Modern Legal is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our business. We recognise that a fair and inclusive environment benefits our employees, clients and the wider community, and we strive to ensure that our policies, practices and culture reflect these values. This policy is based on the principles of the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation. It applies to all who work with us, including employees, consultants, trainees, contractors, and those applying to join us. It also extends to the way we provide services to clients, collaborate with suppliers, and engage with the wider business community.
1. Purpose and Commitment
We strive to:
- Create a professional environment where individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
- Provide equal opportunities in recruitment, training, promotion and service delivery.
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation in all forms.
- Foster a culture in which diversity is valued, different perspectives are encouraged, and opportunities are accessible to all.
2. Protected Characteristics
Modern Legal strives to ensure that no individual is treated less favourably because of any “protected characteristic” as defined in the Equality Act 2010. These are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin)
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
We strive to make all decisions based on merit, suitability, and the requirements of the role or service, ensuring equality of treatment and fairness.
3. Recruitment, Selection and Career Development
We are committed to fair and transparent recruitment processes and endeavour to:
- Advertise roles and assess applicants in ways that do not disadvantage any group.
- Base job descriptions and specifications on objective criteria reflecting actual role requirements.
- Ensure that decisions on recruitment, promotion, training and career development are made solely on merit, skills and business needs.
- Provide training fairly and encourage continuous professional development for all staff.
4. Working Environment and Conduct
We believe every individual has the right to work in an environment that is respectful, supportive and free from discrimination. To that end, we will:
- Take steps to prevent and address harassment, bullying, and victimisation.
- Investigate complaints promptly, sensitively, and without cost to the complainant.
- Provide guidance to help managers and employees understand and comply with this policy.
- Encourage open communication where individuals can raise concerns without fear.
5. Clients and Service Delivery
To provide high-quality service to our clients on an equal and fair basis, we strive to:
- Provide services without bias or discrimination.
- Make reasonable adjustments to support clients with disabilities or specific needs.
- Communicate in clear and accessible ways, adapting our approach where necessary.
- Treat all clients with respect, irrespective of background or circumstance.
6. Responsibilities
To ensure we act fairly and equally, our responsibilities are as follows:
- Management: Responsible for leading by example, embedding equality into decision-making, and ensuring compliance with this policy.
- Employees and Contractors: Expected to act in a manner consistent with this policy and to treat others with dignity and respect.
- Firm-wide Responsibility: Everyone associated with Modern Legal shares responsibility for upholding these values and ensuring that equality remain integral to the way we work.
7. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
We strive to monitor the effectiveness of this policy by:
- Reviewing recruitment, promotion and retention data where appropriate.
- Seeking feedback from staff and clients on equality and inclusion matters.
- Keeping the policy under review to ensure it reflects current legislation and best practice.
- Adjusting where needed to strengthen our approach and ensure we remain responsive to change.
8. Review
This policy will be reviewed regularly and may be updated at any time to reflect changes in law, guidance, or the needs of the firm. Updates will be communicated to all staff and made available to clients and stakeholders.