EVENTS
Preparing for Ramadan 2025
Thursday 20th February
1:00pm to 2:00pm
ONLINE
Come and learn first-hand from Muslim colleagues their experience of observing Ramadan in the Scottish Legal Profession.
With the inevitable tales of ’not even water?’ to ‘what, you don't eat or drink for a month?’, we will demystify the realities of fasting while working in the legal profession.
We will share with you our experience and tips on how best to prepare for Ramadan (whether you are observing or supporting Muslim colleagues) dispel the myths and explore the changes we have seen over the years.
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Meet our panelists:
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Safeena Rashid is an experienced junior at the Faculty of Advocates, with appearances ranging from the Justice of the Peace Court to the Appeal Court. As well as criminal law expertise, she has appeared in tribunals representing the Home Office, asylum seekers, immigrants, parties in employment disputes and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Makki Tahir is a Trainee Solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard in the Transactional Real Estate team. He is currently in the 1st seat of his traineeship, and has a keen interest in Islamic Finance, Real Estate, Commercial Litigation, IP and contentious IP matters, and Corporate/Commercial Transactions, with a particular focus on Corporate Finance and M&A.
Women in Law Scotland: Relaunch
Tuesday 4th March
6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh
Join Women in Law Scotland to celebrate their relaunch - and just in time for International Womens Day, too!
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Promising to be filled with learning, inspiration and connection, this event will be led by a powerhouse of panel speakers:
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Susan Murray - President of the Law Society of Scotland and Senior Solicitor at the NHS Central Legal Office
Naeema Yaqoob Sajid - Founder of Diversity +;
Wendy Durie - Partner at Thompsons Scotland; and
Lindsay Jack - Head of Diversity, Careers & Outreach at the Law Society of Scotland.
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This event is free of charge - in lieu of a ticket cost, Women in Law ask you to consider a donation to Scottish Women’s Aid.
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The University of Edinburgh - International Women's Day Lecture 2025
Friday 7th March
6:45pm - 8:15pm
Lecture Theater G.03,
50 George Square, Edinburgh
Diversity+ founder, Naeema Yaqoob Sajid, is honoured to be delivering this year's International Women's Day (IWD) lecture at the University of Edinburgh.
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With the many themes announced this IWD, Naeema will dive into the purpose of this awareness day, the relevance of the themes, and why now, more than ever, we must keep pushing for change and gender equality.
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This free lecture will be followed by a drinks reception for networking opportunities and further discussion.
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Look Up and Beyond Celebrates International Womens Day
Thursday 13th March
6:00pm
DLA Piper, Edinburgh Office
Our flagship project, Look Up and Beyond, are delighted to mark International Womens Day with this evening event.
Bring your energy and enthusiasm, in all its diverse forms - this is a night dedicated to celebrating the incredible women in our lives.
Hear from Alice Thompson, Purpose Coach and founder of Social Bite and network with like-minded individuals.
What does #AccelerateAction mean for solicitors with disabilities?
Wednesday 19th March
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Online
This International Womens Day (IWD), join us as we collaborate with Disabling Barriers Scotland and Anisa Afzal to discuss the intersectionality between gender and disability when it comes to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the Scottish legal sector.
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Chaired by Naeema Yqoob Sajid, Diversity+ founder, our expert panel will discuss:
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What International Womens Day (IWD) and #AccelerateAction means to solicitors - particularly women - with disabilities
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Adjustments in the workplace: A right, not a privilege
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How we can inspire workplaces and individuals to #AccelerateAction
Meet our panel
Dhana McIver from Disabling Barriers Scotland is a solicitor within the Private Client Team at Balfour+Manson. She is also profoundly deaf, an advocate for raising Deaf Awareness and a Non Executive board member of Disabling Barriers Scotland, a support group set up to support and encourage those with disabilities coming into the legal profession.
Anisa Afzal is an ADHD/Autism consultant, creator, educator and advocate. With a background in psychology and education, her struggles throughout studying finally made sense when she was late diagnosed with ADHD in her thirties. As she made sense of her newfound self, while also navigating raising neurodivergent children, she began sharing through content creation. In doing so she realised her passion in making a difference for the neurodivergent community; using her knowledge, skills and lived experience to help others on their own journeys.
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We welcome any questions to be sent in beforehand for our panelists to answer. Email us: hello@diversityplus.info
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Embracing Cultural Intelligence to #AccelerateAction
Thursday 27th March
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Online
Specifically planned and timed to coincide with the end of Ramadan, the aim of this event is to better understand the additional barriers intersectionality can create and how we can all benefit from improving our cultural intelligence, in an effort to be more inclusive.
From personal experience, whilst women from minority ethnic backgrounds are the fastest growing cohort of entrants into the Scottish legal professions, they often feel excluded from events due to additional cultural and societal pressures.
In collaboration with SEMLA, let’s have that conversation to help #AccelerateAction and #MarchForward
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Registration details to follow.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Certification Course for Leaders and Managers
Monday 31st March + Tuesday 1st April
9:30am - 4:30pm
Online
In collaboration with the Law Society of Scotland, we are delighted to announce our next EDI certification course is open for registration!
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Specifically designed for those in decision-making, leadership or management positions, this two-day course teaches you how to foster and promote a lasting culture of equality, diversity and inclusion to help you drive progress and help futureproof your firm.
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By completing this, you will gain:
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A clear understanding of the moral, legal and business imperatives to driving progress and action in the E, D & I field.
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Effective strategies for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into your organisation.
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Facilitating enhanced understanding of how a leader uses their own personal insights and knowledge to drive and facilitate change within an organisation, including awareness, acceptance and use of power and privilege.
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Developing knowledge and understanding of emotional and cultural intelligence to improve talent retention, innovation and business development.
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Exploring the role of leaders in promoting and fostering a lasting culture of equality, diversity and inclusion to help future-proof workplaces.
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The course also qualifies for 20 hours of verifiable CPD.
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Register and learn more on the Law Society of Scotland website
Events calendar 2025
Below you will find our Events Calendar 2025 - a note of the upcoming awareness occasions and events that we are planning throughout the year! To stay up to date with new events, make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter below.
