Media barred from Women in Law Auckland conference

Journalists have been banned from a conference where the heads of the country's top law firms are set to discuss sexual harassment in the profession. More than 140 lawyers are expected to attend today's Women in Law Summit in Auckland and until Monday night, media had been allowed to attend. The event organisers say the last minute decision was made because delegates and speakers are worried about what journalists would report. The inhouse magazine NZ Lawyer is now the only media outlet allowed to cover the summit. The heads of the firms will be talking about what's being done to prevent sexual harassment, how leaders in law are making their firms more inclusive of women, and what the future holds for women working for New Zealand's biggest firms. Chair of Simpson Grierson Anne Callinan, who is on the discussion panel, told RNZ reporter Katie Scotcher the decision to ban the media was made by organisers, not the law firms.