It is reassuring to see the Law Society’s former president and current chair of its equality and diversity committee, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, call attention to the ‘woeful underuse’ of women’s talent in the legal profession (‘Brain drain’ fear as diversity stagnates).
Similarly, it is worrying to see the Society do its bit to further sexism and misogyny. It has recently published guidance on how to make wills follow ‘sharia succession rules’.
This particular section of the guidance note should give any equality and diversity campaigner worth their salt some food for thought: ‘The male heirs in most cases receive double the amount inherited by a female heir of the same class. Non-Muslims may not inherit at all, and only Muslim marriages are recognised.’
It is not exactly ‘girl power’ and interfaith cohesion, is it?
I fail to understand why the Law Society should go out of its way to give its blessing to this.
Charlie Klendjian, secretary, Lawyers’ Secular Society, London
