Law Society discontinues use of outdated “Dear Sirs” salutation
Solicitors encouraged to adopt new formal greeting.
The Law Society of Ireland has launched a new policy to discontinue the outdated 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥 salutation. 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥 was traditionally used on all formal letters and business emails where the recipient was unknown.
President of the Law Society of Ireland, Michele O鈥橞oyle, said, 鈥淚n a move to make our written communications reflect a more equal, diverse and inclusive profession, the Law Society is encouraging all colleagues across the legal profession to retire the male-centric 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥 phrase and adopt greetings that have a more inclusive modern approach.鈥
鈥淚t is entirely a matter for each firm if they choose to adopt an alternative salutation or not, however, it is an initiative the Law Society is encouraging,鈥 said Ms O鈥橞oyle.
鈥淭his Law Society policy change is not a 鈥榳omen鈥檚 issue鈥. It is social progress. Women now make up over 51 per cent of the solicitors鈥 profession and the use of the 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥 salutation is no longer accurate,鈥 she explained.
Looking to the future
Highlighting the Law Society鈥檚 strategy statement, Proud of Tradition 鈥 Prepared for the Future, Ms O鈥橞oyle stated, 鈥渋t is time to retire this outdated salutation and develop and normalise other, more inclusive greetings which reflect the world we live in.鈥
鈥淔urther, the 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥 salutation conflicts with the Law Society鈥檚 Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy as it is exclusive and not reflective of gender,鈥 she explained. 鈥淚t does not represent all of our members.鈥
Alternative greetings
鈥淭here are many other suitable alternatives to 鈥淒ear Sirs鈥,鈥 said Ms O鈥橞oyle. 鈥淒ear Mr/Ms Surname, Dear Colleague, Dear Counsel, A Chara, or Dear Position, i.e. Dear Managing Partner, Dear Principal, Dear Senior Associate etc. These are all alternatives and this is not an exhaustive list.鈥
鈥淚 anticipate that my colleagues in Sligo and across the profession will welcome this initiative and will adopt personalised, gender appropriate or gender neutral greetings. It is an easy adjustment to make which will result in a more inclusive profession, however, I wish to stress that it is entirely a matter for each firm if they choose to adopt an alternative salutation or not.鈥