Solicitors dismissed Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) proposals to improve diversity in the legal profession as 'wishy washy' and 'paper policies' this week.



A report by the DCA's diversity in the professions working group said firms should publish details of the universities from which they recruit, and should review the use of online application forms as some are only accessible to those with certain academic qualifications.



The report recommended that the DCA should monitor the trend towards bespoke legal practice courses (LPC) and keep a 'watching brief' on the impact of the LNAT exam used by some universities to select law students. It suggested that the DCA should consider an audit of solicitors' conduct and training rules to identify any that are restrictive and discriminatory.



The report also told the DCA to 'consider the effects of the Carter reforms on [its] diversity work', and endorsed forthcoming DCA guidance on when it might be possible to use diversity as a procurement criterion for government work.



Sundeep Bhatia, spokesman for the Society of Asian Lawyers, said: 'These proposals are extremely weak and wishy-washy, with no teeth. They emphasise monitoring rather than action, and will not stop the worst aspects of Lord Carter's proposals... these are paper policies. There has to be some means of enforcement.'



Black Solicitors Network executive committee member Michael Webster added: 'The report is deficient in terms of substance and there are many unanswered questions. The procurement point is very weak.'



A DCA spokeswoman said the report highlighted the barriers that exist, but that the change of culture must come from the profession.



Law Society President Fiona Woolf said the report was 'helpful' in considering what more the Society and profession could do.