Kirby issues statement on reports

Law Society Vice-President Carolyn Kirby this week issued a statement in the wake of controversy surrounding remarks attributed to her in recent press reports.

She said: 'Remarks made by me in the course of a private conversation over two years ago have been reported in the press and elsewhere out of context and labelled as racist.

I have previously attempted to explain the circumstances around those remarks but they continue to be misinterpreted.

'I want to put the record straight once and for all.

I absolutely refute that my remarks were made with racist intent.

I deplore racism and would never knowingly cause offence to Asian lawyers or individuals from an ethnic minority background.

'When I received a letter from Ali Zaidi, the chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers, pointing out that offence had been caused by remarks attributed to me, I immediately asked to meet him.

At the meeting with Mr Zaidi and his colleague, Raj Doobay, I discussed the circumstances surrounding the remarks which related to the complaints of bullying brought by Law Society staff against the former Vice-President, Kamlesh Bahl.

'Both accepted my explanation that my remarks were taken out of context but made me aware of the extent of the offence that had been caused nonetheless.

During the meeting I expressed my sincere regret that some of my colleagues were offended and I do so now publicly.

'I very much hope that all my colleagues in the profession and in particular ethnic minority lawyers will understand and accept that any offence was entirely unintended.

'In his letter to me, Mr Zaidi said that in his experience, Asians struggle to reach managerial positions even when better qualified than their non-Asian peers and even then, still have to deal with the prejudices other peers would not face.

I acknowledge that this is often the case and that ethnic minority lawyers can experience a similar struggle.

As part of my programme as president of the Law Society, I will be striving to deal with this.

'I hope that I can now concentrate on the future and I look forward to working with the Society of Asian Lawyers and other ethnic minority groups to build on the very good work already underway in implementing the Law Society's equality and diversity strategy.

I am grateful to the Society for Asian Lawyers for taking the time to discuss these issues with me.'

The Society of Asian Lawyers is set to distribute this statement to all of its members.

In a covering letter, Mr Zaidi said: 'While SAL does not condone the comments attributed to Carolyn, we do commend her for recognising the offence caused.'