Legal Ethics

Lawyer Fined For Slapping A Colleague's Butt

Why would anyone ever think this behavior was acceptable?

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A disciplinary panel found that UK barrister Dominic Woolard “acted without integrity” and “behaved in a way that which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or the profession.” The finding comes as a result of a 2018 incident where it’s alleged he slapped and groped a colleague. He’s alleged to have also pulled the unnamed colleague onto his lap, telling her, “I really wanted to smack your arse.”

As reported by Legal Cheek, the charges against Woolard reveal some wildly inappropriate behavior:

According to the rap sheet, Woolard had held his colleague, “over whom he was in a position of professional seniority”, by or around the neck while saying “I really wanted to smack your arse” or words to that effect. The panel found that this was a sexual act with no consent or reasonable belief that there was consent.

A second charge records that Woolard did in fact smack Ms A, “with a slap which caused her physical pain”. He also pulled her “on to his lap, which was unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which had the purpose or effect of violating A’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or otherwise offensive environment”.

As a result, Woplard was fined £6,000 plus £3,600 in costs. The finding is subject to appeal.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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