Equalities and diversity

We are committed to equality of opportunity and a culture that respects individuality. The Equality Act 2010 and Scottish specific equality duties provide a clear planning and reporting framework to help us achieve this.

Our Equality outcomes progress and mainstreaming report (October 2020) includes:

• The progress we have made against our equality outcomes
• an update on our work to mainstream equality into the way we work
• a summary of our employee equality information
• details of our gender pay gap and our equal pay statement.

This report would normally include our new equality outcomes for the next three years in line with our corporate planning cycle.  However, the global pandemic has delayed the publication of our corporate priorities, including our equality outcomes.

Our updated equality outcomes will therefore be published before 31^st March 2021 which meets our statutory reporting timeline.

1. Our diverse workforce is aware and understands equality and diversity and the impact of this in helping us manage and deliver our business
2. Minority ethnic people and disabled people experience equal access to quality accessible services and information about legal aid
3. System users and legal aid applicants are aware of why we collect equalities information and can conveniently disclose this information.

Transparency in our decision making is supported by our equality impact assessment (EqIA) process.

Our approach to this ensures we consider the impact of new and current policies or projects on protected equality groups.

It also helps us meet the general public sector equality duty to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

A Criminal Justice Disability Project (CJDP) was set up by the Justice Board to promote and enable accessibility of service across the criminal justice sector in Scotland for people with disabilities.

The member organisations have published a final report of the CJDP.

A large print version is also available or you can view a BSL version of the Executive Summary.

We are keen to hear your views about:

• The priorities we have identified.
• How you think our policies or functions impact on equality.

Please provide feedback or let us know if you would like to get involved in our equality work by contacting:

Louise Baggott

Corporate Policy Officer (Equalities)

Direct dial: 0131 240 1981
E-mail: baggottlo@slab.org.uk