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Gender & the law: time for change

© Copyright LexisNexis 2025. All Rights Reserved.
12 July 2024 / Jasmine Galvin
Issue: 8079 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Family , Equality , Discrimination
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From pronouns to ‘legalease’—the legal world needs to adapt, argues Jasmine Galvin
  • Considers how the legal profession should respond to gender issues, particularly how family lawyers can be inclusive and supportive.

It is now 20 years since the creation of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and ten years on from the legalisation of gay marriage in the UK. This country is clearly capable of change and shows positive signs of becoming more inclusive.

Census 2021, England and Wales included a question on gender identity for the first time, with the result showing more than 260,000 people reported their gender identity as different to their sex registered at birth. So should the family justice system be better equipped to accommodate gender diversity? Is there a need for legal practitioners to adapt some of our historic legislation to enable everyone to feel they can access legal services without barriers—and, as non-binary/LGBTQIA+ communities continue to grow, are we able to make these changes to ensure inclusivity?

Pronouns

What

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