I write concerning the Law Society’s new mentoring scheme for minority groups.
It was explained to me by a member of Brook Graham, the consultancy involved in setting up and running the scheme, that only four protected characteristics which are recognised as grounds of discrimination in various legal processes are included, at least during the first yearly cycle. But there are others.
In a year’s time, those of us who feel they are subject to age discrimination will be that much older. Most of those who are discriminated against on the basis of one or more protected characteristics are likely to still have those characteristics. It is disappointing that some protected characteristics – granted, perhaps the more ‘obvious’ ones – have been chosen for this scheme but others have not, when the hurt, insult and career damage of being discriminated against may well be the same, whatever the reason for the discrimination.
Recent years have seen a trend for victims’ feelings to be taken into account. It is a pity that the construction of this service, which is an initiative with the potential for doing a lot of good, appears to buck this trend. It is also unfortunate that a consequence of this, ironically, is that the scheme has become discriminatory in itself.
Name and address withheld on request
