header-logo header-logo

Lawyers highlight barriers to DEI initiatives

02 October 2024
Issue: 8088 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Diversity , Equality
printer mail-detail

Both buy-in from partners and financial investment are required if diversity, equality and inclusiveness (DEI) initiatives are to make a material difference at law firms, research has shown

Obelisk Support published its third annual report last week, ‘Diversity, inclusion & law report 2024: legal leaders making meaningful change’, based on surveys of 133 leaders at law firms. It identified the two main obstacles to progression in the past 12 months: ‘lack of recognition and value’ held for non-billable work on DEI efforts and ‘lack of buy-in from senior leaders’.

Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed said only one to three people within the legal team contribute to DEI initiatives, if it is not within their remit.

More optimistically, 40% expect their organisation to increase funding for DEI in the next 12 months.

Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of Obelisk Support, said changes in law firms in the past decade showed ‘progress is possible and ongoing’.

Issue: 8088 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Diversity , Equality
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll