Ethnic minority solicitors are being urged to share their experiences of dealing with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) with a working party investigating claims that the watchdog conducts a disproportionately high number of investigations into ethnic firms.


Crossbench peer Lord Ouseley, who is the independent reviewer of the working party chaired by Anesta Weekes QC, told the Gazette: 'We are interested in the treatment [ethnic minority] solicitors experienced and how it left them feeling about the SRA in the context of fairness.'



Ouseley said he had already received unsolicited feedback from ethnic minority solicitors alleging 'bad experiences' with the SRA and wanted to give others, including non-ethnic minority solicitors, the opportunity to contribute.



Sailesh Mehta, chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers and member of the working party, said it wanted to restore trust in the SRA, adding: 'A significant number of solicitors, including my members, have expressed deep concerns about the SRA.'



An SRA spokesman said it was for the working party to 'determine the details of the review'.



Anita Rice