The Law Society has been ordered to pay damages to a former employee after it was found guilty of disability discrimination by an employment tribunal.

The settlement saw the plaintiff, Elizabeth Marshall, awarded an undisclosed sum of compensation following a hearing in the London Central Employment Tribunal last month (16 August).

Marshall, previously a policy adviser to both the Law Society president and chief executive, had been made redundant and offered an opportunity to reapply for other vacancies within the Society.

The tribunal found that the Law Society had discriminated against Marshall, who has cerebral palsy, by failing to adjust to her needs in a practical assessment stage of her application for a role as speech writer.

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers are required to make 'reasonable adjustments' to applications, interviews and work so as not to disadvantage disabled applicants.

Law Society chief executive Des Hudson said: "The Law Society is committed to equality and diversity both as an employer and as a representative body for solicitors.

"We regularly review our relevant policies and procedures to ensure we can deliver that commitment and are doing so now in the light of the recent tribunal. Like any responsible employer, we do not discuss any individual's employment issues in public."