In line with our statutory powers, we have produced Codes of Practice on Employment, Services and Equal Pay. The main purpose of the Codes of Practice is to provide detailed explanations of the provisions in the Act and to apply legal concepts in the Act to everyday situations. This will assist courts and tribunals when interpreting the law and help lawyers, advisers, trades union representatives, human resources departments and others who need to apply the law. As with the Act, the Codes apply to England, Scotland and Wales.

The Codes set out clearly and precisely what the legislation means. They draw on precedent and case law and explain the implications of every clause in technical terms. These statutory codes are the authoritative source of advice for anyone who wants a rigorous analysis of the legislation's detail. For lawyers, advocates and human resources experts in particular, they will be invaluable.

These Codes of Practice became law on 6 April 2011.

You can purchase printed copies of the Codes from The Stationery Office (TSO) website or download them from the links below.

• Code of Practice on Employment

Our post consultation report highlights the concerns that stakeholders raised with us during the Equality Act Codes of Practice consultation period in 2010. The report explains how we addressed these concerns and how this stakeholder input has ultimately improved the final version of these Codes.

• The Equality Act Codes of Practice post consultation report