Guide on improving disability inclusion in legal sector launches

The Law Society of Scotland has launched a guide to help improve disability and neurodiversity inclusion across the Scottish legal profession.

The guide – which is available on the Law Society's website – offers practical information and advice on how organisations can embed disability and neurodiversity inclusion in their processes and procedures, and foster an inclusive, open culture that benefits all colleagues.

The guide is made up of 10 sections covering: developing a positive culture; disability inclusive recruitment; role models and lived experience; engaging colleagues, champions and allies; reasonable adjustments; using the right language; changing how we write; non-visible disabilities; fluctuating and recurring conditions; and further resources to explore.

Accompanying the guide is an introductory checklist of questions that firms can use as a tool to help identify areas to work on and drive their progress.

Elaine MacGlone, Equality and Diversity Manager at the Law Society of Scotland, said: “Embedding disability and neurodiversity inclusion at the heart of business brings benefits to everyone. Whether it’s measures such as adjusting when someone starts work or using technology like video closed captions to help deaf colleagues and clients, inclusive policies don’t have to be complicated and can enhance working practices for all.

“Building an open, inclusive culture takes time and commitment, but it’s critically important. We hope that the profession find this a practical and helpful guide, with lots of tips that they can easily implement within firms.

“We are enormously grateful to all the disabled members and employers across the sector who helped us develop this guide and create advice and information that improves disability inclusion across the legal profession.”