Equalities law

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament issued a Call for Views on The Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland.

• Read the Call for Views on the Scottish Parliament website.
• Read our written response (February 2025).

The Scottish Government issued a consultation seeking views on its equality and human rights mainstreaming strategy.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• Read our written response (February 2025)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission issued a consultation seeking views on updates to the Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations.

• Read the consultation on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website
• Read our written response (January 2025)

Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland issued a consultation seeking views on a proposed Members Bill about establishing a Commisioner for Older People.

• Read the Consultation on the Scottish Parliament website
• Read our written response (October 2023)

The Scottish Government issued a consultation seeking views on possible imporvements to electoral law.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government website.
• Read our written response (March 2023)

The Scottish Government issued a consultation sdeeking views on a proposed definition of 'Gypsies and Travellers' for the specific purposes of planning legislation.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government website.
• Read our written response (February 2023)

The Scottish Government issued a consultation on a draft plan to improve and strengthen Scotland evidence base.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• Read our response

The Cabinet Office Disability Unit issued a consultation to explore the topic of workforce reporting on disability – both voluntary and mandatory – for large employers (250 employees and above).

• View the consultation on the UK Government's website.
• Read our response.

The Scottish Government issued a consultation asking for views on proposals for the review into the effectiveness of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• Read our written response (April 2022)

The Women and Equalities Committee  of the UK Parliament issued a call for written evidence to its Inquiry into Equality and the UK Asylum Process.

• Read the call for evidence on the UK Parliament website
• Read our response

The Scottish Government issued a consultation asking for views on the mandatory retirement age of judicial office holders in Scotland.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government website.
• Read our written response (December 2020).

The Work and Pensions Committee held an inquiry into the disability employment gap.

• Read our response (December 2020)

The Scottish Government issued a consultation seeking feedback on its coronavirus guidance.

• Read the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• Read the Law Society of Scotland's response (November 2020)

The U.K. Government issued a consultation on proposals to give employees a week of unpaid leave each year to provide care.

• Read the U.K. Government consultation here
• View the Law Society of Scotland's response here (August 2020)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on its draft updated Digital Strategy for Scotland, created in partnership with COSLA. This builds on the initial vision, set out in 2017, and is intended to respond to the changing nature of digital, understanding the potential opportunities that arise from the digital world, and also the challenges which it presents in terms of privacy, regulation and social and digital inclusion.

• The Law Society of Scotland's response - December 2020

The U.K. Government has issued a consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

• View the U.K. Government consultation here
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2019)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation Implementation of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (August 2019)

The UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has issued a consultation on proposals to improve the regulation of confidentiality clauses, also known as non-disclosure agreements or NDAs.

•  View the consultation on the GOV.UK Website

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on options for the future of civil partnership in Scotland.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (December 2018)

The UK Government has issued a consultation on how best to reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004. 

• View the consultation on the GOV.UK website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2018)

In the Fairer Scotland Action Plan, the Scottish Government committed to 'review and reform gender recognition law so it is in line with international best practice for people who are transgender or intersex'. The government issued a consultation in November 2017 to help inform decisions about further action.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (March 2018)

The UK Government Equalities Office is seeking views on caste in Great Britain and equality law.

• VIew the consultation on the GOV.UK website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (September 2017)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the practical application of the draft Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill provisions. It also offers consultees the opportunity to offer views on how the Bill might be strengthened.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (March 2017)