Zero Tolerance: Standing Up for Solicitor Safety

The Law Society of Northern Ireland is taking decisive action to protect members from harassment, threats and violence. The new Group on Solicitor Safety brings together members who have experienced harassment, threats and violence through the course of their work to drive real change.

When solicitor Emma Lyons followed her usual evening routine of leaving her Falls Road practice and driving home, she noticed a car following her into her quiet cul-de-sac. As she pulled into her driveway and turned around, she realised that it was Kevin Kennedy - a man she had been representing a client against in court proceedings.

‘That moment changed everything,’ she says. ‘It wasn’t simply about courtroom disagreements anymore. He had brought this into my home, into my family’s space. The line between professional and personal had been completely crossed.’

Emma’s ordeal represents a troubling pattern. Recent months have seen a rise in reports of solicitors being subjected to harassment, threats, and violence simply for carrying out their professional duties. The Law Society has responded by establishing a Group on Solicitor Safety and adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse directed at solicitors.

The personal cost of professional courage

Emma’s experience illustrates the personal impact these attacks can have. What began in 2017 as Kennedy loitering outside her office escalated into a campaign of sustained harassment that would significantly impact her life and that of her family.

‘The harassment was insidious,’ Emma explains. ‘It wasn’t just the obvious incidents - though those were concerning enough. It was the constant state of hypervigilance, the way it impacted every aspect of my life. I couldn’t go for a run without checking over my shoulder. I couldn’t take my newborn baby to the beach without fear.’

The impact extended far beyond Emma herself. Her young daughter came to recognise Kennedy, a reminder of how these incidents can impact families. The solicitor was ultimately forced to move from her family home and holiday property to feel safe once again.

‘Six weeks after having a baby, he followed me off the beach,’ Emma says. ‘I just stopped going. I stopped running. I stopped living normally. That's what this kind of harassment does - it doesn't just threaten your safety; it impacts your life.'

Emma believes the harassment was a calculated attempt to force her to abandon her client. ‘This wasn’t random targeting. This was about trying to intimidate me into withdrawing from representing my client. That makes it not just a personal safety issue, but a fundamental access to justice issue.’

A pattern of intimidation

Emma’s case, which resulted in Kennedy receiving a suspended sentence and restraining order after being convicted of harassment, is not isolated. The Law Society is now receiving regular reports of similar incidents, with solicitors facing everything from verbal abuse in court corridors to being followed home and threatened.

Naheed Anwar, a solicitor who has experienced her own challenges with client harassment, welcomes the Law Society’s new approach. ‘I’ve faced constant low-level harassment throughout my career - the kind that becomes so normalised you almost forget it’s not acceptable,’ she says.

‘I’m glad to see the Law Society taking this zero-tolerance stance,’ Naheed continues. ‘I had to reach out to them and the PSNI last year at a time when I had to close my office for a week in order to protect myself. The Law Society were a source of great support and comfort. For too long, we’ve been expected to just absorb this abuse as part of the job, but I’ve realised that it is important to have our own personal limit of what is acceptable behaviour and what isn’t. A recent breach of this limit led to putting an incident involving a former client on police record in anticipation of ‘what’s next’. To see practical supports by the LSNI that make a real difference to how we can protect ourselves and our practices can only be seen as a positive step in the right direction.’

A threat to justice itself

Law Society President Colin Mitchell is clear about the impact of these attacks on the wider justice system. ‘When solicitors are threatened or intimidated for representing clients, the entire justice system is undermined', he says. 'This is not just about protecting individual lawyers - though that is absolutely crucial - it's about protecting everyone's right to legal representation and access to justice.'

Colin emphasises that the problem extends beyond high-profile cases. ‘What we’re seeing is a culture where it’s becoming acceptable to target legal professionals for doing their jobs. Whether it’s a family law solicitor receiving threats from an angry spouse, or a criminal defence lawyer being threatened, the message is the same: represent this client at your peril.’

Colin is particularly concerned about the impact on women in the profession. ‘While harassment affects all solicitors, women lawyers are impacted disproportionately. We have heard from both men and women who have been abused but women are in the significant majority and face specific vulnerabilities.’

Taking action

Chief Executive David Lavery CB emphasises that the Law Society’s response goes far beyond words. ‘We are treating this as the serious, systemic issue it has become,’ he states. ‘Our Group on Solicitor Safety includes solicitors who have directly experienced these attacks, because it is important their experience guides our response.’

The Law Society’s approach focuses on three key pillars. ‘First, we’re engaging directly with policymakers and justice stakeholders,’ David explains.

‘We’ve written to Justice Minister Naomi Long requesting legislative reform to recognise solicitors as frontline workers, making attacks against them a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing.’

‘Second, we’re developing practical support for members. This includes partnerships with specialist organisations like the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, who are experts in workplace protection. We’re not just offering moral support - we’re providing concrete tools and training.’

‘Third, we’re working to change public attitudes. Too often, lawyers are portrayed as fair game for abuse. We need to reset that narrative and help the public understand that attacking legal professionals attacks the rule of law itself.’

Legislative change needed

The current legal framework is clearly inadequate. Despite Emma’s case resulting in conviction, Kennedy received only a suspended sentence – even though the Judge acknowledged she was targeted specifically for “undertaking her duties” as a solicitor.

‘The law needs to catch up with the reality of what legal professionals face,’ states Colin. ‘When a healthcare worker is attacked, there are enhanced penalties. The same protection should apply to solicitors who are threatened for representing clients.’

The Law Society is calling for several specific reforms: recognition of solicitors as frontline workers in sentencing legislation, provisions for the Director of Public Prosecutions to review unduly lenient sentences in such cases, and clearer guidance for police and prosecutors on the seriousness of these offences.

The road ahead

For Emma Lyons, speaking out about her experience has been both difficult and necessary. ‘I want other solicitors to know they’re not alone in this,’ she says. ‘But more than that, I want clients to know that their solicitors shouldn’t have to choose between representing them and protecting their own families.’

The influence on career choices is another concern. ‘I worry that young women, seeing cases like mine, will think twice about entering the profession or taking on challenging cases,’ Emma states. ‘That is another impact on access to justice.’

Members who have experienced harassment or threats are encouraged to contact the Law Society confidentially at memberservices@lawsoc-ni.org

The Group on Solicitor Safety continues to meet regularly, with its work informing both immediate support measures and longer-term strategic changes. ‘This is just the beginning,’ says David. ‘We’re committed to ensuring that legal professionals can carry out their vital work in safety and with appropriate support. The courage shown by colleagues like Emma Lyons in sharing their experiences has been both sobering and inspiring.’

‘No solicitor should feel unsafe doing their job. No solicitor should be forced to choose between representing a client and safeguarding their family. The message is clear: attacks on solicitors are attacks on justice itself. And the Law Society is determined to defend both,’ says David.

*Any solicitor who has been affected by harassment, threats or violence is encouraged to contact the Law Society confidentially at memberservices@lawsoc-ni.org. All reports will be treated with complete confidentiality and used to inform the work of the Group on Solicitor Safety.