The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum of solicitors has put into action a ‘five-step plan’ together with the Law Society, which is designed to protect BME lawyers from discrimination when renewing their professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover.

Law Society head of equality and diversity Pat Corcoran said she is receiving new reports every day from BME solicitors who believe they were discriminated against in last year’s renewals process.

To assist in the evidence gathering stage of the action plan, Society of Asian Lawyers (SAL) chairman Sundeep Bhatia urged solicitors from ethnic minorities who had experienced ‘unexplained refusals’ of cover from insurers to contact the BME Forum.

Corcoran said she is already in discussions with the Association of British Insurers as part of the second stage of the plan. Remaining steps will involve informal discussions with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, a review of how insurers assess risk and talks with the Solicitors Regulation Authority to see how it can work with qualifying insurers to eradicate discrimination.