The ACT Law Society is committed to a diverse legal profession. The Society has a number of initiatives in place and regularly reviews requirements through its Access to Justice & Inclusion Committee. Members are encouraged to submit suggestions to the committee for consideration.
You can contact the committee directly through the Law Society's Committee Administrator on committee@actlawsociety.asn.au.
The following section provides links to resources to assist lawyers, firms, and associations to promote change within their workplace:
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Diversity and Equality
The Law Society has adopted the Law Council of Australia’s Diversity and Equality Charter, which promotes the respect and inclusion of all legal professionals, regardless of sex, sexuality, disability, age, race, ethnicity, religion and culture.
Equal Opportunities in the Law: The Law Council’s resources relating to equal opportunity in legal workplaces.
The NSW Law Society has produced Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: The Business Case.
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Women in the profession
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Parental leave, return to work, and flexible work practices
The Law Council maintains a list of useful resources relating to Flexible workplaces in the legal profession.
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Equitable briefing policies
The Law Council has developed an Equitable Briefing Policy, which briefing entities now have the opportunity to adopt.
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Workplace culture and policies
The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed two resources:
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Unconscious bias
The Law Council has developed a customised unconscious bias training program aimed specifically at the legal profession.
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Reports on the Australian legal profession
The NSW Law Society commissioned the 2018 National Profile of solicitors. This national profile includes a demographic breakdown of solicitors represented by each of the eight state and territory Law Societies in Australia.
In 2014 the Law Council of Australia issued the National Attrition and Re-engagement Study Report.
The Asian Australian Lawyers Association published The Australian Legal Profession: A snapshot of Asian Australian diversity in 2015.
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General resources
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is the government body overseeing the application of federal legislation in the area of human rights, anti-discrimination, social justice and privacy. The AHRC has a wide range of toolkits, guidelines and other resources.
Chief Executive Women (CEW) - is an organisation dedicated to women leaders enabling other women leaders. CEW has a number of tools to assist organisations to address the complex issues of attracting and retaining more talented women.
Diversity Council Australia is an independent not-for-profit workplace diversity advisor to business in Australia. It offers access to research, practice and expertise across a range of diversity issues. Membership offers access to toolkits in a range of diversity areas including gender, cultural diversity, disability, generational/mature age, Indigenous, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex, work-life/flexibility, and multi-faith.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (Fair Work Australia) is an information gateway to information and advice about Australia’s workplace rights and rules, including awards and national employment standards. A number of best practice guides are available.
Male Champions of Change (MCC) is a group of influential male CEOs and Chairpersons who have formed a high profile coalition to achieve change on gender equality issues in organisations and communities. The MCC website provides resources, tools and templates to develop a strategy to respond to gender equality challenges.
Reconciliation Australia is an independent, national not-for-profit organisation promoting reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is a government statutory agency charged with promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces. As well as compiling statistical data the WGEA provides advice, practical tools and education to employers.
