Reporting Scope

AusLSA reports annually on behalf of its members based on its Sustainability Framework and produces the annual Legal Sector Sustainability Insight.

The Sustainability Framework was developed between 2014-2017 in consultation with members, thought leaders and legal sector stakeholders. 

How we report 

Each year all AusLSA members are invited to report based on AusLSA’s standard reporting framework. Reporting is open from July until early September. 

Reporting involves participating firms addressing a series of questions aimed at measuring levels of commitment, transparency, activity and achievements in a range of related categories. This information is collected using our Sustainability Reporting and Analysis Tool (SRAT). 

The annual Legal Sector Sustainability Insight is edited by the Australian Legal Sector Alliance with assistance from a range of contributors and expert stakeholders.

What we report 

AusLSA's Sustainability Framework and Reporting Framework has evolved progressively since 2009. Each year AusLSA seeks feedback from members, stakeholders and thought leaders to refine and improve its reporting criteria. 

Most recently AusLSA's has expanded its environmental reporting with the addition of more comprehensive reporting across the People, Community and Governance pillars.

In developing these questions the AusLSA Executive and Board carefully balanced the coverage and depth of reporting to optimise the following criteria 

• Participation levels
  
• Relevance/materiality 
  
• Alignment with best practice and international frameworks  
  
• Alignment with existing reporting undertaken by members
  
• Efficiency of information gathering
  
• Rigour and reliability of information reported
  

The development of AusLSA’s reporting framework and the analysis and commentary included in this report is greatly assisted by the input of a group of key organisations: 

• The Australian Pro Bono Centre - legal pro bono programs
  
• The Workplace Gender Equity Agency - gender equity and flexible working
  
• Philanthropy Australia - corporate giving and non-legal volunteering
  
• Pride in Diversity - LGBTI inclusion
  
• the Legal Profession Reconciliation Network - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reconciliation and 
  
• the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation - psychological well-being 
  
• Ernst & Young.
  

AusLSA collects five categories of information to complete its report. 

1. Free text (where members can explain their commitments, achievements and challenges)
   
2. Standardised options - where firms can list activities, initiatives and programs they participate in)
   
3. Standardised questions (where firms are asked to answer specific questions)
   
4. Standardised quantitative results data
   
5. Links to additional information including logos, key contacts for further public information)

As an example the SRAT assists in data collection by focusing on data options that are readily available through normal operational processes, for example giving users the option to enter data such as taxi expenditure, or number of flights taken rather than requiring detailed activity data such as taxi or flight mileage. The SRAT uses the latest emissions factors, industry data and models from a variety of sources, most notably the National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA

2017 - Reporting Framework (reporting questions) 

An MS Word version of the full set of Proposed Questions and Guidance for 2017 is available for download here. Additional questions covering Staff Learning and Development, Paper Certifications and Public Sustainability reporting are proposed for 2017. These questions are currently being circulated for members and will be finalised at the end of June. A shorter set of Proposed Additional Questions for 2017 is available for download here

Key Dates between June-November 2017

• Confirm reporting member contacts and user accounts - end June  
  
• Complete annual review and finalise 2017 Reporting Framework for 2017 - end June
  
• The SRAT opens for 2017 reporting - 2nd week in July)
  
• SRAT closes for 2017 reporting - last week in August
  
• Data validation and analysis - during September
  
• Report published and launched – mid November
  
• Report promoted – November/December