Diversity+

WE NEED YOU!

‘Look up and Beyond’ seeks early career talent.. We are looking to set up a “Early Stage Focus Group” to help us better reach and understand what early career talent needs to help it grow and remain in the Scottish legal industry, to make the profession truly representative of society, at all levels.

These will be voluntary roles and as such the time commitment and responsibility will be kept to a minimum. We are looking for diverse insights, maximum enthusiasm and an inclusive ‘can do’ attitude - we promise, no time recording! You don’t have to be a solicitor, there is no PQE requirement and men are very much welcomed and needed.

If this appeal to you and you wish to be a part of our project please reply to this post, reach out to me privately or email us at:
[email protected] Closing date: Friday 8th March (not so coincidentally, that’s also )

Please share with those who you think may be interested 🙏🏽

*Upcoming Event*

Thursday 7th March 12.30pm

Ramadan is soon approaching …..

As part of our ever-increasing aims to promote EDI, and in collaboration with the The Law Society of Scotland , we have organised a free ‘share and learn’ lunchtime event to raise awareness and promote a better understanding of the Muslim festival of Ramadan. The event is designed for EVERYONE in the legal profession, regardless of background, faith or role.

We aim is to provide the knowledge needed to contribute to the creation of an inclusive work environment during this cultural festival.

I will be leading the session and will be inviting contributions from those attending to further promote the spirit of inclusion and experience sharing. Those who will be observing Ramadan as well as those who will be supporting their Muslim colleagues. ALL contributions are welcome. We are all in this space to learn.

Please reach out to me if you would like to contribute. Our aim is for this to be the START of a series of similar ‘share and learn’ initiatives, reaching across many cultural’s, religions and traditions, to better promote inclusive workplace practices.
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Follow to secure your spot.

The results are in and the challenge set. here we come!

- Panel discussion with Miller Samuel Hill Brown Solicitors - Tuesday 12th March at 4pm

Join us for an empowering in-person panel discussion on International Women’s Day to find inspiration and drive positive change in the workplace.

The event will hosted by MSHB’s Employment Law team and chaired by renowned Scottish broadcast journalist and STV presenter Rona Dougall

The panel will include our Naeema Yaqoob Sajid (She/Her) speaking as founder of + and ‘Look Up and beyond’, a project specifically designed to help improve the retention and progression of female talent in the legal sector and beyond.

Be a part of the conversation, and discover new ways to create a more inclusive and equal work environment.
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This year’s IWD theme is and with that in mind, arrangements will be made for friends and colleagues who may be fasting during Ramadan. Naeema will be taking a break from the discussions to open her fast and hopes you will join her, in the true spirit of .

Register now to secure your spot and please reach out to us or the MSHB’s team if you want to learn more about the event.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

International Women’s Day is fast approaching (Friday 8th March)

Whilst preparing for various events, we thought it would be a good idea to get an idea of what you would like Diversity+ to do.

The theme this year is and we’re already weaving this into the events we’re participating in, for example raising awareness of Ramadan if events are coinciding with fast opening, but is there anything in particular you’d like us to discuss/raise awareness of?

Some ideas in the poll below, but equally make some suggestions of your own. What issues would you like + to raise awareness of this ?

is due to commence soon

Ramadan is the pinnacle of the year for many Muslims.

It provides an opportunity for mindful focus, gatherings with community, friends and family, whilst also taking part in charitable giving, gifting, and celebrations.

This year Ramadan is predicted to commence on 10th March. I say ‘predicted’ because Muslims follow the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is typically based on the moon’s 29.5 day synodic orbit around the earth.

The year is then divided into 12 lunar months - which only adds up to 354 days in the year, roughly 11 days short of 365 days it actually takes for the earth to complete one full orbit around the sun: timing more familiar to those who follow the Gregorian Calendar.

For a month, observing Muslims will fast, going without food and drink (including water) from sunrise to sunset each day. At this time of the year in the UK this is around 13 hours. This can have its toil, particularly when working. Small workplace adjustments can help to ease the challenges while allowing productivity to be maintained.

