SRA emphasises commitment to equality and diversity reform

The chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) equality, diversity and inclusion committee has emphasised the SRA’s commitment to addressing the disproportionately high representation of black and minority ethnic (BAME) solicitors in the regulator’s disciplinary work.

Speaking at a LexisNexis and Black Solicitors Network event, SRA board member Jane Furniss said that the regulator was working to address disproportionality and better understand its causes. Furniss also acknowledged that central to this aim is the need to address the way the SRA regulates small firms and sole practitioners. The SRA’s reassurance follows the concern expressed by equality and race relations expert Professor Gus John earlier this year, who said that the SRA should "look very carefully and urgently at how sole practitioners and small firms are regulated".

Furniss said: "We have always recognised that a ‘one-size fits all model of regulation’ cannot be applied to a complex sector where one size fits few. Significant progress has been made to make sure that equality and diversity are embedded into leadership and staff at all levels. We are considering fully the findings of Professor Gus John's independent comparative case review to improve the consistency, justifiability and transparency of our regulatory decisions."