A disproportionately high number of lawyers come from a privileged background compared to the UK population. However, the largest firms have the greatest proportion of those who went to independent or fee-paying schools, at 29% (30% in 2019) compared to 16% at one-partner firms and 7.5% of the working population as a whole and the greatest proportion of lawyers from a professional socio-economic background, at 68% compared to 46% at one-partner firms and 37% of the working population.
Women make up 61% of solicitors but only 35% of partners (up from 34% in 2019), although only 31% of partners at larger firms. Black, Asian or minority ethnic origin solicitors make up 17% of the profession (up 0.5%) but only 8% of partners at larger firms compared to 23% at firms with two-five partners and 35% at one-partner firms.
Disability within the profession appears to be under-reported, at 5% (up from 4% in 2019) compared to 14% of the wider UK working population.
Anna Bradley, Chair of the SRA, said: ‘We know that many firms have excellent initiatives in place to address progression and retention, but there is clearly more to be done.’
Over at the Bar, men continue to outnumber women (nearly 39% of barristers and nearly 18% (up one per cent) of QCs), according to the BSB’s annual diversity report.
The percentage of barristers from minority ethnic backgrounds (nearly 15%) now matches the working population of the UK, although not yet at silk level (less than 10% are from minority ethnic backgrounds). However, people from a Black/Black British background remain underrepresented at all levels of the Bar.
Less than 7% of barristers disclosed a disability.
BSB head of equality and access to justice, Shadae Cazeau said: ‘The Bar is increasingly diverse, but there is still more work to be done.’
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