Law Society leads the way with Investors in Diversity accreditation

The Law Society of Scotland has been awarded a prestigious Investors in Diversity accreditation, underlining its record of leading workplace best practice for the Scottish legal profession.

The National Centre for Diversity has awarded the accreditation following a thorough process over a year, which included an assessment of the Law Society’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

The assessment involved an audit of the Law Society’s people-focused policies, colleague surveys and focus group sessions – the outcome highlighted the commitment to EDI and a colleague-friendly working environment from senior leaders, including the board.

Colleagues reported an overall culture that accommodates personal circumstances – with flexible and hybrid working arrangements valued, along with small adjustments such as not holding meetings during the lunchtime period.

Law Society of Scotland Chief Executive Diane McGiffen said: “This accreditation shows our commitment to our people, and to playing a leading role on equality and diversity for the Scottish legal profession.

“The Law Society sincerely believes in the standards underpinning this award of fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement. These are values that benefit employers as much as they benefit the people who work for us and society more widely.

“Our senior leadership team identified Investors in Diversity as a goal last year, well before I joined the Society at the start of 2022. It’s been a long and comprehensive process that has confirmed the strength of our workplace culture, policies and practices.

“We’ve opened ourselves up to this external scrutiny because we want to know if what we are doing works, and how we can improve. There’s much still to do, but we’ve made a clear commitment and, as the accreditation shows, a strong start.”

The award will be reviewed at the end of next year. The Law Society also continues to hold an Investors in People Silver accreditation, a Gold Health Working Lives award and to be a Living Wage Employer.