Equality and diversity
Promoting equality and diversity is one of our strategic principles, as set by the SRA Board.
To help us identify how we can achieve this, we undertake equality impact assessments.
What is an equality impact assessment
An equality impact assessment is a review process which analyses the potential or actual effects of our policy procedures, practices, criteria and functions to ascertain whether they have a differential impact on any groups, such as disabled people, women, black and minority ethnic people—whether that policy is written or unwritten, formal or informal and irrespective of the scope of that policy.
Why carry out equality impact assessment
Impact assessments enable us to
- assess and improve the impact of our policies and procedures,
- ensure our staff think carefully about the impact of their work on particular groups, and
- anticipate the consequences of policies and projects, making sure that negative consequences are eliminated or minimised and opportunites for promoting equality and diversity are maximised.
The equality impact assessment process is not one that lends itself to a simple 'tick box' exercise. It is an essential part of achieving effective services which meet the needs of people in a fair way.
Benefits of equality impact assessments include
- increasing effectiveness of our services,
- informing and evaluating our business plans,
- meeting statutory requirements,
- supporting and treating staff fairly, and
- improving staff morale and public confidence.
Although we currently have a legal requirement to carry out impact assessments for race, disability and gender, we are also aiming to assess impact on particular groups in relation to age, religion, belief and sexual orientations.
We have a legal obligation to demonstrate that our regulatory policies and activities are fair and not discriminatory. For this reason, we will be publishing equality impact assessments regularly in the section below.
Equality impact assessment - Trainee solicitor minimum salary
1 April 2008
This impact assessment examined the equality implications of the minimum salary requirements for particular groups and considered whether to retain the current minimum salary requirement.
Read more Equality impact assessment - Trainee solicitor minimum salary
