National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUI) Law Society hold law Panel …….. ‘Future of Diversity in Law’

Despite efforts made to achieve a significant level of Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the legal sector, the issue still attracts insightful discourse on how it can be improved.

The National University of Ireland Maynooth Law Society recently gathered a Panel of lawyers to provide some insightful discourse on the subject.

The Panel discussion titled “Future of Diversity in the Legal Sector in Ireland” examined diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the ways in which firms and organizations already embrace diversity, and any general observations regarding diversity and inclusion in the workplace, particularly from a legal perspective, and how it could be improved.

Lawyer Panelists at the event, Jane Barrett, Lawyer at William Fry LLP / Founder and Chairperson of the Disability Legal Network, Niamh Donnelly, Future Trainee Lawyer with Evershed Sutherland Ireland, Saadi Siddiky legal counsel at LinkedIn and Daniel Pelu-Jones, Qualified Lawyer and Founder Media Africa, spoke and reflected extensively on their careers and how they have faced and overcame certain challenges and issues of discrimination and exclusion.
The discussions explored issues of diversity, inclusion and equality in the legal sector and how important these issues are in the workforce.

Niamh Donnelly, Future Lawyer with Evershed Sutherland Ireland had this to say,

“I was delighted to be a part of this wonderful event and share my experiences navigating the legal world with a visual impairment and my interactions with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion thus far on my journey to qualifying as a Lawyer”.

The Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Maynooth University Law Society organiser of the event Ebere Edeh expressed her optimism that achieving Equality and inclusion at an appreciable level in the legal Sector in Ireland is achievable.

“I am so glad and happy as Diversity and Inclusion Officer I successfully implemented many new and different initiatives and events at Maynooth University such as the Period Poverty Campaign, a fundraising paint and sip to celebrate International Women’s Day and an Intercultural Education Panel discussion. I am so grateful I positively contributed to campus life in creating diverse and inclusive initiatives and experiences”.

The discussion was moderated by John Reynolds, Lecturer from the School of law and Criminology Maynooth University and Hana Cervinkova, Lecture from the Anthropology Department Maynooth University.