Diversity+ have produced an E-book and one hour learning sessions which are tailored to workplaces needs.

Learning sessions are going fast with only a few remaining on the following dates:

Thursday 22nd February
Wednesday 28th February
Thursday 29th February (Limited availability)
Wednesday 6th March (Limited availability)

If you would like materials and learning sessions for your workplace, please reach out to me on this platform or email:
Hello@diversityplusinfo

International Woman Day 2024 - Friday 8th March

Theme:

And in the very spirit of inclusion I’d like to reminder colleagues, friends and allies who are organising events that Ramadan this year is due to commence around the 10th March.

Why is this important? Many Muslim, men and women, will be preparing for the month of Ramadan and may not be able to attend events on that day or leading up to it.

Further still, events are being planned and will be held throughout the month of IWD, as we have done in previous years. Some of the events will be in the evening and involve food and drink, as we would expect. At that time of year in Scotland sunset is around 6pm and that is when your Muslim colleagues and friend, who are observing Ramadan, will be opening their fast. This may discourage them from attending.

However, there are suitable, small adjustments that can be made, fitting with this year’s theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusion’.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Create your own bespoke material for and send it to your Muslim colleagues unable to attend.
2. If you are holding events during Ramadan, particularly those which involve food and drinks (lunch and/or evening) make a brief announcement acknowledging

3. If you are holding an in person event in the evening when a fast is due to come to an end, arrange a quiet space for your Muslim colleagues and friends to open their fast, and if they choose to, observe their evening prayer.

4. Add culturally diverse foods to any foods you are serving at the event e.g. dates.

Any one of these suggestion will help to promote deeper cultural understanding and awareness, whilst showing your genuine interest in promoting inclusivity.

Diversity+ prepared material for both and last year. If you’d like help to create bespoke material for your workplace please reach out to us. Equally if you’d like assistance with planning your IWD event to ensure it meets the theme of we can be contacted here:

https://www.diversityplus.info/contact-2

or emailed on: [email protected]

Look Up and Beyond to retain and progress female talent in the Scottish legal profession
Hot off the press - our event brochure!
Interested to learn more and support this project?

Reach out to us here: [email protected]

‘Look Up and Beyond: After the Launch’. Are you interested in the retention and promotion of female talent in the Scottish legal sector? Come to our next event. Thursday 8th February at 5.30pm. For details and to register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/look-up-and-beyond-after-the-launch-tickets-798945225677?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Diversity+ newsletter out tomorrow!

It’s that time again! We're on the lookout for stories and opportunities to feature in this month's Diversity+ newsletter.

If you have events, news, or opportunities that deserve the spotlight, we want to hear from you.

Share your voice with us, and let's make diversity and inclusion shine even brighter!✨

🗓️ Submission Deadline: Today 5pm
📅 Publication Date: Tomorrow 5pm

Message us directly or drop us an email at [email protected]

Don’t miss out on our exciting updates. Sign up to our newsletter today: Diversity+ newsletter out tomorrow!

It’s that time again! We're on the lookout for stories and opportunities to feature in this month's Diversity+ newsletter.

If you have events, news, or opportunities that deserve the spotlight, we want to hear from you.

Share your voice with us, and let's make diversity and inclusion shine even brighter!✨

🗓️ Submission Deadline: Today 5pm
📅 Publication Date: Tomorrow 5pm

Message us directly or drop us an email at [email protected]

Don’t miss out on our exciting updates. Sign up to our newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/eXQTPr7y

This post has been brought to you by

Thank you to everyone who joined in today's CPD learning session about Unconscious Bias and Cultural Intelligence hosted by

Thank you for your engagement and participation together with your insights and story sharing. It's what makes these sessions so enjoyable and impactful.

Main take away: Getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations!

If you would like to book a learning session please reach out to me here: https://www.diversityplus.info/service-page/mini-consultation?referral=book_button_widget

reports that up to 96% of professionals in the legal industry experience stress that affects their everyday life.

