We're enormously proud to officially adopt the Halo Code at Anthony Collins. It's the latest in the many ways we're turning our vision into reality of the firm being a place where everyone genuinely feels they belong. 

The Halo Code explicitly protects employees who come to work with natural hair and protective hairstyles associated with their racial, ethnic and cultural identities. I love this statement in the Halo Code: ‘In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.'

Despite hair being a protected racial characteristic, hair discrimination continues to be a source of racial injustice. Based on a study by World Afro Day and De Montfort University, one in five Black women feel societal pressure to straighten their hair for work. I would hazard a guess that this is perhaps even higher in the legal industry. 

At Anthony Collins, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities, fostering an ethos of equity and respect. We are committed to being a place where people feel they belong and can be themselves. 

As part of our commitment to the Halo Code, we have ensured our dress code (which was pretty relaxed for a law firm to start with!) now explicitly states that we embrace all Afro-hairstyles and all head and hair coverings. 

As well as adopting the Halo Code, earlier in the year, two of our lawyers shared their personal experience of wearing hijabs in their podcast ‘Hijab Journey'.

A big thanks to Carol, Charlotte, Nana and Precious for letting me use your smiley photos for this piece!