'We're not 15' - Female trainee solicitor hits out at 'highly offensive' Whatsapp messages among law trainees
A trainee solicitor has said she feels disgusted that female students are being objectified by their male counterparts.
The Law Society has launched an investigation after "highly offensive" messages were found to be circulating in a Whatsapp group among some first-year law trainees at Dublin's Blackhall Place.
The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the rumours make her feel extremely uneasy and paranoid.
She said it is worrying that some male students could do such a nasty thing.
She said: "A lot of female trainees that I have spoken to and I have the same opinion and it is absolute disgust.
"This is a professional practice course, this isn't college, we're not in secondary school, we're not 15, we are all in our mid to late 20s and we are there to learn how to become solicitors and in a few years we will become solicitors.
"So the fact that this kind of behaviour is going on is a little bit unbelievable but it is also disgusting and it's childish, it's just extremely childish."
The student said she is disgusted female trainees are being objectified by their male counterparts.
She said: "The laws of the profession tend to be a kind of a bit of a boys club and you find that if you feel you are making strides - with women, there are more female solicitors, more women doing law - and when you have things like this, it makes you feel like we have gone back 20 years again.
"Those same ideas are still there, those same sexist opinions or ideas in mens' heads are still around the place and it's very disheartening."
