Law Firms’ Policies

[BrunoMadrigal]

Hi ladies,

I’ve never posted here but I do often lurk.

This article was printed in a legal news website today, and as a lawyer, it worries me where my firm will be heading.

Not sure why I’m posting here, just thought it may be of interest:

www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-lawyers-split-over-their-law-firms-gender-identity-policies#comment-1265785

Oh, I NC’d but just realised by giving myself a name of a male Disney character, people may assume I’m a man! Just to clarify, I’m not (not that it’s really relevant but just in case)

That was an interesting read. It's good to see push back even though people (mainly women) have to do it anonymously.
Of course, the Allison Bailey case is currently showing precisely how Stonewall operates in reality

Yes, interesting. I wonder what the actual numbers of support for Stonewall rules are in the society. Most people are still unaware, so a survey on this should include something about how much people have heard about the issues first, to be able to gauge the results. And it should certainly be very safely anonymous.

NC for this. I'm a lawyer in a big firm, completely stonewalled. After lockdown a male person has self id'd as a woman and uses the ladies toilets. Nobody is happy with it but of course its been made clear we cannot say anything without risking our jobs. One of my male colleagues says a female from another dept uses the mens - walked in while he was using the urinal. he was uncomfortable but couldn't say anything. Re pronouns not meaning to misgender but i have no idea how that woman identifies as we don't know her. I imagine this is happening in lots of workplaces.

Not my area of law, but I've obviously had a look at the relevant provisions and I just can't understand how a policy which says anyone can use whichever toilet they want is lawful in light of health and safety regs which require single sex toilets? Any lawyers in this area able to shed any light?

If its unlawful its going to be very embarrassing for firms which have gone along with it, I mean it's our job to get the law right!! I think most people are just waiting to see how it all pans out tbh...

There is something profoundly ironic about these large law firms, whose substantial revenues come from their capabilities in understanding and arguing over the law, being willing to uncritically accept Stonewall's misrepresentation of the law to apply to their own offices.

It's one of the best examples I can think of of the power of Stonewall in action.

I deeply love this bit from the article, "Stonewall told RollOnFriday that initiatives taken up by its Diversity Champions "are entirely up to them and Stonewall don’t seek to influence those decisions - care should be taken not to suggest that we do".

You can almost see the big men in dark glasses standing behind them as they say that

How all encompassing did that article make the Stonewalling seem? Ludicrous.

As others have said, when your nett worth and reputation is based substantially on your ability to wield logic this kind of stupidity seems to be a deliberate attempt at self immolation!

Not just law ..this article reflects my workplace too. I tried to ask the D&I person about how they could promote female only issues if females are always lumped with trans women and was told that as far as the company was concerned twaw and if I had an issue I would have to raise a complaint, but it is difficult to know how much support there is because no-one can talk about it in any kind of open way.

It's so illustrative off their tactics: "agree with us, or else😡"

*of not off, thanks autocarrot.

Asking people to be careful is rather threatening isn't it?

Definitely not just law firms. A lot of companies have transgender policies which are effectively implementing self-ID.

Thanks for sharing Bruno. I love the way the vast majority of the comments are sensible GC. We ARE the majority. Keep shining those lights.

Wow, have you seen the poll at the end of the article? Quite damning!

Thanks for sharing. I'm a lawyer at a bit city which is also very proud of its inclusivity and has been thoroughly Stonewalled. Likewise I haven't dared say anything. Many people do include their pronouns in their email but I feel I'm still in the majority in not doing so, and as far as I'm aware there are no trans women using the women's loos so I've just kept my head down and views to myself as I don't think they would go down well amongst the powers that be. It's very heartening the vast majority of the comments on ROF are pro common sense. But share the irony of law firms who are unable to accurately interpret the law on this....