Slavery and human trafficking statement

03 Apr 2023
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The Law Society, as the professional representative membership body for solicitors, is committed to promoting the rule of law, a sense of fairness and access to justice, both at home and abroad.

Modern slavery is an abuse of human rights in the pursuit of profit. All businesses have a responsibility not to tolerate it.

The Law Society is actively working to prevent the risk of modern slavery and human rights violations within its business and supply chains and does not engage with third-party organisations known to be involved in or in any way connected to modern slavery or human trafficking.

The following statement provides details of actions taken to cover the financial year ending 31 October 2022.

Statement

Although most of the Law Society’s sourcing activity is from low-risk industry sectors, we are mindful that the procurement of cleaning, catering services, construction and even IT hardware can carry a modern slavery supply chain risk.

To eliminate this risk, robust due diligence checks are undertaken prior to contracting with any external organisation.

Actions taken are as follows:

  • prospective suppliers, wishing to work with or for the Law Society, are required to complete a supplier questionnaire. This questionnaire requires them to provide documentary evidence of their adherence to the regulations applicable to their activities and a modern slavery statement
  • suppliers are required to have a clear understanding of their supply chain and be able to evidence, if asked, that they and their supply chain comply with the Modern Slavery Act
  • the Law Society’s standard contractual terms, and those third-party terms it agrees to, have robust provision to ensure compliance to the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Activities in financial year ending 31 October 2022

During the last financial year, the Law Society has taken the following steps to enhance its vigilance:

  • increased regularity of checks on existing suppliers, requesting updated compliance documentation on their expiry
  • increased resource available to undertake these ongoing due diligence checks
  • provided self-serve access for contract owners to supply evidential documentation for use during contract management meetings

Activities planned for financial year ending 31 October 2023

The Law Society will continue to work to improve its processes with the aim of ensuring its supply chain is free from any form of human rights abuse. This includes:

  • inspecting the transparency data for SCC (strategically critical suppliers) falling into industries with a potential risk: construction, cleaning, catering and IT hardware
  • publishing a code of conduct for suppliers
  • ongoing monitoring of changing supply chain regulation in UK, EU and USA and any other countries of origin

Concerned about Law Society activity?

The Law Society’s whistleblowing policy (available on the staff intranet) provides staff and elected or appointed members with a channel for raising concerns about its actions or activities.

Externally, the Law Society’s complaints process provides a way that members and external stakeholders can raise an issue or concern.

This statement is written in line with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and was approved by the Board on 3 April 2023.

Ian Jeffrey
Chief executive of the Law Society

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