A new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy launched by the Law Society yesterday aims to build a more diverse, open and inclusive profession.
Announcing the strategy, Society president Mark Evans said despite progress, ‘inequality and bias continue to shape career paths’.
Women, minority ethnic, LGBTQ+ and disabled solicitors still face barriers to senior roles, he said, while disabled solicitors remain underrepresented. ‘And too often, workplace cultures leave people feeling like they can’t bring their best selves to work.’
The Society’s three-year member-facing EDI strategy aims to:
- Strengthen diversity in senior leadership;
- Support disabled solicitors; and
- Build more inclusive workplace cultures.
The strategy is the fruit of a year-long project in which people from across the profession were invited to share their views through focus groups and interviews. Over 70 people took part – including aspiring and junior solicitors, mid-career professionals and senior leaders from law firms, in-house teams and other organisations working with the sector.
Evans concluded: ‘At the Law Society, we will continue to use our voice, influence and connections to build a more inclusive profession. But we can’t do it alone. We need law firms, in-house teams, and legal professionals at all levels to step up and join us. Let’s build on the progress made and ensure equality, diversity, and inclusion become the foundation of our profession’s future.’
