Equality & Diversity for Law Firms - A Three-Part Series

Introduction

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

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

Part 1: The Protected Characteristics

The first module will give a summary of the protected characteristics, which are the grounds on which a discrimination claim can be made.

• 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

A look at prohibited conduct, and the different forms that discrimination can take. There will be an update on the latest developments concerning harassment, including sexual harassment.

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

Part 3: The Broader Issues

Some of the broader issues that combine to give us a full understanding of equality and diversity.

• 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 pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 30th May 2025

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,700+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.