- Legal mental health & wellbeing charity has found that stress is now the primary concern that legal professionals reported to them in 2022.

It is well-understood that stress affects us deeply on social, physical and mindful levels. But did you know spending time in nature or "green spaces" has been proven to reduce both physical and mental stress? Utilising the tool of the outdoors - whether through physical exercise, connection to nature or simply fresh air away from screens and paperwork is a necessity.
But while the outdoors is certainly a place for all, there are barriers in place for many. A lack of diverse role models, programme funding, inclusive groups and countless accounts of bias, can be hurdles that inevitably halt a persons journey into experiencing the benefits that come with outdoor recreation. Today we are shouting about some wonderful DE&I groups who actively campaign and work towards tearing down these hurdles across Scotland and the wider UK! We hope you find inspiration in these groups and take time to enjoy nature and look after yourself as a result. Ultimately, we can only be our best for our clients and our colleagues when we look after ourselves. All The Elements CIC

Adventure Therapy
Black Girls Hike
Scottish Womens Walking


Edge Group
Take Action, Make Impact, with nature and well being as your allies.
Today's post is brought to you by Nelson

Welcome to Inclusion Week 2023!

Here’s a little e-book gift from our professional family, to yours.

This is just part of our contribution to ‘Take Action, Make Impact’.

Read about our thoughts on inclusion, what inclusion week means to us, what action we are taking to make ourselves more inclusive and how we are working with other businesses and communities to have a real impact.

There are also some hints and tips on what you can do this inclusion week.

And in true inclusion style, I’m now stepping away from this platform for the rest of the week to let my wonderful colleagues take over and take control. 👏🏽

A huge part of inclusion is passing the power onto others. 💪🏽

Email: [email protected] to receive a copy.

Introducing our new virtual assistants!

Meet James Cox, Anmol Rana, Gloria Adetula, Iona Nelson, Nidah Siddique and Ariuna Zonorov. 👏🏾

Each have their own individual story to share and why they feel passionately about D, E & I. Take a few moments and read about them and learn a little bit more. You will feel inspired and understand better why I feel they are a perfect match to take the work we do to the next level.

They joined Diversity+ only a couple of weeks ago and already they are having an impact, most importantly on me and the way I think and work.

If variety is the spice of life, diversity is the key to a successful workplace.

Together we have so much to do and achieve, but we're several steps closer to our aims.

Well done Team D+!

looking to complete your CPD requirements for this year?

What better way to meet your personal development goals but to learn about and ?

A must for anyone who has a genuine interest and passion for

To register, follow this link:https://lnkd.in/ecSmmdGv

Hope to see you there!

ICYMI: ‘Power of a Diverse Law Firm’ recording now available https://www.clio.com/uk/events/webinar-diverse-law-firm/thank-you/

Diversity and inclusivity in the legal sector are paramount for building a just, innovative, and vibrant future. However, despite steady advancements, progress remains slow. So how can you take the first steps towards changing this for good?

Join and a panel of expert speakers (including yours truly) for a 60-minute free panel webinar.

Chaired by the outstanding 💡Erin Leonty of Social Purpose at Clio, this webinar is not to be missed, with leading experts from the UK including; Dana Denis-Smith, Founder of Obelisk Support and Jonathan Patel, Senior Consultant of Talent at@Aspiring Solicitors.

Together, we’ll delve into:

➡ The current state of diversity and inclusion in the UK legal industry. ➡ The current state of diversity and inclusion in the UK legal industry
➡ Obstacles facing law firms and individuals regarding diversity
➡ Practical actions small and large firms can implement to foster and maintain diversity and inclusion
➡ How technology and hybrid work models can democratise legal practice and promote inclusivity.
Register here: https://www.clio.c.om/uk/events/webinar-diverse-law-firm/

This months newsletter and article will be out soon! 🗞️

Continuing with our “Leadership insight” series, in this month’s article we will be discuss the all important topic of retaining and promoting female talent, all through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. We call on leaders to adopt a “Look up and Beyond” philosophy, to give a wider perspective on the causes and solutions, on the ever narrowing and ‘leaky pipe’ of female talent in the legal industry. 🙋‍♀️

With the soon approaching school summer holidays and many women juggling ever harder and faster to keep up with personal and professional demands, this is a timely reminder to better understanding and support the female talent in your workplace. 👍🏽

The article is both a personal reflection of my lived experience together with a professional look at what small changes can be made today, to future proof tomorrow.

