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Legal matters

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Original poster

woman who is harrassing me now working at my lawyers!

25 replies

FCEK · 26/09/2013 21:58

Need a bit of advice. will try to keep it short.

I have been harrassed by several people for a few years and had to get a lawyer involved. Information my lawyer has includes my job, my salary, health problems etc.

I have now found out that one of the best friends of the people harrassing me has gotten a job as a legal secretary there.

The best friend has joined in with online abuse, verbal abuse and spreading of rumours.

I'm really concerned that she now has access to information on me that I do not want her to know/see.

I did not give my lawyer this woman's name as she wasn't the main person iykwim. I felt if my lawyer knew the main person behind the harrassment and dealt with them, this person wouldn't encourage others such as this best friend to get involved and it would stop overall.

Perhaps if I'd told my lawyer everyone who was involved, she might not have gotten the job.

I don't know what to do now. Hope this is making sense. Please can someone advise?

OP posts:

cartoad · 26/09/2013 23:28

Sounds a nightmare.

I would call your lawyer in the morning and explain the situation just as you have done here and say that due to the conflict of interest you are very worried to see that somebody who joined in with the bullying of you is now working for them and that you do not want this person to have access to any of your files at any time. Ever. I'd also spout forth about the data protection act and say that under that you don't want her to see any of your data.

And then see what they say. They might say that as she is there working now they agree it is a conflict of interest which means that she can't represent you any more. You need to be prepared for this either way - whether you are happy to find another lawyer or you really want to stay with them in which case are you happy to stay there even if the bully's friend is there?

Could you get something in your file that is only in that one place so that if the bully gets hold of this new 'detail' about you then you know that the friend must have passed it on to her?

Not a lawyer so don't take this to be legally right, it's just what I would do if I found myself in your position.

Good luck...

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 09:19

if I changed lawyers, they might still have my details in their records though...

OP posts:

Longdistance · 27/09/2013 09:22

So, are you saying the legal secretary has joned in on the abuse?

fuckwittery · 27/09/2013 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 12:43

Longdistance yes she has. I asked my parents today what they thought, just for advice and they said just to change lawyers. It doesn't change the fact she can still access our info.

OP posts:

mistlethrush · 27/09/2013 12:46

Ask for them to return all your information and erase anything they have electronically - and let your existing lawyer know why.

FetchezLaVache · 27/09/2013 12:55

I think you need to ring the lawyers ASAP to ask them to do what fuckwittery suggests. Time is of the essence. If her best friend has received cease and desist type letters from your lawyers, then this woman will know about the connection and might make a point of looking into your files. The sooner you take steps to stop her from doing this, the better!

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 13:30

Yes, she's had letters like that, police involvement etc. I'm going to ask DH to call and see what happens.

OP posts:

BuffytheReasonableFeminist · 27/09/2013 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JohFlow · 27/09/2013 13:53

Arggh! Worse nightmare - the place that you usually go to for refuge having 'an insider'. I would feel totally exposed and vulnerable. You are right in wanting to address this immediately. It may be a bit of an eye-opener for the firm to realise this about their new employee and they certainly have legal, ethical and moral obligations to make sure that their records are not mishandled. You should not feel harassed when you go for help.

It is usual for legal firms to have more than one secretary. Indeed some have one for each solicitor involved. It may be possible for you to ask that another secretary/receptionist deals with your case.

I also agree that a more generalised rule needs to be in place surrounding Data Protection of your personal info.

Good Luck

20wkbaby · 27/09/2013 14:06

If she is still in a probationary period they may ask her to leave in which case you may get to stay with your lawyer. The only worry you will have is if she has access to records in the meantime.

bruffin · 27/09/2013 15:04

Take screen prints of the online abuse by secretary and show to lawyer.

JohFlow · 27/09/2013 15:07

If her past behaviour puts her new position in jeopardy - oo I call that Kharma.

MrsCakesPremonition · 27/09/2013 15:11

So a legal secretary is involved the active bullying and harassment of one of the firm's clients?
Speak to her boss, with copies of everything as evidence.
Good luck.

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 16:05

Mrs Cakes - the online abuse doesn't name me. Her friend has tried to attack me physically, verbally abuse me etc but online is just the likes of "I swear I'm gonna thump that fcking btch" and the legal secretary going "oh I know, you should". Things like that but she could argue its about anyone. The verbal abuse she's joined in with, again I can't prove. I only ever got the police involved with her best friend as she's the main person, the one who tried to assault me.

JohFlow - yes, its always been the same secretary who contacts me on behalf of my lawyer, but I don't know if there's been a change of secretaries or how easy it is for any secretary to get my info. Whenever I visited my lawyer, he always brought out a folder full of paper and his notes, there doesn't seem to be anything electronic :(

OP posts:

Leopoldina · 27/09/2013 16:11

law firms take data protection very seriously as it's their livelihood on the line if they don't. You should have been given a client care letter when they opened your file and it will have details on there of the partner who deals with complaints. Put everything in writing and ask how they are currently / propose in light of this information to secure the sensitive personal data of which you are the subject that they are processing. Despite the paper file, of course it will all be digitised as well - that paper will have been typed and there are emails.
Where online is this woman posting nameless threats which you think are about you? why aren't you blockign it?

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 16:14

Its on Facebook. She is blocked by me and my family. Unfortunately we have mutual friends who can see what she says, hence how I know. She has like 600 friends, so we're bound to have mutual friends.

OP posts:

Leopoldina · 27/09/2013 16:15

screen shot it to your solicitors?

YoniMatopoeia · 27/09/2013 16:29

Have you phoned them?

TheRealHousewifeOfSomewhere · 27/09/2013 16:36

You need to phone the solicitors today without delay.

Explain the situation and see how they respond and take it from there.

I would be demanding my files become limited access only and ask how they can do this and confirm only certain staff members will have access to your info.

Call right now - dont wait until Monday - speed is essential here to reduce the chance of her accessing your info.

Original poster

FCEK · 27/09/2013 17:55

Well all my lawyer really said was thanks for letting them know and saying they have policies in place regarding the sharing of information outside their premises. He said she wasnt his secretary. He didn't seem too interested to be honest.

OP posts:

NicknameIncomplete · 27/09/2013 18:03

It is an awful situation but what did you expect your lawyer to do. They cant just sack the woman on your word when you never named her. They might investigate and make sure that your information will be protected.

fuckwittery · 28/09/2013 00:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cartoad · 29/09/2013 15:15

There should be a name on the contract you signed with the law company of who to complain to if you are unhappy - I would send that person an email today and follow it up with a phone call in the morning to say how distressed you are by your solicitor's brush off, the fact he doesn't understand the seriousness of the problem and the fact that he hasn't addressed how they are going to stop the new secretary from accessing your files. Or prove that she hasn't already had a look.

MrsHoratioNelson · 29/09/2013 15:21

OP I'd not be happy with that response. Take it to the practice manager - it's not enough to say they have policies in place. In practice that won't stop her repeating what he has learned through her work if she wanted to, it can only punish her after the fact. The Chinese wall suggested above is what is required or a complete change of lawyer with removal of all your files and personal data if required.

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