Dunedin barrister David Sim was chosen by the university to carry out the independent review, which was released yesterday afternoon.
"It was clear from speaking with the witnesses that, for at least some students who have attended law camps, it was a deeply disturbing and unpleasant experience," he said in the review.
While no criminal behaviour or sexual misconduct took place, drunkenness and sexualised behaviour was "commonplace" and some students felt excluded and uncomfortable. Mr Sim had suggestions to make the camps safer, including allowing cellphones to be brought in.
"Students have been told that what happens at law camp must stay at law camp," he said.
"The presence of cellphones, and the possibility that someone may record the events that take place, could moderate the behaviour that has occurred in past law camps."
The camps are organised by the Society of Otago University Law Students (Souls) and are an annual event to which all second-year students are invited.
This year’s camp was cancelled after allegations of inappropriate behaviour at past camps, including jelly-wrestling and nudity, hit headlines.
Behaviour Mr Sim mentioned in his review included "Court Sessions", which involved drinking alcohol as a punishment for transgressions, and giving male students spirits to drink ahead of a "Miss Natural Justice" competition - in which the students dressed up as women and some stripped naked.
Other events described included a female student performing a striptease to her underwear, and a skit involving a topless female student who lay on a male student who did press-ups. Events such as the Court Sessions, the Talent Show, and Miss Natural Justice had been a part of the camps "to the point that they could be described as a tradition".
There was evidence of pressure from other students, and "that some second-year students were persuaded, and even pressured, to take part in activities in which they did not want to participate".
The camps will not be cancelled, Faculty of Law dean Prof Jessica Palmer and pro-vice-chancellor for humanities Prof Tony Ballantyne saying in a statement yesterday they intended to work with students to lead future events. They believed it was feasible for the law camps to be run safely.
Mr Sim said the presence of independent observers would be the only practicable way of minimising the risk of unwanted behaviour recurring. Prof Ballantyne said the ideas Mr Sim proposed would have to be worked through before the next camp was held.
A statement released by the university along with the review said while no criminal behaviour had taken place at the camps, the measures taken had "not been sufficient to manage culture and ensure safety for all".
However, the university reiterated student feedback had been overwhelmingly positive.
"Six students with experience of camps from 2011 to 2017 came forward with concerns.
"At the same time a large number of other students reported having had a positive experience," the statement said.