The Law Society has been awarded the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (enei) award for Inclusive Procurement.
In an award ceremony held at the Law Society on Thursday 12 July 2012, the Society was presented with the Inclusive Procurement Award for its Diversity and Inclusion Charter, legal procurement protocol and its efforts to make its internal procurement processes more inclusive.
The Diversity and Inclusion Charter is a high-profile commitment by providers of legal services to develop and implement best practice on equality, diversity and inclusion across all strands of their business. The legal procurement protocol is a parallel commitment by purchasers of legal services that helps them to assess the performance of law firms on diversity and inclusion.
Law Society president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff said:
'We are delighted to see our efforts to promote equality and encourage diversity in the legal profession and within our own internal procurement processes commended in this way.
'The Law Society is committed to working in partnership with the legal profession to help build inclusive working environments, challenge inequality and tackle discrimination, Sound equality and diversity practice is vital to a profession that seeks to be high-performing in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
'We share the enei's values and mission statement and look forward to a continued productive relationship with the organisation.'
The Law Society has been a member of the enei since 2008, when it was known as the Employers Forum on Age and Belief, and a member of its executive steering committee since November 2009.
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Notes to Editors:
The Law Society of England and Wales is the independent representative for solicitors, established in 1825. The Society works globally to support and represent its members, promoting the highest professional standards and the rule of law.
The Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.
For more information about the enei awards and other initiatives, visit the enei website.
Contact: Press Officer, Steve Rudaini, The Law Society
+44 (0) 207 316 5624