An increasing number of US corporate clients are demanding that law firms put ethnic minority lawyers in senior positions on their briefs - and UK clients will soon follow suit, the president of the American Bar Association (ABA) predicted last weekend.

Dennis Archer told delegates at the Minority Lawyers Conference in London that 350 general counsel in the US have signed up to a new scheme designed to promote diversity.

Companies involved include Starbucks, Reebok and Shell.

Under the scheme, general counsel force their law firms to reveal the amount of legal work related to their company which is being performed by lawyers who have identified themselves as from a minority ethnic group, or who are women, disabled or homosexual.

The law firm is then asked to provide details of partners and associates from these groups and told to use them in supervisory roles in relation to the company's work.

Mr Archer said: 'Any profession that intends to do business here or in the US in this century must reflect the diversity of our society because the client base will demand it.

I would encourage companies in the UK to do the same.'

Yvonne Brown, chairwoman of the Law Society's Black Solicitors Network, said: 'The scheme is a good idea and there is no reason why it shouldn't be applicable here.

Law firms get concerned by the idea of positive discrimination, but this is more a case of positive action.

It's a good way of making sure they are not overlooking talent.'

Several delegates also backed the concept.

One said: 'In the last 20 years, black and Asian people have made a significant contribution to business and are now in a position of power.

We need to make use of this when instructing law firms.'

Another added: 'I work for a City firm and the one thing that makes the partners sit up and pay attention is money.

If clients insist on diversity, they will soon want to know what diversity is.'

Rachel Rothwell