News
Legal profession is biased
- 22nd October 2010
Inequalities in pay and status are still endemic within the legal profession, says a report funded by the Legal Services Board.
The report, carried out by the University of Westminster, also says stereotyping and bias prevents women and black and ethnic minority solicitors getting on in their careers. The survey revealed stereotyping appears worse in the north of England.
The inequalities in pay and status is leading may women and BMW lawyers to leave the profession in ‘disproportionately high numbers’, according to the report that surveyed 77 lawyers, aspiring lawyers and former lawyers and diversity managers. It also indicates that the profession’s working patterns and culture is biased against those who are not white or lower down the social ladder.
To combat the problems of diversity, the report makes various proposals including offering bursaries for LPC students and trainee solicitors and requiring law firms to disclose data on diversity.
To read the report, visit http://www.legalservicesboard.org.uk/what_we_do/Research/Publications/pdf/lsb_diversity_in_the_legal_profession_final.pdf
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