On 25 March the Law Society of England and Wales launched a report from its practitioners advisory group established to consult the legal sector on business and human rights.

In other sectors, industry bodies are playing a key role in supporting their members to promote the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and the legal profession is no different. Industries are increasingly looking at developing specific guidance on what the guiding principles mean for their sector.

Speaking at the launch event deputy vice president Jonathan Smithers said:

‘The Law Society believes very strongly that the promotion of business and respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing. As the representative body for the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales, we take seriously the role we can play raising awareness of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and how they can and should be applied to solicitors.

‘This report is just the starting point for the Law Society in terms of taking forward crucial work in this new area’.

For further information please contact sarah.smith@lawsociety.org.uk or anna.prag@lawsociety.org.uk

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