"Disability comes in many different forms, and I for one want to learn more about how I can assist my colleagues and the wider community to feel included without being othered. The Enable network has given me the opportunity to learn, ask questions and devise strategies to ensure KN is an inclusive place to be for everyone."
Shannett Thompson, Partner
At Kingsley Napley we are committed to creating a diverse workforce that provides everyone with equal opportunities.
We strive to be a workplace which offers support and encouragement to enable all of our employees to bring their whole selves to work. The Enable Network’s goal is to raise awareness of different types of disabilities (both visible and invisible) and to create a safe space for people to speak out about their disabilities. Whilst the overall objective is to strengthen the talent pipeline of people with disabilities at all levels, there are some key actions we have developed to help us get there.
Disability Confident Committed
Kingsley Napley is committed to offering an interview to any job applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the role as defined by the job description and person specification. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume or peak times, Kingsley Napley may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both people with disabilities and people without disabilities. For more details, please visit the Disability Confident website.
The Valuable 500
We have signed up to the Valuable 500 which requires us to make a commitment to one action - putting disability on the agenda. You can read our Valuable 500 Commitment here.
Network Objectives
- Raise awareness of what disability is (visible, invisible, physical, psychological).
- Answer the question: Is this a disability?
- Educating people in relation to disabilities and how you relate to people with disabilities.
- Dispel some of the myths around disability.
- Ensure that people check their language in relation to disability issues.
- Ask the question: how can the employer help?
- Build closer relationships with clients with disabilities.
- Encourage people with disabilities not to self-select away from applying for jobs at Kingsley Napley.
- Identify areas where Kingsley Napley fall short of our commitment to create a workspace that is inclusive of people with disability (particularly as we prepare to move).
- Consider and discuss the impact of disability of a loved one for members of KN.
- Work closely with wellbeing and charities to ensure the needs of the KN workforce are being met.
Internal Awareness
We have set up an internal portal page which has a subpage entitled “What is a Disability?” which discusses the definition of the Disability Act and also reminds people that a lot of disabilities are invisible.
To bring the issue ‘home’ we have a page entitled “What does disability mean for you and people you know?” on which we have published stories of people within the firm who have felt comfortable talking about disability and how it has affected them either directly or indirectly.
We recognise that not everybody feels ready to share their stories in a public forum but that there will be a significant number within our employee population who have ‘lived experience’ of certain conditions. To encourage confidential sharing of information we have created a ‘conditions list’ on our portal.
Human Resources hold a confidential list with a name against each condition of somebody who has ‘lived experience’ of that condition and, on a confidential basis, would be prepared to share their experiences with someone who is coming to terms with a diagnosis on that list. The purpose is simply to provide pastoral support, somebody to have a cup of tea and a chat with.
We are careful to ensure, through a series of simple steps, that both people are comfortable with their confidential information being shared before the names are exchanged.
External Awareness
Having addressed issues internally, we are starting to face outwards, for example we publish blogs and we are looking to pool our legal expertise to create a Disabled Clients’ Forum.
The final commitment that we have been asked to make is that we will share the identified actions with our organisation. We hope the actions list above shows that they are already being shared. The commitment that we make is to continue engaging with the topic and constantly striving to ensure that we are living by the values of the Valuable 500.
Accessibility in our new office
In addition to our commitment to the Valuable 500, Kingsley Napley have also collaborated with the Centre of Accessible Environments (CAE) during the construction of our new offices at 20 Bonhill. We implemented several changes to the original designs for the office interior and furniture based on the CAE's recommendations for improving accessibility.
These changes include greater visual contrast on the units at the tea/refreshment points to aid those with sight impairments, new accessible height desks at the main reception and concierge areas for colleagues and clients who use a wheelchair or who are short in stature. One other change is the increase in the number of adjustable height desks so that all staff can tailor their workspace to their specific needs, whether that be lowering the desk to a specific comfortable height, or raising it so that they can work standing up.
