Hundreds of students rally against alleged widespread sexual harassment in law firms

Thursday, 15 March 2018

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association marched against sexual violence in March 2018.

Loud cries of 'Me too' rung around Wellington's Midland Park on Thursday as hundreds of university students protested against alleged sexual harassment in the law profession.

Allegations of sexual misconduct involving interns at Wellington law firm Russell McVeagh surfaced in February, with further claims about problems across the industry later emerging.

More than 200 Victoria University law students descended on the park outside the Russell McVeagh offices on Thursday afternoon, protesting against the alleged behaviour and the law firm's 'inadequate response'.

The group, comprising both male and female students, marched down Lambton Quay from the university's law school.

* Interns allege sexual harassment

* Fresh claims against law firm

People shouted back 'Me too' as accounts of alleged sexual harassment among students were read out.

* External review after assault complaints**

'Once the allegations were announced and released to the public, there was a lot of anger within our student community and a lot of frustration that these things were happening,' Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association president Marlon Drake said.

'The protest was about making sure there's a student voice being heard. We think it's not too big of an ask for our students to be safe.'

The 'Me Too' movement began late last year in response to the alleged prevalence of sexual assault and harassment in workplaces.

While no directly affected students spoke at the protest, one read out accounts from other students.

'A lot of people screamed back, 'Me too',' Drake said.

Hundreds of Victoria University students protested outside law firm Russell McVeagh against alleged sexual assault in the legal profession.

'It was quite a powerful moment.'

Drake said he was not surprised by the extent of the recent allegations.

'It's one of those things. This kind of culture has been talked about before but now what we're seeing is, because it's coming out in the media, it's being taken more seriously.

'We've got to ensure that the culture and attitude changes.'

The students marched down Lambton Quay from the Victoria University Law School to Midland Park.

Fifth-year law student and student association welfare vice-president Bethany Paterson said students deserved more from their employers.

'I've not studied law for four years to be assaulted and harassed in the workplace.

'The support here today shows just how much we need to be having this conversation with the right people, right now.'

Wellington City councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who turned up to support the students, agreed the culture had to change.

'It was a really emotive and powerful display of the extent to which sexual harassment exists in the legal profession,' she said.

'I think the Russell McVeagh revelations kind of exposed how complacent the law industry has become in relation to it.'

It was important no one faced any negative consequences for speaking out, and everyone had a role to play in helping to change the culture, Fitzsimons said.

Employment lawyer Steph Dyhrberg and Victoria's Faculty of Law lecturer Yvette Tinsley also joined the rally.

Academics suspect sexual harassment and violence is as prevalent in New Zealand as family violence, in which we rank highly among OECD countries.