I'm a girl intern, and I believe I am facing sexual harassment at my law firm. How exactly to report this? Already in bad terms with the HR over other unrelated incidents.
Reach out to the senior associates/partners. If it doesn't work inform your college's ICC and recruitment committee (if you have one).
Based on your experience from HR, prepare for a hostile response from the firm. Also don't do this alone, please inform a few of your friends so that they are around to back you up.
One of the perpetrators happen to be PA, and he seems to be in very good terms with my team's partner. That's why I am so unsure whom to approach.
I informed the POC person of my uni's placement committee, she said not to make a "big deal out of it" and "act professionally" because the firm is regularly among the top recruiters.
I informed some of my co-interns, they are supportive while talking to me but not to the extent of doing anything substantial. They don't want to jeopardise their own internship over this.
The uni girl maintains a very good reputation from outside but in reality she is rotten to the core. On the other hand, many know how the PA is, but he never faced any consequences for his actions. He's surrounded by enablers.
If no one is being supportive and you can't practically do anything about the various forms of institutional support for the perpetrator, just quit immediately. Do something else productive.
If the ICC or recruitment committee try to do anything about it against you, then raise this issue as publicly as possible.
As you have already informed them, they should know not to take any action for quitting.
My answer might seem very restrictive and not "fighty" enough, but I am trying to give you the most practical solution I can think of. But I really feel sorry for you and am absolutely livid at kind of a helpless situation. Take care.
In my college, you get a show-cause notice and there is a hearing. If it's the same in your college, then it's not a huge problem. You can always explain them, especially since you already informed them before quitting.
If not, then yeah, quitting might not be possible.
I feel like you don’t want to take up the issue or resolve it - you are just not accepting any ideas being offer here. In that case, continue with how it is or have some courage to take a stand for yourself. No one else will do it for you. This might sound harsh, but please do something about it and save others from this experience. If they don’t hire you or cancel your internship, good for you. No one would want to work in such a set up.
I know exactly which firm this is. This has happened before and keeps happening. However don't see any colleague males or senior females and males doing anything about it. Someone has to call out this guy publicly please. All colleges must do so, so that recruitment is not affected and the PA is reprimanded
Dear girl intern - ask as many questions you want, most answers will be with a shade of gray, that you can do X but beware of Y. And all the answers are, unfortunately, true. (A shout out to the LI community for providing honest and practical answers.)
Just read the answers, talk to friends/family, and mentally prepare yourself for a battle. Then dive into it. The system (including in lawfirms) is such that people will try to bury it. My boss (equity partner) harasses (not sexually) my junior colleagues everyday - he is literally one of the worst. I know for a fact that he has at least one burried sexual harassment complaint, thanks to his peers.
I've spoken to some of my friends about it but can't risk informing my family. They would be extremely concerned, and they aren't in a position to help me out when they're living miles away.
If you want to avoid the ICC route (which has severe problems) complain to the Bar Council. The disciplinary proceedings are confidential and sexual harassment is misconduct.
usually sexual harassers have more than one target, try to find someone else who was harassed by this person, then if the other person also agrees, together you approach uni ICC, and the firm HR. In these complaints, more than one voice make it impossible to ignore.
Hi, you may approach Himmat - an organisation that aids college students who face sexual harassment with legal consultancy pro bono. The consultants are all professionals in this sphere and have experience working on such matters. Please check out this link if you would like to explore this further https://www.safecollegespaces.com/free-legal-consultancy-copy
Based on your experience from HR, prepare for a hostile response from the firm. Also don't do this alone, please inform a few of your friends so that they are around to back you up.
I informed the POC person of my uni's placement committee, she said not to make a "big deal out of it" and "act professionally" because the firm is regularly among the top recruiters.
I informed some of my co-interns, they are supportive while talking to me but not to the extent of doing anything substantial. They don't want to jeopardise their own internship over this.
Also, try approaching a senior person in the HR.
If the ICC or recruitment committee try to do anything about it against you, then raise this issue as publicly as possible.
As you have already informed them, they should know not to take any action for quitting.
My answer might seem very restrictive and not "fighty" enough, but I am trying to give you the most practical solution I can think of. But I really feel sorry for you and am absolutely livid at kind of a helpless situation. Take care.
If not, then yeah, quitting might not be possible.
Just read the answers, talk to friends/family, and mentally prepare yourself for a battle. Then dive into it. The system (including in lawfirms) is such that people will try to bury it. My boss (equity partner) harasses (not sexually) my junior colleagues everyday - he is literally one of the worst. I know for a fact that he has at least one burried sexual harassment complaint, thanks to his peers.