Birmingham firm Wragge & Co and the Law Society have been recognised in the fifth annual report by Race for Opportunity, the benchmarking organisation that promotes the business case for diversity.

Wragges came eighth in the best newcomers table, while the Law Society was fifth in the list of most improved public sector bodies.


Linda Bellis, Wragges' director of human resources, said it had decided 12 months ago to make diversity one of its key strategic issues.


She said: 'Internally we do very much have a culture of meritocracy - equal opportunities do exist and promotion and pay are transparent. Where firms are not particularly good is in getting the message out to black and ethnic minority communities that there is a career in law firms for them.'


Ms Bellis said it has sought to address this by, for example, sponsoring events and getting involved in schools. It has also set up a diversity forum internally, whose activities include analysing recruitment data.


A Law Society spokesman said: 'We will continue to pursue vigorously activities which will help us achieve our vision of leading on equality and diversity in the solicitors' profession.'