If you’ve not already subscribed to receive a copy of our newsletter, you can do so here:

https://lnkd.in/dwJiC7em

A Ramadan gift from me to you 🎁💕

As promised the Diversity+ guide to Ramadan is now available

It’s a factual and personal account of what Ramadan means to me and more generally, the 1.9 billion Muslims in the world.

It provides:

🌼The basics with ‘what, why and how’

🤲🏽 My reflection of ‘Ramadan through the years’ in the Scottish legal sector

🔟 And finally, my ‘top ten tips’ on how to make your workplace Ramadan friendly and inclusive.

It’s a gift for your personal use and for organisations to use internally. It’s designed to raise aware and share knowledge. As such please feel free to repost and share with others. What I would ask is that it is not used for commercial gain. In true Ramadan spirit, gift it forward. 🙏

Please reach out if you’d like to arrange a leadership learning session, hold a Ramadan or Eid event or simply wish to learn more.

Be curious. Be kind. Be mindful. Be respectful.

Happy Monday and Ramadan Mubarak to everyone.

The Importance of Data through the lens of D, E & I

Last session of the year tomorrow at 12.30pm

Funded by Data Skills for Work and supported by Women's Enterprise Scotland

Register here: https://lnkd.in/egHYkB3e



Please share 🙏

How do we embrace equity?

“Why educate your daughters? In the end they will only be wives and mothers.”

A phrase I often heard my parents being told. These views are not reserved to my family alone. Nor to my culture. Yet education has been the key to where I am today, just as my parent’s wished it to be.

With this year’s theme; , in mind I’ve taken on both the risk and reward in writing down my inner most thoughts of what this phrase means to me in the context of the Scottish legal profession.

With contributions from a wide range of colleagues and friends from the industry we’ve put together a ‘wee’ guide and with soon approaching, this is my small gift to you.

It’s a little different, something to start the real conversation about how.

Interested? Like to receive a copy?

Email: [email protected]

How do we identify, challenge and reduce our bias? Today’s learning session in collaboration with the Legal Services Agency

Knowing when to quit is a skill

Recent examples of women 'quitting', both public and those more closer to me, have made me think about my own journey, and that of many other women in the legal profession.

This is what I've come up with.

👎 We're lead to believe saying yes to everything is a strength

👎 We're lead to believe that to accept we're not coping will show us to be weak

👎 We're lead to believe to put ourselves last shows resilience

👎 We're lead to believe asking for support shows we are failing

Why do we believe this? Because our century old leadership structures, processes and mindsets are yet to catch up with 'real' women and our basic need for equity Our existing leadership structures and processes have been tweaked to allow us in but there has been no full scale change to retain us.

If we want to retain female talent we need full on institutional change, change which is willing to accept and encourage female authenticity.

👍 We need to make saying no acceptable.

👍 We need to encourage asking for support as a business need, not a personal one

👍 We need structures that are genuinely flexible to enable us to put ourselves first

👍 We need workloads and targets that are realistic to prevent us 'failing'.

And the strength and wisdom to quitting is to say NO MORE

This months newsletter from Diversity+ has just landed!

Featuring:

✅ Article by Bilaal Shabbir
✅ New opportunities
✅ upcoming events
✅ Book review

And lots more, including an invitation to contribute to our special feature to mark International Women’s Day on 8th March.

We hope you enjoy reading, sharing and contributing.

Thank you 🙏

https://lnkd.in/eAQC4YVv

Where are you from? 

