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Law Society will stop using ‘Dear Sirs’
2019/20 Law Society President Michele O'Boyle Pic: Cian Redmond
02 Oct 2020 / law society Print

Law Society will stop using ‘Dear Sirs’

The Law Society has decided to end the use of ‘Dear Sirs’ as a salutation in formal letters.

After researching the matter, the Society’s Coordination Committee, which is chaired by President Michele O’Boyle (pictured), has decided to discontinue the use of what she described as “this outdated greeting”.

Timely

“The use of the exclusive and gendered ‘Dear Sirs’ runs contrary to the Law Society’s gender equality, diversity and inclusion policy and we believe it is timely to remove the ‘Dear Sirs’ salutation from all formal letters and business emails,” President O’Boyle writes in the latest President’s Bulletin.

The Law Society is to cease using the greeting immediately and is encouraging members to do likewise.

Suggestions for a more gender neutral approach include:

  • Dear Mr/Ms Surname,
  • Dear Colleague,
  • Dear ‘Position’ (managing partner, senior associate, etc),
  • A Chara,
  • Dear Counsel.
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