Diversity and Inclusion Charter

The Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Charter is the flagship diversity initiative of the legal profession. It is an instantly recognisable public statement of commitment by its signatories and a framework for positive action across all strands of diversity.

Purchasers of legal services are invited to support and promote supplier diversity through adoption of the Protocol on the Procurement of Legal Services.

Initiated by the Society of Asian Lawyers and BT and led by the Law Society, this is a developing initiative through which its signatories will work together to develop, share and adopt best practice.

The Charter

The Charter is a public commitment by its by providers of legal services, regardless of practice size, to develop and implement best practice in equality, diversity and inclusion - as employers, as providers of legal services, as purchasers of goods and services and in their wider roles in society.

• Charter statement and signatories

Protocol on the Procurement of Legal Services

The first Protocol under the Charter is a simple commitment by purchasers of legal services to collecting and considering standard diversity information from any law firms tendering legal work using a model questionnaire.

• Procurement Protocol statement and partners
• Guidelines for implementing the procurement protocol
• Procurement checklist
• Model questionnaire - PDF (36KB)
• Model questionnaire - Word (97KB)

Registration

To become a signatory to the charter, or a protocol partner, please email confirmation of your commitment to inclusioncharter@lawsociety.org.uk. In line with the Charter commitment, please note that this should be from a senior representative at Partner or Director level. Please also provide contact details for those with overall operational responsibility for diversity within your organisation.