The Law Society has issued new diversity and inclusion guidance recommending that firms retire the traditional “Dear Sirs” greeting – a tradition of legal correspondence for generations.
The phrase, which dates back to a time when the legal profession was almost entirely male, no longer reflects the reality of today’s workforce or clients. Particularly in Family Law where the profession has a higher proportion of women. In its statement, the Law Society explained that “this gendered greeting perpetuates the assumption that the recipients of correspondence are by default men,” and instead encouraged firms to use inclusive alternatives.
Some suggested alternatives include:
- Dear team
- Dear [organisation]
- Dear colleagues
- Dear counsel
- Greetings
- Dear [role] (e.g. Dear Managing Partner, Dear Counsel)
- To whom it may concern
- Good morning / Good afternoon
Pooja Patel, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging lead says, “seeing this news around the change to ‘Dear Sirs’ was so refreshing to see, I have always tried to use names of clients and lawyers when I can, but I am glad to see the industry move to more inclusive language on a whole.”
While this may seem like a small change, language plays a powerful role in shaping workplace culture. Choosing words that reflect the diversity of those we work with, and for, is a simple but meaningful step toward building a more inclusive profession.
At Stowe, many of our lawyers have already moved away from traditional greetings like “Dear Sirs”, and new templates and processes are being introduced to fully reflect this guidance.
After all, as the legal profession continues to evolve, so too should the way we communicate. Read The Law Society’s D&Ictionary to learn more about inclusive language in the legal world.
Read more about Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Stowe.
