By Gabriel Princewill And Sammy Jones-
Campaigners are celebrating the official disappearance of a centuries-old anachronism from professional legal correspondence. The Law Society, the representative body for solicitors, revised its official guidance on diversity and inclusion language this month, directly advising members to refrain from initiating letters and emails with the phrase ‘Dear Sirs’.
This pivotal change follows dedicated lobbying and collaboration with key figures in the diversity space. Ellie Rees, founder and director at estate agency Brickworks, played a crucial role in bringing attention to the outdated term, flagging its continued use on national radio and subsequently working directly with both the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority to implement the new guidance.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
One insider told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”this matter had been in conversation for a long time. It had been discussed and debated for years, and it is good to finally see it come to fruition.
Rees commented that the updated wording finally means women “are seen and heard in legal correspondence and the workplace.” The hardworking and ambitious entrepreneur has every reason to be proud to see her worthwhile efforts yield fruit.
Her fellow campaigner, solicitor and HiveRisk chief executive Kate Burt, highlighted the wider implications of the guidance. Burt noted the change is “a welcome step towards closing the gender authority gap and building a more inclusive, representative profession.”
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Burt herself is a heavyweight influencer in the legal profession, and is deeply immersed in compliance teams. She cofounded and co-hosted Compliance for Law Firms in 2020 for 5 years before setting up HiveRisk in 2021- now one of the most recognised and respected legal compliance firms in the Uk.
Dear Sir Pic: The Law Gazette
This gendered greeting has been a staple of legal documents and correspondence for centuries but has been the subject of debate in legal circles for a while.. The terminology is rooted in a historical context when the legal profession was exclusively or overwhelmingly male, assuming a male recipient entirely accurate for the time.
The Society conclusion that this vocabulary is no longer appropriate or representative of the modern legal landscape, and has taking steps to clarify that the continued use of the phrase ‘Dear Sirs’ is fundamentally incompatible with fostering a diverse and welcoming environment.
They stated: “This gendered greeting perpetuates the assumption that the recipients of correspondence are by default men.” This assumption is outdated, considering the significant representation of women and non-binary individuals across all ranks of the legal world today.
The guidance confirms that this outdated language “is no longer accurate, representative or appropriate in today’s diverse society, where we want to account for and represent the broad scope of recipients, including women and individuals with other gender identities, including non-binary.”
Instead of using the default male greeting, members who are unsure of the recipient’s identity are now strongly encouraged to adopt gender-neutral terms. Recommended alternatives include professional, yet simple, phrases such as ‘Dear legal team’, ‘Dear all’, or even more concise options like ‘Greetings’ or ‘Good morning’.
The Law Society stressed that these alternatives maintain the required level of professionalism while simultaneously ensuring the communication is respectful of all gender identities. Lawyers must remember that if they know the person’s name, they should always use it.
If the name remains unknown, keeping the salutation simple and neutral is preferred over maintaining overly formal, gendered language. This move is a crucial step towards standardising inclusive legal correspondence throughout the UK.
This is vital because promoting inclusive legal correspondence reflects broader professional integrity. The drive for fully inclusive legal correspondence represents a commitment to fundamental fairness.
This pivotal change follows dedicated lobbying and collaboration with key figures in the diversity space. Ellie Rees, founder and director at estate agency Brickworks, played a crucial role in bringing attention to the outdated term, flagging its continued use on national radio and subsequently working directly with both the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority to implement the new guidance.
Her fellow campaigner, solicitor and Hive Risk chief executive Kate Burt, highlighted the wider implications of the guidance. Burt noted the change is “a welcome step towards closing the gender authority gap and building a more inclusive, representative profession.”
The gender authority gap refers to the systemic imbalance where women often struggle to command the same automatic professional deference and authority as their male counterparts, a situation perpetuated by small but persistent linguistic and professional habits like ‘Dear Sirs’.
The official discontinuance of this term reflects a growing recognition that language plays a fundamental role in shaping professional culture.
This progressive policy update aligns with broader movements promoting equality in legal practice, as previously covered in our article on “Implementing Flexible Working in Law Firms.”
The decision to retire “Dear Sirs” is more than a simple semantic update. It is a symbolic declaration of intent regarding gender equality and inclusive legal correspondence in the 21st century. This move ensures that professional communication is fully reflective of a diverse legal workforce.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar
