Law chief 'who bullied staff' is suspended

The Law Society yesterday voted to suspend its vice-president, Kamlesh Bahl, after an inquiry found she had bullied five members of staff.

Ms Bahl, who this week began proceedings for sex and race discrimination against the Law Society, will face a further vote to have her permanently removed from the society council in April. The report by Lord Griffiths, a former law lord, which was finalised last week, found her to have used "bullying tactics" and to have "usurped" the role of the secretary general, Jane Betts, the head of Law Society staff. The confidential report, seen by The Independent, named five members of staff whose versions of events the Griffiths tribunal preferred to that of Ms Bahl's.

The Manufacturing Science and Finance Union (MSF), which represents the society's staff, said it welcomed the Law Society's "clear-cut action" and believed it would succeed in removing Ms Bahl from the Law Society council at its special meeting next month. But Ms Bahl need secure just 20 votes at the meeting to force a ballot on her suspension.