Pauline Campbell questions the rate of progress on diversity & access across the legal profession
- 1% of partners within legal firms are black—are perceptions standing in the way of progress?
- Despite innovative practices, top legal firms in the UK are losing out on talented candidates due to a hesitancy to embrace change.
As a nominee for Legal Personality of the Year at the LexisNexis Legal Awards last year, I was delighted to attend the prestigious awards ceremony. Looking out at the sea of white faces, so different to my dark brown skin, however, I could not help feeling disheartened that the profession I love still has so far to go to address its lack of diversity.
The solicitor view
Law firms are taking action. To give just two examples, Browne Jacobson has developed its FAIRE (Fairer Access Into Legal Careers) programme to inspire others to help break down barriers, while Clifford Chance works with graduate recruitment diversity specialist RARE to reach high-potential candidates they might otherwise miss.
Clients are exerting pressure
