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Advent: Glimmers of light in the season of waiting
This year's Christmas may have been overtaken by the coronavirus pandemic, but there is still light to be found in the darkness of these difficult times, says, Mary Macleod, Solicitor of the Church of the Church of Scotland Law Department.
Christmas: A well-known story
With this year's Christmas celebrations taking on a rather different guise to normal, Michael P. Clancy, Director of Law Reform at the Law Society of Scotland, considers the story at the heart of this Christian festival and the enduring comfort and hope it brings.
The Christian message of Christmas: Make a wonderful life
To celebrate Christmas this year, Jamie Kerr, a Partner at Burness Paull, reflects on the message of hope and redemption that this festive time brings.
Disability and the legal profession
For the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, John Ballantine, a member of our Equalities Law Sub-Committee, a retired solicitor, a disabled person and a Member of the SSC Society, reflects on six ways that life has changed for disabled solicitors, since he qualified in 1981.
International Men's Day 2020: Parental leave for dads should be part of our new normal
Tim Mouncer, Public Affairs Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, tells us about his experience of taking shared parental leave and his hopes that it becomes an expected norm for fathers.
International Men's Day 2020: A letter to my son
Tim Taylor, an Associate Solicitor at Hastings Legal and member of our Property and Land Law Reform Law Sub-Committee, writes a letter to his 16-month-old son Ben reflecting on men's wellbeing and what it means to be a "good man".
International Men's Day 2020: Je ne regrette rien…
Gregory Stachura, a Knowledge & Development lawyer in Banking Practice at Burness Paull, discusses how the experience of his father's efforts to be a fully involved dad has impacted his own approach to fatherhood, even when flexible and part-time working for dads was less-than fashionable.
Bias and allyship
How can we challenge our own biases and become an anti-racist ally? Jamila Archibald, a solicitor in the commercial disputes and regulation team at Shepherd and Wedderburn explores the different types of bias in her Black History Month blog.
We all have a role to play
The fight for justice and inclusion, regardless of colour or creed, is a shared history that we must all strive to build upon to ensure a society and profession where everyone can thrive, says Tsepiso Forrest, a DPLP student at Robert Gordon University (RGU) and volunteer at the Citizen Advice Bureaux in Nairn and RGU Law Clinic.
Scotland's history is Black history
Tatora Mukushi, a Dual-Qualified Human Rights Solicitor currently leading Shelter Scotland’s Migrant Destitution Project, discusses the tightly interwoven history of Scotland and Black people, arguing that education on the topic is crucial to creating meaningful change and that lawyers have a vital role to play.
Bisexual: The B in LGBTQ+ needs celebrated too
For Bi Visibility Day, Deborah Allan, solicitor at Shepherd & Wedderburn, discusses the challenges still facing bi people today and the progress being made towards ensuring the "B" in LGBTQ+ is respected and celebrated.
Our flexible working future
Flexible working has gone from a trendy buzzword to the new normal during lockdown. As we publish our flexible working guidance, Elaine MacGlone, Equality & Diversity Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, reflects on her personal experience of flexible working, how things have changed and what the future might hold.
The Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah offers all a time for reflection
As we approach the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah, Philip Rodney, columnist, consultant, non-exec and Fellow of the Law Society of Scotland, discusses what it means to be Jewish and how the legal profession can learn from this time of reflection.
Levelling the playing field
The moderation of Scottish exams results has once again highlighted the challenges faced by pupils from lower-performing schools. Heather McKendrick, Head of Careers & Outreach, discusses how the Law Society is attempting to ensure fair access to the profession, what more needs to be done and how employers can help.
Gender equality progress must continue for the benefit of all
As the Law Society publishes the findings of its gender equality roundtables, Past President Alison Atack reflects on the progress made across the profession to promote gender equality, the work still to do and tangible ways people can help.
Save, donate and nominate to help the Lawscot Foundation
With many of us working from home and saving on commuting and eating-out costs, donating what you save to the Lawscot Foundation and nominating others to do the same will make a real difference to the lives of law students from less-advantaged backgrounds, explains our Careers Development Officer Darren Kerr.
VE day and the Hate Crime Bill
Convener of the Criminal Law Committee Debbie Wilson reflects on the effect of intolerance and hatred in a society and the responsibility the legal profession has in preventing it.
Why now is the time to support the Lawscot Foundation
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will hit those from less-advantaged backgrounds the hardest, making it more important than ever to support the work of the Lawscot Foundation, explains our Head of Careers & Outreach Heather McKendrick.
Why non-traditional educational routes can bring a valuable perspective to the legal profession
In the last of our series of blogs relating to alternative pathways into the profession, Emma Jackson, curriculum head for legal services and Jason Graham, lecturer in law, City of Glasgow College, tell us how non-traditional educational routes can bring a valuable perspective to the legal profession.
Closing Skills Gaps and Increasing Diversity
Morna Ronnie, Head of Programmes at Back in Business, talks about closing the skills gap, increasing diversity and returners to the profession.
The power of partnerships
Back in November our Equality and Diversity Manager Elaine MacGlone attended the Stonewall Scotland workplace conference. A key theme was the power of partnerships to pool resources and exceed what an individual organisation may be able to achieve on their own - an approach which the Law Society is always keen to embrace.
A New Year but an old challenge - to improve equality and diversity
How are your New Year's resolutions going? Rob Marrs, our Head of Education, has been inspired by the turn of the year to blog on the challenge to improve equality and diversity in the legal profession, and the improvements we can all work towards to make this happen.
Putting user experience first benefits us all
Rob Marrs, Head of Education, reflects on the recent Inclusion Scotland conference and asks what difference would it make if we began by asking how can we design processes to make sure everyone can participate.
Platinum blog series - Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018
As part of our platinum blog series our policy executive and secretary to the Society's Criminal Law Committee Gillian Mawdsley looks at the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act and what it means in ensuring a more just, equal and fair society for us to live in as its citizens.