Law firms, in-house lawyers and purchasers of legal services have signed up to the Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter, launched this week.

The charter, initiated by the Society of Asian Lawyers (SAL) and supported by telecoms giant BT, aims to encourage FTSE 250 companies only to employ law firms that meet its diversity criteria. These criteria include a commitment to publish the diversity profile of the firms’ UK employees annually, and to adopt best practice in recruitment, retention and career progression.

SAL chairman Sundeep Bhatia said the charter did not only pay lip service to diversity issues, but was a ‘scheme with substance’ which would benefit ethnic minority lawyers. ‘SAL is happy to endorse the charter and continue our active involvement with it.’

Alan Jenkins, chairman of international firm Eversheds, a signatory to the charter, said solving diversity and inclusion issues in the legal sphere must remain a priority, even in these difficult economic times. ‘We are looking forward to working with clients and other law firms as, together, we continue to break down boundaries and keep diversity and inclusion at the top of our agenda.’

To sign up, Email Inclusion Charter or you can read more about it on the Law Society's site from midday 8 July 2009 - link to come.