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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Bristol Law Society is committed to engaging with and support ED&I initiatives within Bristol and the legal profession

About Bristol Law Society and our ED&I Committee & Initiatives

In February 2019, Bristol Law Society became a signatory to the Bristol Equality Charter, a city-wide initiative co-designed by private, public, and voluntary sector organisations, committed to improving equality of opportunity for everyone in Bristol and to eliminating discrimination in all its forms.

Later that month under the Presidency of Nick Lee, (our first dual-heritage President), an informal group was convened to discuss Diversity Initiatives and from that the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) committee was born which is now co-chaired by Coralie McKeivor, the current Honorary Secretary of BLS, Managing Associate at Freeths LLP and the Chair of the Women’s Lawyer Division in Bristol and also Salma Maqsood, BLS Council Member, Partner at Barcan+Kirby and The Law Society Social Mobility Ambassador.

Through the ED&I committee, Bristol Law Society hosts a programme of ED&I focussed events for members and works with local firms and other organisations on initiatives to support women lawyers, LGBT+ lawyers, disabled lawyers and ethnic minority lawyers as well as supporting initiatives relating to social mobility and mental health & wellbeing in the workplace.

ED&I Support for Member Firms

As part of the Bristol Law Society commitment to our Corporate Members we run a number of initiatives that complement our ED&I work:

Managing Partner and Senior Leader Online Meetings

We facilitate bi-monthly meetings for the Managing Partners and Senior Leaders of our member firms. Each month we have a different guest speaker who talks to the partners on important topics relevant for the modern law firm – many of which include a diversity and inclusion aspect.

Employee Network Leads (and future network leads) Networking Series

We facilitate quarterly meetings for Corporate Members Firms with Employee Networks (or who are thinking of setting up an employee network). These meetings are open to network leads and ED&I professionals within our member firms.

Other Support

If you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss how Bristol Law Society can help you with your ED&I strategy, please email info@bristollawsociety.com.

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS