'Law firms should ask hard questions of Stonewall' - article in The Lawyer

[ArabellaScott]

www.thelawyer.com/law-firms-should-ask-hard-questions-about-stonewall/?fbclid=IwAR1gZXUNPTC14UANRjqgi9kPhAiP2WZd9dnEZVUlIlNVwyuprkGMozKjFFg

'The question for corporate law firms and chambers to consider is not whether they are committed to diversity – we’ll assume they are – but whether that commitment is best outsourced to and channelled through one lobby group that has policed debate and indeed, language itself. Diversity is never well served by groupthink.'

This one is an editorial.

Oh this is excellent.

More law firms are going to start thinking a bit harder now, I hope.

I mean, if nothing else, there is a massive potential (direct and indirect) sex discrimination case brewing in a number of organisations at the moment and I wouldn't want to be a law firm having to defend itself against that, given their already-shaky reputation in that industry for rampant sexism and discrimination against women.

I noticed recently that Weightmans LLP staff have added pronouns to their email signatures

It's pretty amazing, really, to see this laid out so clearly.

Bloody brilliant. This is also the headline in their weekly email digest so will be hitting the inbox of thousands of legal staff.

Top stuff cannot wait for the comments, really enjoyed the other legal blog.

Alison Bailey will slaughter Stonewall and her chambers, they should settle up.

That is a really good writeup! Does anyone know how this publication is viewed? Is like a trade publication that goes straight in the bin, or is it an essential read for those practicing law?

@zanahoria

Top stuff cannot wait for the comments, really enjoyed the other legal blog.

Alison Bailey will slaughter Stonewall and her chambers, they should settle up.

I wonder whether Allison wants to settle, or wants to take it all the way so that Stonewall and her chambers have to come clean about exactly what they have been up to.

Obviously I hope it's the latter but I cannot imagine the pressure and scrutiny that Allison must feel under at the moment and I'm sure she wants that to end.

Excellent article. A very good sunny start to the week. So much light being shed in places where the shades have been kept firmly closed for years.

I saw a brilliant comment in The Times the other day to the effect that when looking for a law firm the last thing anyone would want is a company affiliated to Stonewall.

People want expertise on the law as it actually is, not the law as Stonewall wants it to be.

I thought that would be a brilliant point for people to make if their firms are wondering whether or not to renew Stonewall membership.

I doubt many will ask hard questions

they will just leave

Does anyone know how this publication is viewed? Is like a trade publication that goes straight in the bin, or is it an essential read for those practicing law?

Lots of lawyers will now get daily (or more) updates from The Lawyer with the headlines - it was on the morning's email. The readers are probably more likely to be from the larger firms and be the younger lawyers - probably the same ones who are part of the "nice brigade" who otherwise don't understand the ramifications of what's happening.

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

That is a really good writeup! Does anyone know how this publication is viewed? Is like a trade publication that goes straight in the bin, or is it an essential read for those practicing law?

I'm a solicitor - not an 'essential' read but most people I know will have a flick through the headlines on the website once a week or so just to keep up-to-date on market information.

The Lawyer is well-known and well-read. Most lawyers I know at least flick through the main stories. This will be noticed.

This is great.

I think Nancy Kelly is REALLY going to regret her comments re: anti semitism in that interview.

In fact I think she's a liability to Stonewall as stands.

It's being referenced in every story on Stonewall and frankly highlights just how authoritarian their position is - on a subject where they are demanding people ignore basic biology.

@zanahoria

Top stuff cannot wait for the comments, really enjoyed the other legal blog.

Alison Bailey will slaughter Stonewall and her chambers, they should settle up.

I cannot wait to see that. More power to Ms Bailey and her elbow.