Equality & Diversity for Law Firms - A Complete Guide

Introduction

Through this modular webinar, we will look at all aspects of equality and diversity. The focus will be on the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, but we will also look at some additional issues such as the impact of unconscious bias on decisions that individuals make.

The first module will give a summary of the protected characteristics, which are the grounds on which a discrimination claim can be made. We will then move on to look at prohibited conduct, the different forms that discrimination can take.

Finally, we will consider some of the broader issues that combine to give us a full understanding of equality and diversity.

What You Will Learn

This modular webinar will cover the following:

Part 1: The Protected Characteristics

• An explanation of the 9 protected characteristics
• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marital status/civil partnership
• Maternity/pregnancy
• Race
• Religion/belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Case law relevant to the different protected characteristics
• A more detailed overview of disability and religion/belief

Part 2: Prohibited Conduct

• The different forms of prohibited conduct
• Direct discrimination
• Associative discrimination
• Perceptive discrimination
• Indirect discrimination
• Harassment
• Victimisation
• Case law relevant to the different forms of prohibited conduct

Part 3: The Broader Issues

• The Equality Act 2010
• What it covers
• Consequences of breaching the Act (with specific reference to remedies)
• SRA Standards and Regulations
• SRA principles
• Criminal exploitation
• Character and suitability
• Diversity responsibilities
• Other legal issues
• Burden of proof
• Vicarious liability
• ‘Reasonable steps’ defence
• Other non-legal issues
• Unconscious bias
• Witnessing misconduct and the bystander effect
• The impact of the modern workplace

This webinar was recorded on 30th September 2022