Join our panel of experts this month for a discussion on leadership for inclusivity in the legal sector, drawing on the experiences of our Community Partners in their journey towards creating more inclusive, diverse and equitable organisations that benefit the clients and communities they serve, and the people they employ.
We asked ‘what makes an inclusive leader’ in professional services, going beyond acknowledging the challenges towards the qualities and accountability needed at leadership level to effect real change.
Legal News Wales is assisting on a new Equity Forum in Wales, focused on inclusion leadership in professional services, alongside Chambers Wales SESWM. The Equity Forum- which provides a safe space for law firms, private and public sector organisations to share their journeys and ask for ideas in a safe space.
The narrative in the Forum got us thinking and while an event will take place in the summer of 2025 to share initiatives by Equity Forum members, it prompted us to reach out to our Partners to share what they think real inclusion ‘leadership’ looks like, and what they’re doing to put these commitments into action.
We hope you are inspired by their insights.
What else can I expect this month?
In the panel below, you’ll also find links to an update from Validient on some of the key takeaways of the SRA Compliance Conference 2024 (with links to the virtual event for those who missed it) and a timely article on supporting the next generation of lawyers, from Lockton – an essential read for all firms as they grapple with the constant pressures on recruitment and retention in Wales.
The full list of Editor’s Panel features and their authors for November 2024 can be found below.
The Panel:
What makes an inclusive leader?
Belinda Houghton-Jones, Strategic Partnership Manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, shares her personal sentiments on the values and traits needed for effective EDI leadership to help create genuine commitment to change.
To read Belinda’s feature in full, click here.
What makes an inclusive leader?
Hannah Ribeyro, Chief People Officer at PureCyber, explains how the cybersecurity specialists are shaping their commitment to EDI that extends beyond words into deliverable actions, and embeds inclusivity into the organisation’s culture – with transferrable inspiration for law firms.
To read Hannah’s feature in full, click here.
What does equality, diversity & inclusion leadership look like in practice?
As John Cullen, Partner at Menzies LLP, writes for this month’s editor’s panel, by putting DEI into practice, it allows for change, even within the terminology used. Equality has given way to equity, and you will often see the word ‘belonging’ added as well. These changes aim to capture the goals, which in turn seek to provide appropriate guidance to people working within organisations.
To read John’s feature in full, click here.
What makes an inclusive leader?
We asked Anna Peart, Operations Director at NetSec, how the digital transformation specialists ensure their EDI policies are more than just words on paper, and how they blend vision, empathy and accountability to drive effective inclusion leadership.
To read Anna’s feature in full, click here.
What makes an inclusive leader?
Laura Hughes, Partner & Executive Lead for Wales at Browne Jacobson, outlines how the law firm’s senior leadership teams have embraced six ‘signature traits’ to establish a progressive and inclusive culture that puts DEI at its heart.
To read Laura’s feature in full, click here.
Building a successful inclusion & diversity strategy
Law firms looking to develop a diversity and inclusion strategy must recognise how these two concepts work side by side: a diverse workforce cannot flourish without an inclusive environment in place, writes CIPD HR-inform for this month’s Editor’s Panel.
To read the feature in full, click here.
Supporting the next generation of solicitors
A new generation of lawyers have different and novel expectations of work and the workplace across a wide range of areas. Law firms must adapt if they are to support the needs of junior solicitors, and successfully attract and retain the top talent in the future, as Lucie Gosling-Myers, Lockton, and Polly Morgan, Professor of Law at University of East Anglia, and Director of the UEA Law Clinic, explore in this month’s Editor’s Panel.
To read their feature in full, click here.
SRA Compliance Conference 2024 – what it means for your firm
This year’s Solicitors Regulation Authority Compliance Conference was the largest yet, covering the compliance headlines and concerns of the year – from the Axiom Ince debacle to AI and a new consultation on client money in legal services. Thomas Elliott, Chief Operating Officer at Validient, shares a handy summary of the event and signposts to the virtual conference for those who missed it.
To read Thomas’ article in full, click here.
Join the conversation
For more information on how to join our monthly Editorial Panel series or to contribute a feature, please contact our Editor: editor@legalnewswales.com.