With the discussions and debates continuing about this controversial question, and polarised views from both sides of the fence becoming ever entrenched, is it time to accept that not everyone agrees whether, or in what context, this question is acceptable?

Whilst curiosity was said to have killed the cat, learning never exhaust the mind. 

So why not ask questions to learn about who we are as opposed to where we come from? Surely that’s a better introduction leading to more meaningful conversation. 

I’ll start, shall I? 

I’m Naeema. It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name? 

میں نعیمہ ہوں۔ آپ سے مل کر اچھا ہے. آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟

Je suis Naeema. Ravi de vous rencontrer. Quel est ton nom?

我是奈玛。很高兴认识你。你叫什么名字？

Ich bin Naeema. Nett, Sie kennenzulernen. Wie heißen Sie?

Sono Naeema. È un piacere conoscerti. Come ti chiami?

Simple, isn't it? So why make it complicated and for many of us offensive?

Tuesday Tip: Let's not get hung up about where we are from, let's learn about who we are.

Tuesday Tip: Believe in yourself

“You're braver that you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"

A lesson for life and one to have tucked away when those little bumps appear.

Tuesday Tip: What we say and who we say it too matters. Think about it's impact.

I was at an event when one of my contemporaries, while discussing improving inclusivity in the legal profession stated "I don't see colour. I see people". I wanted to have a deeper conversation to understand better the true meaning of this and what was to be achieved by stating this to me. Sadly, time was against us.

I get it. Sometimes those around me feel they need to make such statements because of the work I do. Possibly under, the misguided hope, that I may think they are pro D & I or anti racist. The reality is that it makes me question the work we are doing and if we are making any real progress at all.

Think for a moment.... someone from a white privileged background saying this to someone who looks like me who has faced bias at the hands of someone who looks like them? 🤦‍♀️

Of course you see colour. Of course you have a natural bias. We all do. The danger is when we pretend we don't.

Again, this post does not come from an angry place. It's with the hope that my little insights may just help my colleagues think a little differently and be better aware of their language and actions, especially if they genuinely want to make improvements.

Happy to discuss further with anyone who wishes to have a deeper dive.

Check out our website and book a free mini consultation (link in below). +

Tuesday Tip: Pause, review and think before sending that email.

Such basic advice and most likely something we have been told repeatedly during our careers.

Yet when it comes to D, E & I it is often overlooked.

Learning to look through the lens of diversity may mean going at a slower pace, which is hard to do in our fast paced world, but it pays in the long run.

Trying to regain trust and respect due to poor use of language and insensitive timing can be impossible when good faith, momentum and ultimately talent, have left the building.

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Apparently this is me! What a high to finish the working week on. I like the friend bit the best. I very much hope that's the way our partners and collaborators see us and the work we are doing. It's a huge ask for century old traditions and practises to be changed and working together will help us find genuine, workable solution for long-term sustainable progress and growth: allowing us to be armed to face future challenges. No man (or women) is an island and all that...Thank you Rob Marrs

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A big congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists and winners for the Scottish Legal Awards. Amazing to see all the talent recognised and awarded. Let’s continue to grow and keeping our talent in Scotland.

Here is the list of awards:

Professor Alan Miller: Lifetime Achievement Award
Tamar Tammes: Managing Partner of the Year
Laura Connor: Lawyer of the year
Lorna McDowall: Paralegal of the Year
Aidan Tuohy: Rising Star of the Year
Digby Brown Solicitors: Firm of the Year
Scullion LAW: Family Law Team of the Year
Shepherd and Wedderburn: Support Team of the Year
Iain Smith: Criminal Defence Firm of the Year
Burness Paull LLP: Employment Law Team of the Year
Thompsons Solicitors: Litigation Team of the Year
Neilsons Solicitors & Estate Agents: Excellence in Client Care
DLA Piper: Community Contribution Award
Aberdeen City Council: In-House Legal Team of the Year

Thrilled to see recognition of female talent. Let’s hope with the increase of awareness and drive towards improving all types of diversity in the industry, we see more people of colour recognised in these awards in the near future

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