SRA legal diversity survey announced as chief executive resigns

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced the details of its 2013 diversity survey.

The survey, now in its second year, obliges firms to give all of their employees (whether or not they are legally qualified) the opportunity to complete a questionnaire on diversity. Firms must then report the data to the SRA by 31 January 2014.

As of this year, firms must also make their own arrangements to annually publish their diversity data, providing that it protects employee anonymity and complies with data protection laws. Information on employees' age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background and caring responsibilities must all be included in the published data. The Law Society has produced guidance on best practice to support firms in meeting these requirements.

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, president of the Law Society, said: "It's important that firms understand the diversity of their own organisations. They can only improve diversity if they know what to target…complying with regulatory requirements can help [firms] identify opportunities to develop greater diversity, opening the door to talent they may have been overlooking."

Meanwhile in other news, the chief executive of the SRA, Anthony Townsend, has announced that he is stepping down after seven years in the role. He will leave once his successor has been appointed.

As reported by Legal Futures, Townsend said: "I have headed up the SRA from its inception. The pace of change has been relentless; the challenges have been formidable. The SRA now has a firm basis upon which to develop and mature its new approach to regulation. I have concluded that after seven years it is a good time for me to move on."