Lawyers directed to stop writing 'Dear Sirs' in letters

The Law Society of England and Wales has issued new guidance advising lawyers to stop using the traditional salutation “Dear Sirs” in professional correspondence, describing it as “inaccurate, outdated, and inappropriate” in today’s diverse and inclusive legal environment.

According to the updated guidance, the phrase—used in legal letters for centuries—originated during a time when the legal profession was dominated by men and no longer reflects the gender diversity of modern practice.

The Society recommends several neutral greetings that can be used instead, including “Dear team,” “Dear colleagues,” “To whom it may concern,” “Dear [organisation],” “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “Greetings.”

It also advised that, where possible, correspondents should use the recipient’s actual name rather than a generic opening, noting that formality can still be maintained with closings such as “Yours faithfully.”

The move follows broader institutional efforts within the UK’s legal and public sectors to promote gender-neutral and inclusive language, similar to initiatives by judges, councils, schools, and major corporations discouraging the use of “sir” and “madam.”

The campaign to drop “Dear Sirs” from legal documents gained traction in 2016 after Megan Gray, a solicitor, successfully lobbied Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer—one of the Magic Circle firms—to abandon the phrase. Her advocacy prompted others, including Clifford Chance and Quinn Emanuel, to follow suit.

The Law Society concluded that while corporate conventions matter, respect and inclusivity must guide professional communication.

The move signals a wider cultural shift within legal circles — one that aligns the language of the law with the principles of equity and representation it seeks to uphold.