ABSTRACT

This article examines disciplinary proceedings about sexual misconduct by lawyers. Sexual misconduct in a professional relationship is harmful and unacceptable and should result in immediate disciplinary action to protect victims, future victims and the public. However, there is no explicit offence of sexual misconduct in Australian disciplinary legislation regarding lawyers. Rather, sexual misconduct must be linked to the statutory offences. While the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules guide the interpretation of the offences, there is only express reference to sexual harassment. We examined tribunal and court legal disciplinary cases from 2000 to 2020 across all Australian jurisdictions in which sexual misconduct had occurred. Decision makers typically only considered sexual misconduct sufficiently egregious to meet the required standard of a disciplinary offence when accompanied by a criminal conviction. The conduct was often portrayed as a result of character flaws, rather than harmful to victims and the public. Thus, decision makers failed to locate the behaviour in the wider incidence of violence against women. The profession’s failure to acknowledge sexual misconduct reflects narrow professional norms which do not robustly protect victims. Explicit acknowledgement of sexual misconduct in disciplinary proceedings is essential. These amendments would signify the importance, frequency and impact of sexual misconduct.

摘要

本文探讨了有关律师不当性行为的纪律处分程序。职业关系中的不当性行为是有害且不可接受的，应立即采取纪律处分，以保护受害者、未来的受害者和公众。然而，澳大利亚关于律师的纪律立法中并没有明确规定不当性行为罪。相反，不当性行为必须与法定犯罪联系起来。虽然《澳大利亚律师行为规则》指导了对这些罪行的解释，但仅明确提及性骚扰。我们审查了 2000 年至 2020 年澳大利亚所有司法管辖区发生不当性行为的法庭和法院法律纪律案件。决策者通常仅在刑事定罪的情况下才认为不当性行为足够恶劣，足以满足违纪行为所需的标准。这种行为常常被描述为性格缺陷的结果，而不是对受害者和公众有害。因此，决策者未能将这种行为归咎于更广泛的暴力侵害妇女行为。该行业未能承认不当性行为反映了狭隘的专业规范，无法有力地保护受害者。在纪律处分程序中明确承认不当性行为至关重要。这些修正案将表明不当性行为的重要性、频率和影响。而不是对受害者和公众造成伤害。因此，决策者未能将这种行为归咎于更广泛的暴力侵害妇女行为。该行业未能承认不当性行为反映了狭隘的专业规范，无法有力地保护受害者。在纪律处分程序中明确承认不当性行为至关重要。这些修正案将表明不当性行为的重要性、频率和影响。而不是对受害者和公众造成伤害。因此，决策者未能将这种行为归咎于更广泛的暴力侵害妇女行为。该行业未能承认不当性行为反映了狭隘的专业规范，无法有力地保护受害者。在纪律处分程序中明确承认不当性行为至关重要。这些修正案将表明不当性行为的重要性、频率和影响。