Law School puts Russell McVeagh relationship on hold for 2018

University of Auckland Dean of Law, Professor Andrew Stockley, advised staff and students today that the relationship with Russell McVeagh has been put on hold for the remainder of the year.

He told them that students invited to an event or employed in any capacity should expect appropriate and professional behaviour at all times, and that the school would not accept any student being subjected to inappropriate behaviour, pressure, or sexual harassment.

Professor Stockley said that faculty members and law student societies had expressed concern about Russell McVeagh’s response to the recent media coverage, which did not reflect the change in culture that, following meetings with law school Deans in previous years, had been assured would occur.

“There is widespread feeling that there should have been a much stronger apology and public recognition of the harm that some women law students have experienced, and that the answers reported in the media have been unduly legalistic and narrow,” he said.

“As an example, there have been comments made to the effect that there were no formal complaints, that privacy prevents the firm saying more, and that in some cases the women consented.

“Consequently, I wrote this morning to the Managing Partner of Russell McVeagh to advise him that the relationship between the law firm and this law school is on hold for the remainder of the year. This means that Russell McVeagh will not be sponsoring nor attending events on campus as part of their recruitment drive.

“The University will ensure there is no detrimental impact to students or staff because of the removal of funding, and we will still welcome individual lawyers from the firm as guest lecturers on specialist subjects – in their own right and not as Russell McVeagh representatives.”
 

While the onus is on law firms and other employers, the Law School is also looking at what more can be done to equip our students with the knowledge and support to call out inappropriate behaviour at the time, and in the worst case, report it safely afterwards.

Professor Andrew Stockley University of Auckland Dean of Law

Professor Stockley said that he was concerned that all law firms address the cultural issues and systemic failures that may have led to the inappropriate behaviour that had recently been reported.

“I am aware of a number of initiatives that have been taken to do this and will continue to talk with law firm representatives about what more can be done to make sure that their firms ensure our students and graduates are treated with dignity and respect. This occurs in the vast majority of cases but it must occur in every case.

“While the onus is on law firms and other employers, the Law School is  also looking at what more can be done to equip our students with the knowledge and support to call out inappropriate behaviour at the time, and in the worst case, report it safely afterwards.”

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