The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is to monitor the diversity of counsel from whom it procures advice under a draft Single Equality Scheme which it has put out for consultation.


The LSC said it is seeking to make more use of its procurement powers to ensure its providers and contractors understand and fulfil their duties to promote equality over the next three years.



The scheme will encourage suppliers to provide equal opportunity monitoring information and includes plans to monitor the diversity of counsel.



It also proposes commissioning research on the diversity needs of clients who access criminal defence services. In relation to the LSC as an employer, the document considers the use of positive action to boost numbers of black and minority ethnic and disabled staff.



An LSC spokesman said the programme was not about asking providers or contractors to do more, but ensuring it communicated a clear message of its standards and expectations.



Catherine Baksi