#LegalPride2022: Lawyers unite to celebrate 50 years of Pride
#LegalPride2022: Lawyers unite to celebrate 50 years of Pride
1st July 2022
The legal professions of England and Wales – solicitors, barristers and CILEX lawyers – will unite to commemorate 50 years since the first Pride took place in the UK.
The Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Council of England and Wales and CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) are joining together to mark Pride.We will be marching for the first time in more than two years at Pride Cymru and at the flagship Pride march in London in July led by the heads of the professions.
President of the Law Society of England and Wales, I. Stephanie Boyce, said: “2022 is a historic year for Pride and I am delighted to be marching alongside my colleagues.
“The solicitor profession has made progress on LGBT+ equality and inclusion in recent decades, but our Pride in the Law survey showed there is still work to be done.
“We will continue to speak with our LGBT+ members about their experiences and will support them in their careers. No-one should be discriminated against for being themselves.
“We stand alongside our LGBT+ colleagues and LGBT+ allies this Pride and we will continue to walk with them throughout their career.”
Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales Mark Fenhalls QC said: “Pride is a celebration of the Bar Council’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we are supporting Pride events at the Bar and in the community this year.
“A diverse legal profession is essential for building trust and confidence in our justice system. The Bar Council is leading the way in modernising the Bar and aim to break down barriers to progress for all barristers.”
CILEX President Caroline Jepson said: “We are proud to be marching alongside colleagues from across the legal profession in this special 50th anniversary year, recognising the important contribution LGBT+ professionals make and the vital work undertaken by those defending LGBT+ rights.
“We stand for a legal sector that is open and accepting and have long championed diversity in the profession. We are dedicated to supporting our LGBT+ members and advocating for LGBT+ rights, cementing the progress of the last 50 years and combatting discrimination where it persists.”
Notes to editors
- Pride in London began in 1972 in response to the 1969 Stonewall riots, which started after a police raid at gay bar Stonewall Inn in New York. The 2,000 participants were calling for gay rights and equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UK.
- Find out more about Pride in London 2022
- Find out more about Pride Cymru (Wales) 2022
- Find out about Pride Events in the UK
- Find a regional breakdown of Pride Events
- Read the Law Society’s Pride in the Law survey
About the Law Society
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.Press office contact: Naomi Jeffreys | 020 8049 3928 | Ruth Murphy | 020 8049 3879
About the Bar Council
The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:- the Bar’s high-quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
- fair access to justice for all
- the highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
- the development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.