When I first came to Liverpool, from Yorkshire in 1972, I found the lack of ethnic diversity in the city somewhat alarming. The decline of the docks led to people leaving the city and there were few opportunities for migrants to settle here and find a job. On the other hand, the black community born and brought up in the City had absolutely no visibility in the employment pool at all.  They were ghettoised in the Granby Triangle area of Toxteth; the scene was set for the riots of 1981. It was into this environment that I was catapulted when I joined Jackson Lees in 1975 and despite our efforts to obtain justice for the black community, little changed.

Lack of racial diversity in the workplace and blatant discrimination turned out to be a huge risk for Liverpool. It took the damaging and cathartic Toxteth Riots to bring about much needed change but at a great cost. Since then, the city has benefited greatly from the influx of new migrants and there is less inequality for its black residents.  But there is still a long way to go.

Perhaps the US State of Nevada can teach us a lesson or two. In December 2018, the State electorate voted in a new legislature with a slim female majority of 51%.  A year on, what difference has this made to the people of Nevada?  Does gender diversity really matter?  

Actually a lot has changed. A new law requires employers in the State with more than 50 staff to provide 40 hours a year paid leave to employees which they can use for any reason including sickness. Many employees, especially women, were forced to come into work even when sick to ensure they could continue to pay the bills.

Secondly, firefighters who suffered from a list of cancers mainly affecting men, had been entitled to compensation as it is well known that firefighters suffer a higher cancer risk than the general population. However, cancers mainly affecting women (breast, ovarian and uterine cancers) were excluded. This omission has now been corrected but how quickly this would have changed without this majority is anyone’s guess.

An Equal Pay Act has now been enacted in Nevada to start tackling gender pay gaps. An Act, which has been nicknamed the ‘Trust Nevada Women Act’, has decriminalised miscarriage-inducing drugs, as well as removing the requirement that physicians need to certify a woman's age and marital status, and explain "the physical and emotional implications" of the procedure, before performing an abortion. Finally, laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking which had bipartisan support were passed unanimously; but the fact that these various issues were brought up the political agenda so quickly is attributable to the make-up of the assembly.

Diversity matters, particularly when it results in a more equal balance of power in decision making.  Lack of equal opportunity is as damaging to individuals as it is to the community at large.  As the case study above shows, inclusion is hugely positive for individuals and the wellbeing of society.

The ethos of my business has been to promote diversity and well-being by making a positive difference through the use of the law.  This has been demonstrated by our employment of the first black Trainee Solicitor in the city, fighting for justice for those seeking asylum in the UK, the fight for the victims of Hillsborough and the taking up of cases on behalf of those excluded from the main stream of our society. We now have a Legal Aid contract to take on cases of Discrimination and a lawyer Yara Ali-Adib who is an expert in this field.   We also have a good gender balance in our leadership team and we are better for it. 

This week is Culture Week in our practice where a series of events will highlight diversity. None of us can ever assume that the battle for human rights and equality before the law is won, but we can make a difference in the areas we can control. We won’t regret it, for as in the State of Nevada, things can be changed for the better.