The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is calling on lawyers and bar associations to stand up to bullying in the legal profession. The Commission has launched a six-day Stand Up to Bullying Challenge at its Standing Up to Intimidation: Confronting Bullying in the Legal Profession summit on June 10, 2025.
The Stand Up to Bullying Challenge outlines actions lawyers and bar association leaders can take over six days to address and prevent bullying in their workplaces and organizations.
It is part of the Commission’s efforts to address and prevent bullying in the legal profession, based on the findings in its “Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers’ Experiences and Recommendations for Change” report, which was published in October 2024.
The report includes data from a study conducted of more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers that was conducted for the Commission by The Red Bee Group.
The study found that one in four lawyers had experienced workplace bullying over one year, with the experience being more frequent among younger lawyers, female lawyers, lawyers with a disability, lawyers of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyers.
Almost 20% of lawyers who responded to the survey said they had left a job practicing law due to workplace bullying.
“The Illinois Supreme Court was proud to support the Commission in studying the prevalence and impact of bullying in the legal profession,” said Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford, who is the Court’s Liaison to the Commission. “The study has provided the data needed to inspire change and has illuminated a collective path forward toward a more civil and inclusive profession.”
About the Stand Up to Bullying Challenge
The Stand Up to Bullying Challenge consists of six days of actions for lawyers and bar association leaders aimed at bullying prevention.
These actions include taking the “Stand Up to Bullying Pledge,” reading articles or listening to podcasts on workplace bullying, reflecting on one’s experiences with bullying, researching or advocating for bullying prevention policies at your organization, reviewing options to respond to bullying as a bystander, and creating safe and supportive opportunities for lawyers to share their experiences with bullying.
The Stand Up to Bullying Challenge, which is believed to be the first of its kind issued to the legal profession in the U.S., can be completed by individual lawyers or bar association leaders at any time.
“Since October 2024, the Commission has been working to effectuate the bullying prevention recommendations outlined in the Bullying in the Legal Profession report, collaborating with lawyers, law firms, courts, bar associations, and law schools to disrupt this harmful behavior that is often normalized in the legal profession,” said Erika Harold, Executive Director of the Commission on Professionalism.
“The bullying prevention summit and the Stand Up to Bullying Challenge are the next steps in advancing this goal. We invite lawyers, law firms, bar associations, and other legal organizations to join us in committing to address workplace bullying,” Harold said.
Bar association participation
More than 1,000 legal professionals registered to attend the Standing Up to Intimidation: Confronting Bullying in the Legal Profession on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The event was sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), and co-sponsored by almost 30 bar associations.
The ISBA and the CBA have already signed on to participate in the Stand Up to Bullying Challenge. ISBA President Judge Bridget C. Duignan as well as CBA 2024-2025 President John C. Sciaccotta and 2025-2026 President Judge Nichole C. Patton have taken the Stand Up to Bullying Pledge.
“Bar associations have the power to lead in creating a professional atmosphere where everyone is treated with dignity,” said Judge Duignan. “The ISBA is proud to stand with the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism to prevent bullying in our workplaces and professional organizations.”
“It is imperative that those in positions of power champion civil and inclusive behavior in the legal profession,” said Judge Patton. “The Chicago Bar Association is dedicated to equipping our members with the resources and support they need to empower a legal community grounded in respect.”
To view the Stand Up to Bullying Challenge, click here.
To read the “Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers’ Experiences and Recommendations for Change” report, click here.
About the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
The Illinois Supreme Court established the Commission on Professionalism under Supreme Court Rule 799 to promote integrity, professionalism, and civility among the lawyers and judges of Illinois, to foster a commitment to the elimination of bias and divisiveness within the legal and judicial systems, and to ensure those systems provide equitable, effective, and efficient resolution of problems for the people of Illinois.
The Commission achieves this mission through professional responsibility CLE, lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring, legal professionalism programming, educational resources, robust communications platforms, and more. To learn more, visit 2Civility.org and follow us on LinkedIn.
Press Contact
Laura Bagby, Communications Director
312-363-6209
laura.bagby@2civility.org
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Why Addressing Workplace Bullying is Personal for Our Executive Director, Erika Harold