By Anita Rice


Some 20% of the big law firms which took part in the Black Solicitors Network's (BSN) annual diversity survey do not have any black or minority ethnic (BME) partners, the Gazette can reveal.



Sixteen of the 81 firms which completed this year's questionnaire did not have a single BME partner. The picture was even worse for black solicitors, defined as being of African/Caribbean descent, with more than 80% of respondent firms reporting they had no black partners.



As a proportion of all partners in the sample, just 3.7% were from ethnic minorities. Almost half of those were from Asian backgrounds, but only 0.2% were black. Nearly one in ten associates (9.8%) in the sample were BME lawyers.



Just 22% of partners were female, whereas 54% of associates in the survey were women.



For its second diversity survey, the BSN worked in conjunction with the University of Westminster. Of the 81 firms surveyed, 63 were in the UK's top 100 by size, six were leading firms outside the top 100 and 12 were international firms. The report welcomed a 14% increase in top 100 firms taking part, but noted some major City firms did not participate.



BSN vice-president Michael Webster, editor of the report, said the results were similar to last year and, as such, 'are not a shock'. He said the BSN would like 'the process to be speeded up so as to have more diversity as soon as possible', but believes changes in recruitment policies are the best way to address the current shortfall of diversity in the profession.



As 25% of legal practice course students are now from ethnic minorities and 63% are women, firms should be looking at how to broaden their recruitment policies, he added. 'Firms need a more positive recruitment policy in place... there are a range of good, diverse candidates who can fulfil the requirements of City firms, who are at a variety of universities - not just Oxbridge. They should look at actively recruiting from these institutions where there is a much wider range of candidates,' Mr Webster said.



Law Society chief executive Des Hudson said: 'Our profession must reflect the wider society from which our members come. The BSN alongside the Law Society are helping the profession to better understand the need to build a diverse and open workforce, and any information that assists in improving in this vital area is to be welcome.'



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