We have produced information, guides and advice to help you, our members, and your organisations promote equality and diversity and eliminate the gender pay gap. These include an Equal Pay Toolkit, our Parents in the Profession guides, the Equality Standards, and a Menopause Support Resource.
There is also the opportunity to work in partnership with us in this area. To discuss this further, please contact diversity@lawscot.org.uk.
The Profile of the Profession is our major census of those working in Scotland’s legal sector. Conducted every five years, the results directly inform our policy work and how we support members. The latest survey ran in early 2023.
Our Racial Inclusion Group was created to help us better understand the lived and professional experiences of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members and future members. Read its full report and recommendations, along with our action plan on tackling the challenges raised.
Diversity data is collected every two years as part of the annual practising certificate renewal process, in order to better understand what the Scottish legal profession looks like, support and advance the Society's equality and diversity work, and measure progress. It offers a key insight into the make-up of the profession and was most recently collected in 2022/23.
Our comprehensive menopause support guide, produced in partnership with Peppy, is designed to help individuals and firms access the support they need, with information, advice and further resources to explore.
Building a more inclusive profession
Find out more about our key our priorities and projects to improve equality and diversity within the legal profession.
Equality and diversity guides
Supporting our members to comply with their legal duties and to excel as employers and service providers.
Equality and diversity research
Take a look at our key research, which examines the whole legal sector, as well as specific groups and issues.
One of the biggest issues in this area currently is the gender pay gap. While our profession is not unique in facing the challenge of a gender pay gap, we want to continue having open and positive discussion about gender equality and what we can all do.
Take a look at the questions below and get involved in the conversation. Discuss them with colleagues and friends, tell us your views by email, or join the conversation in our social media groups using #LetsTalkProgression
- What benefits does diversity offer our profession?
- What can we do to promote thinking about gender equality?
- What can you do to promote diversity and challenge the gender pay gap?
- How can we ensure diversity at senior levels across the profession?
- Does your social or ethnic background affect your career options?
- What should we do to close the pay gap?
- How can you progress your career and have a family?
- Why do so many women in their 30s leave the profession?
- Why do so few men take up shared parental leave?
- Should we encourage more men to study law?
The Equality Standards, guides and other information are supplemented by regular blogs from experts and events covering key issues.
Increasing the pace of disability inclusion
For International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD), our Head of Education Rob Marrs reflects on the work done over the past year to improve disability inclusion.
South Asian Heritage Month: Embracing dual identity in modern Scotland
In the last of our blogs for this year's South Asian Heritage Month and its theme 'Stories to tell', Anoop Joshi, VP, Legal & Platform Integrity at Trustpilot, shares what it's like to balance and weave together two cultural heritages and identities.
South Asian Heritage Month: Growing up with Punjabi culture
For South Asian Heritage Month, Simon Roudh, a solicitor at Morton Fraser LLP, shares how his family's Punjabi heritage has shaped his life.
Reflecting on Pride 2023
Our Equality and Diversity Manager, Elaine MacGlone, looks back on this year's packed Pride schedule.
South Asian Heritage Month: Memories of Eid
As part of South Asian Heritage Month's theme 'Stories to tell', Amna Ashraf, a senior associate at Burness Paull LLP and Law Society of Scotland Council member, shares her memories of Eid.
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month
South Asian Heritage Month kicks off today, to commemorate and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories and communities. Amerdeep Kaur, a solicitor at Drummond Miller LLP and member of the Law Society of Scotland's Equality and Diversity Committee, explains what celebrating the month means to her.
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.
International Women’s Day – celebrating Scottish women in law
Happy International Women’s Day to our members and all the tremendous women working in Scotland’s legal profession. Today is a...
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.
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As the professional body for solicitors in Scotland, we have responsibilities to the profession, to the public, and as an employer.
To represent and protect these diverse groups, we recognise the need to:
- value the contribution from all who make up the population of Scotland
- take strength from the widest experience, knowledge and understanding it can access - both within and outwith our membership
- go beyond legal compliance by integrating diversity into all that we do
- promote the core values of diversity to the profession as a whole
We, alongside the legal profession, have various responsibilities in relation to equality and diversity covered by legislation and statutory codes.
For example:
- as employers
- as a regulator of the profession
- as providers of 'goods and services' (to the public).
We also have additional responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 as a:
- 'public authority' in respect of our public functions
- service provider to the profession
- trade (membership) organisation
- qualifications body
You can view our key research in this area over the last 10 years, some looking at the whole sector and collecting data to let us assess change, and others looking at specific groups, such as minority ethnic solicitors, or specific issues, like bullying.
