Simon Blandy discusses the role of the regulator in increasing diversity & inclusion in the legal profession
- Legal regulators have an important role in improving diversity and inclusion in the profession and ensuring the legal sector reflects more closely the communities it serves.
- Current initiatives include increasing the accuracy and effectiveness of data collection, constructive engagement and support to ensure the routes to law are open to all, and collaboration—with partners from within and beyond the legal profession.
The Legal Services Board (LSB) concluded in its ‘State of Legal Services 2020’ report that, even though there had been some improvements, overall progress in improving diversity and inclusion within the legal services sector had been slow.
A number of different initiatives and approaches have been employed across the legal sector in an attempt to improve diversity and inclusion. Law firms of course are often held up to scrutiny, more so recently, to ensure their workforce is diverse and accurately represents the client base the profession serves. But it is not only law firms responsible and accountable for diversity
