Law Society launches flexible working protocol

The Law Society has launched a flexible working protocol for legal firms due to concerns about women lawyers' career progression.

Research last year showed that reluctance to agree flexible working was the ‘single most significant obstacle’ to women reaching senior roles. Women are still extremely underrepresented at partner level despite accounting for 45.8% of solicitors with practising certificates, says the Society.

The protocol gives the business case for flexible working, such retaining skilled staff, and includes case studies of lawyers working flexibly in different settings.  

It applies to both genders, and is also relevant, says the Society, as an environmental sustainability tool, enables individuals to observe religious and cultural holidays as well as meeting the practical needs of disabled employees. 

Law Society research also found that in organisations that allow flexible working, uptake is almost evenly balanced between men and women.

Law Society president John Wotton said legal practices need to understand and incorporate flexible working in order to retain their best talent.  He says: “It makes sound business sense for firms to offer flexible working and we are confident that this protocol will help with the implementation. Ultimately, we want flexible working to become mainstream practice.

“Increasingly clients expect firms to be able to demonstrate commitment to efficient contemporary working practices which they know deliver diversity and innovation.

“These days there is greater scope for flexible working within the judiciary, for example, with judges sitting part time or listing outside school holidays. If this works in the judiciary, then the profession as a whole can adapt.”

The Law Society believes that signatories to the Law Society's Diversity and Inclusion Charter should adopt the commitment to flexible working defined by the protocol. The protocol is sponsored by DWF LLP, SNR Denton and Squire Sanders Hammonds.