Solicitors’ profession now mirrors the general UK population, says Law Society

The solicitors’ profession is diversifying and increasingly reflects the makeup of the general UK population, data collected by the Law Society shows.

Recently released diversity data collected by the Law Society in 2015 shows that over 50% of solicitors represent the first generation of their family to go to university. Law Society President Robert Bourns has said that the proportion of BAME solicitors in the profession (14%) closely mirrors the general UK population, while he also pointed out that women now make up 49% of the solicitors’ profession and that more women than men are joining.

However, the data does not show that the senior end of the profession is still dominated by privileged, white men and Bourns also said that much still needs to be done to achieve true equality in the profession. He commented: “People with disabilities are under-represented in the profession and at more senior levels we have a lot of work to do before we can say with any confidence that we demonstrate equal opportunities for all.”