What can solicitors do about bullying?

Bullying can occur in a variety of settings and can be a traumatic experience. It can range from verbal insults to physical violence. ‘Bullying’ is not legally defined; however there are certain circumstances where it can cross into legal territory. In these situations, with the help of a solicitor, the bullying can be stopped, and the person responsible brought to justice.

School children are often subject to bullying by their peers. All schools are required to have anti-bullying procedures in place and will have disciplinary measures to tackle persistent bullies. However, bullying still occurs nonetheless, and as a result many victims of bullying at school and their families are choosing to seek professional legal assistance. Solicitors can apply to the court for a protection order or injunction against the people perpetrating the bullying and if this is breached an offence will have been committed. Injunctions will only be granted if the abuse is ongoing, severe and constant. They are not applicable against children under the age of ten. Many victims of bullying also pursue a compensation claim against the negligent school or local authority who failed to prevent the bullying. Solicitors specialising in compensation claims can advise further on this matter.

Bullying in the workplace can take many different forms and may include discrimination on grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation etc. It can include direct or indirect discrimination and harassment. It is illegal to treat a person less favourably because of discrimination, and a claim can be brought against an employer by a victim of discrimination in the workplace. If an employee has left their job due to bullying, they may have a claim of constructive dismissal against their employer. An employment solicitor can offer more advice on bullying in the workplace.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on bullying, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.