A private practice lawyer who has been appointed to the powerful post of director of private sector at the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) will target the legal sector in her new role, the Gazette has learned.


Brenda Stern, head of public affairs and public policy at City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, said she would use the role to force law firms to face up to the issue of discrimination.


She said: 'I have the legal sector in my sights. As a professional services sector, the legal fraternity needs to have an honest process of introspection. There is enormous room for improvement in not just recruitment, but promotion and retention of ethnic minority lawyers.


'The government has reform of the legal sector firmly on the agenda and where we can dovetail with government to promote a positive agenda and positive change, we will. As lawyers, there is room for improvement - we are officers of the court and guardians of the law, and need to be setting the best examples.'


Ms Stern, who has been appointed to the CRE on a two-year secondment, said the new role will involve working with the private sector to promote equality without the need to extend legislation that currently only applies to the public sector. She added: 'This will be a collaborative venture to work with the private sector in a real, not superficial way. We aim to create a self-regulating environment in a way that does not require a heavy regulatory hand. But if there is not co-operation, other measures will be investigated.'


Ms Stern will still spend one day a week at Berwin Leighton Paisner in her role as head of public affairs and public policy.