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A Non-Resident Indian woman has sued the prestigious Law Society, the governing body for solicitors in England and Wales, for £ 1 million damages for alleged racial and sexual harassment.
Policy advisor Simrit Parmar claimed she was a victim of persistent 'bullying' and 'discrimination' because of her race and sex.
She claimed the Law Society operated a 'culture of fear', in which racial stereotypes flourished.
In her complaint to an employment tribunal, seeking the damages, Parmar alleged attempts by managers to belittle Asian and other non-white staff.
Parmar, 37, of Ilford, Essex, who joined the society in 1999 and still works for it, told a tribunal that when she complained about bullying, she was seen as 'mad'.
She claimed manager Karen Mackay, who has since left, made racist remarks at a party in 2001.
Mackay made reference to Asians being 'reliable little workers', she alleged.
According to Parmar, Mackay also said 'I was lucky I was not Afro-Caribbean because everyone knows they are lazy and have attitude problems'.
The Law Society has denied the allegations and said it would defend itself against them before the tribunal.