Equalities law
Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations: Consultation 2024 - January 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)
Proposed Commissioner for Older People - October 2023
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)
Electoral Reform Consultation March 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)
Local development plan evidence report - defining Gypsies and Travellers: consultation - February 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)
Equality Evidence Strategy 2023 to 2025: Consultation - October 2022
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
Disability Workforce Reporting – April 2022
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.
Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland - April 2022
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)
Equality and the UK asylum process - November 2021
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
Judicial mandatory retirement age – December 2020
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).
Disability employment gap – December 2020
The Work and Pensions Committee held an inquiry into the disability employment gap.
- Read our response (December 2020)
Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance improvement project – November 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)
Carer's Leave – August 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)
Digital Scotland Strategy Consultation - December 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
Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – October 2019
The U.K. Government has issued a consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
Implementation of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 – August 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)
Consultation on Confidentiality Clauses – April 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 Law Society of Scotland's response (April 2019)
The future of civil partnership in Scotland – December 2018
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)
Reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 – October 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)
Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 – March 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)
Caste in Great Britain and equality law – September 2017
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)
Consultation on the Draft Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill – May 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)
Equalities Law Sub-Committee
Our expert group on equalities law.
Our input to parliamentary bills
To help shape good law, we regularly provide responses and briefings related to bills from Holyrood and Westminster.
Influencing the law and policy
One of the main functions of our policy team, along with our network of volunteers, is to analyse and respond to proposed changes in the law.