disabled child, or supporting a new business to navigate the regulatory landscape, solicitors step in to level the playing field and resolve everyday legal issues so that we and our communities can thrive,” said Law Society president Mark Evans.

“Like many public servants, the role of a solicitor is sadly not without risk. No one should have to deal with unacceptable behaviour simply because they are doing their job. However, this research shows that abuse, aggression and intimidation towards solicitors is alarmingly commonplace.

“If solicitors cannot go about providing a valuable service to the public without fear of being targeted, we are all harmed.

“We will continue to speak out against damaging rhetoric, to increase understanding of our members' crucial work benefitting society and the economy, and to strengthen the support we provide to solicitors under threat.

“We are also calling on the government to ratify the new Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer to demonstrate its support.”

Notes to editors

• The survey took place in August this year with 286 responses overall. 139 of the respondents claimed to have received threats.
• Contact the press office for a copy of the report.
• See our joint statement on attacks on the legal profession and our guidance on protecting solicitors from targeted attacks.