Equality and Diversity pack for Legal Services

This pack provides advice and guidance for legal services firms on their duties and responsibilities to good equality and diversity practice.

It is aimed at solicitors, barristers and other legal services companies that deal with the public and who are bound by the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) Code of Conduct 2011.

The SRA Code of Conduct sets out ten mandatory principles of conduct, of which number nine is: “[you must] run your business or carry out your role in the business in a way that encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity”.

Failure to comply with this principle may also result in contravention of principles one and six:

• 1. [You must] uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice.
• 6. [You must] behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services.

As well as this, the following five ‘outcomes’ need to be achieved to comply with Chapter 2 of the Code (entitled “Equality and diversity”):

• You do not discriminate unlawfully, or victimise or harass anyone, in the course of your professional dealings.
• You provide services to clients in a way that respects diversity.
• You make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled clients, employees or managers are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who are not disabled, and you do not pass on the costs of these adjustments to these disabled clients, employees or managers.
• Your approach to recruitment and employment encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity.
• Complaints of discrimination are dealt with promptly, fairly, openly, and effectively.

The 106 page pack contains 6 sections  

Section 1: Why is equality and diversity important in the legal service?

Section 2: What does the law and code of practice say?

Section 3: What does it mean for your business?

Section 4: Tips to help your company and staff meet their responsibilities

Section 5: Further information

Section 6: Activities

Click here to see the contents of each Section

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