Annexe 2 Law Society Equality and Diversity Framework 2009 - 2011 Improve the Society’s equality and diversity performance as a policy-making body Measures of success 2010 Update Establish an effective equality and diversity team in the Law Society Head of Equality, Diversity and Corporate Responsibility will be in place by mid-2009 CRED Unit in place working to support progress and skills development in the profession and within HRD and the Law Society Provide E&D training for all Council, Board and Committee members through a rolling program All Council Members and committee chairs trained by end 2009. Program in place to train remaining members mid-2010 New E&D e-learning rolled out to all Council and Committee members and is a prerequisite for those who want to stand for re-election and reappointment. Training Needs Analysis completed to inform the 2012 provisions Deliver a robust Equality Impact Assessment program for policy decisions EIA implemented and staff and volunteers trained in its use by end 2009 EIA Training and Workshops delivered. EMB review progress against EIA Schedules. EIA’s underway or completed inline with Schedule. Launch the Diversity Charter and Protocols on procurement and employment in 2009 100 law firms sign up to Charter and protocols. 10 FTSE 250 firms sign up to procurement protocol. 200 law firms signed up to Charter representing 1/3 of all solicitors in private practice and 34 clients sign up to procurement protocol. Annual reporting established and monitoring protocol established Review pay inequalities across the profession and consult on removing Complete and publish research by SRU on pay of solicitors across all seven diversity strands Research published and additional research completed on BME, GLB and Women solicitors
Establish a Corporate Equality Group (CEG) for TLS Representation to implement E&D work across the business CEG Work plan & programmed initiatives agreed and reviewed by June 2009 E&D Committee decided not to establish this group. The lack of this overarching CEG which weakened the reporting and development structure. Continue to lead the City Firms Equality & Diversity forum and support the development of regional diversity forums Four meetings of the City Firms Forum in 2009 with 30 members attending two regional forums launched 6 meetings of the Firms Diversity Forum annually, 4 Regional Forum events will be delivered in 2011, attendance at single meetings are between 35 to 50 firms. Develop and deliver a project that seeks to assess and tackle the barriers to access and progression for BME candidates in the City commercial sector Project delivered with BME representative groups through 2009 Research with BME Groups concluded and published. Have work with BME lawyer groups and Firms Diversity Forum in 2011 to deliver on recommendations. Deliver the work programme of the Equality and Diversity Committee Work plan agreed in December 2008 delivered according to timetable Work plan annually delivered as agreed With Membership Services, provide comprehensive advice on E&D compliance (Rule 6 and legislation) to law practices Revised compliance advice published to the profession by end February 2009 Equality Act 2010Practice Note, Book and guidance developed. Client Care and Lexcel Handbook updated to reflect Equality Act 2010 With Membership Services deliver products and services to support improved E&D performance by profession Programme agreed Q1 2009 and delivered to timetable Equality and Diversity Standards and Toolkit developed and published. Equality and Diversity Conference successfully delivered EIA’s completed for Membership Services Accreditations and updates to guidance completed To deliver a programme of events for BME members across a range of issues such as training, regulation and careers Programme agreed Q1 2009 and delivered to timetable BME PII Workshops delivered, BME Research delivered, BME Forum active until end 2010 in consultations move to direct engagement with the creation of an in-house Minority Lawyers Division underway moving away from the RGA.
Black History Month Events delivered successfully. Minority Lawyer Conference delivered. Deliver a series of events aimed at those wishing to enter and progress within the profession End 2009 Information and events delivered by membership services: Diversity Access Scheme expanded to support more students and offer work experience and mentoring. Work through Gateways to the Profession and monitoring protocol on social inclusion. Work with JAC Diversity Forum members and solicitors’ representative groups to secure greater participation and success in judicial appointments by minority and women solicitors Joint objectives agreed with Diversity Forum Q1 Programme of training rolled out to minority solicitors from Q2 All opportunities widely advertised to solicitors and especially to those from under-represented groups BME training session delivered in 2009 and 10. A minimum of two more sessions will be delivered in 2011. Additional program of activities to support BME potential judicial applicants delivered with BSN. Work with HR to develop a group HR diversity strategy Strategy agreed by the three Chief Executives end Q1 Annual E&D activities are included in business plan. EIA completed on HR policies. Support HR review of employment policies for equality impact assessments All HR policies reviewed and equality impact assessed as necessary by end 2009 This has been completed and Support for a new E&D Policy covering all new legislation has been received by HR. New E&D Procurement provisions developed for Procurement Policy. Revisions to Reasonable Adjustment Policy developed and implemented.
Establish group employee diversity networks where there is employee agreement Networks established by end Q2 on the basis of assessment of employee agreement Networks not established due to lack of Employee interest thus far. Black History Month has been run using the expertise and commitment of a staff steering group which may provide the basis for a BAME staff group. There is an employee consultation group which HRD use for the development of policy and it provides a forum for E&D issues to be raised.