Blogs & opinions
You are currently filtering for: equality-and-diversity
Women and IP: Looking at the stats
This World IP Day, Law Society of Scotland Intellectual Property Committee member, Susan Ferguson-Snedden, reflects on the gender balance in IP law and what we can do to support progress.
Hospitality and celebration – my Ramadan visit to Edinburgh Central Mosque
Our Vice President, Sheila Webster, writes about her visit to Edinburgh Central Mosque with Law Society colleagues and friends for the first fast-breaking of Ramadan.
Flying the colours of Pride
As LGBTQ+ History month starts, our Equality and Diversity Manager Elaine MacGlone writes on the history and development of the iconic Rainbow flag.
Danger to lawyers at home and abroad must be tackled by us all
On the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, our Head of Education Rob Marrs reflects on the situation in Afghanistan and asks what we can do to help.
Working towards a more accessible and equitable profession
Ahead of International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December, we spoke with trainee solicitors Fraser Mackay and Thomas McGovern to find out more about their plans and progress in setting up a group to support disabled solicitors and law students.
Being faith-friendly: an Employer's guide to Ramadhan
As we approach the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, here's some suggestions on how employers should prepare to support employees who wish to observe it, and indeed religious festivals generally.
Diane McGiffen on International Women's Day
Our Chief Executive Diane McGiffen writes on International Women's Day about two new initiatives to help the Scottish legal profession #BreakTheBias
Drew McCusker on LGBTQ+ History Month
Solicitor Drew McCusker, founding member of The Glass Network, tells us about the importance pf LGBTQ+ History Month.
"All Human, All Equal" - International Human Rights Day 2021
Fiona Killen, solicitor, member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Constitutional Law Sub-Committee and formerly the Law Society’s representative on the Scottish Government’s Human Rights Leadership Taskforce, shares her thoughts to mark International Human Rights Day 2021
International Day of Disabled Persons - Laura McClinton
On International Day of Disabled Persons, we are delighted to share a blog by Laura McClinton a solicitor with Burness Paull.
This blog was first published by Burness Paull to mark World Arthritis day on 12 October and is reproduced with kind permission.
Finding your reason through decolonising the legal curriculum
To round off Black History Month 2021, University of Aberdeen law lecturers Dr Eddy Wifa and Dr Titilayo Adebola reflect on the need to decolonise the legal curriculum.
Why I work flexibly: Beverley Wood
For our series on flexible working, Beverley Wood, a partner with Morton Fraser LLP, explains how flexible working has developed through her career and the opportunities it can bring for both employers and employees.
Why I work flexibly: Kevin Clancy
For our series focusing on flexible working, Kevin Clancy, a partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn, explains how flexible working enables him to combine being a solicitor and a FIFA international football referee.
Why I work flexibly: Mimi Stewart
As part of our series on flexible working, Mimi Stewart, a legal director at Morton Fraser LLP, explains why self discipline, responsibility and being reminded "you don't work on Fridays" helps her to manage her work-life balance.
Why I work flexibly: John Grady
In the second in our series looking at flexible working, John Grady, a partner in Shepherd and Wedderburn’s regulation and markets team, explains why working flexibly is about much more than childcare and the positive influence it's had on his working life.
Why I work flexibly: Lindsey Cartwright
In the first of our series of blogs focusing on flexible working, Lindsey Cartwright, a partner with Morton Fraser and Accredited Specialist in Employment Law, shares her reasons for working flexibly and how it can work for everyone.
Easter: Bringing hope in troubled times
For Easter, Anthony Horan, Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, considers the meaning of this important Christian festival and the hope it offers as we begin to emerge from lockdown.
International Women's Day 2021: What I've learned
Elaine MacGlone, our Equality & Diversity Manager and a solicitor, reflects on what she's learned from our series of blogs celebrating IWD 2021 and how even the smallest changes can make a difference.
International Women's Day 2021: Inequality is everyone's issue
Professor Gillian Black, Chair of Scots Private Law at the University of Edinburgh Law School and Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission, examines why ensuring women enter the profession has not been enough to create real change and lays down a challenge to male colleagues and friends.
International Women's Day 2021: My law is one that champions women
Claire Hawthorne, a trainee solicitor at Burness Paull LLP, discusses why her fears of entering a 'male-dominated' profession proved unfounded and the inspiring changes she has witnessed.
International Women's Day 2021: Goodbye Queen Bee
Charlotte Edgar, an associate at CMS and the New Lawyers Representative on our Council, argues it's time to ditch the Queen Bee Syndrome narrative in favour of collaboration and support, so that all women can benefit from the successes of each other.
International Women’s Day 2021: Choose to challenge and change
Naeema Sajid, solicitor, co-founder of SEMLA, and member of the Family Law Sub Committee, reflects on the enduring importance of International Women's Day, why gender equality remains an issue in the legal profession, and the promise she makes to her granddaughter.
LGBT+ History Month: My trans journey
To mark the conclusion of LGBT+ History Month 2021, Amanda Millar, current President of the Law Society of Scotland, and the first openly LGBT+ person to hold the role, reflects on her own trans awareness journey.