Diversity Matters
Making Space for Homeless Queers: An Interview with The Outside Project
This Pride Month, Kingsley Napley’s LGBTQ+ & Allies Network spoke with Carla Ecola (they/them), Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Outside Project. The Outside Project was first established in 2017 to support those within the LGBTIQ+ community who are homeless, “hidden” homeless, or feel endangered or unable to access key services, such as housing.
Trans+ History Week
Last week marked the second annual Trans+ History Week, founded by QueerAF in 2024.
Trans Day of Visibility – 31 March 2025
Trans Day of Visibility (sometimes referred to as ‘TDOV’) is an annual celebration of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people, marked every year on 31 March 2025.
Working with your Muslim Colleagues and Clients during Ramadan
Kingsley Napley wishes our Muslim Community Ramadan Kareem.
Grief Awareness Week: Learning to Live with Loss
For this year’s Grief Awareness Week, the theme is ‘Shine a light’ on those resources that might assist those who are experiencing grief.
IDAHOBIT 2024: Banning conversion therapy for all
Every year, 17 May marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Transgender Day of Visibility
Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a day for joy and celebration. It is an opportunity for trans and non-binary people to feel seen, heard and loved, and for allies to visibly show their solidarity.
Communicating difference: the importance of strong representation at the police station for neurodivergent children
Effective representation at the police station is critical especially if the child being questioned is neurodivergent.
Introducing our neurodiversity series
In celebration of neurodiversity week, we will be releasing a series of blogs - over the coming weeks - considering some of the issues faced by our neurodivergent individuals
Expansion of the disregards and pardons scheme for historic same-sex sexual activity convictions
In a long-overdue announcement by the Home Office, women who were in the past unjustly convicted of same-sex consensual sexual activity will be able to apply for their convictions to be disregarded or pardoned for the first time. This is a significant step forward for queer rights in the UK.
The importance of LGBTQ+ & Allies networks
Kingsley Napley’s LGBTQ+ & Allies network is a large, loud and proud group
IDAHOBIT: International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 2023
May 17th marks ‘International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia’, a day to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence that faces LGBTQ+ people. It serves as a reminder of the challenges the LGBTQ+ community face and the steps we still need to take to achieve LGBTQ+ equality.
Trans Day of Visibility 2023 – Echoes of The Past
On this year's Trans Day of Visibility, our Associate Ellie Fayle explains why it matters so much.
Removing barriers to recruitment for all (autistic) people
There is still much work to be done to remove the barriers preventing so many autistic people from obtaining paid employment.
On autism, art and my sister Lucy
Autism Acceptance Awareness week, (27 March to 2 April) (and its theme this year of colour), is particularly poignant for our Partner Charlotte Bradley, as 2 April marks exactly four months since her sister Lucy died (unexpectedly but peacefully), and the day before her birthday.
Who cares? What you can do to support the carers in your life
With National Carers Rights Day taking place on 24th November, Leena Lakhani, an Associate Barrister in our Criminal Litigation Team, describes in this very honest blog how she balances her professional and personal responsibilities.
National Coming Out Day: How “coming out” is more about “letting people into your life”
How “coming out” is more about “letting people into your life”
The story so far – is the SQE achieving its aims?
The SQE 2 results announcement on August 25th was a huge milestone for the legal profession. After years of wrangling and consulting, those who passed have become the first to meet the new standard of competence expected by the SRA and are within touching distance of becoming newly minted, SQE qualified, solicitors. With that in mind, it is the perfect moment for law firms to stop and reflect on what they have learnt so far and what may have changed as a result of this. Whilst it is too early to draw any definitive conclusions, we can at least take stock of the SQE’s start in life, especially with regards to the SRA’s stated aims around diversity and inclusion.
Oslo tragedy reminds us why Pride still matters
In the final blog of our Pride 2022 series, we say thank you to everyone who, in their own way, seek to make the world a kinder, better place for the LGBT* community.
1975 – 2022: An interview with Queer Strike
Pride 2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first official UK Gay Pride March held in London. We are marking each decade from 1972 to 2022 with a blog every week throughout June.