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Mr Kelly,

It is difficult to know what the true figures are. Statistically, BME work more in private practice than thier counter-parts. There are other differences as well (too many to cite here).

LORD OUSLEY’S REPORT
According to the historic and famous Report, prepared by Lord Herman Ouseley, in July 2008 (''An independent review into disproportionate regulatory outcomes for black & minority ethnic solicitors''), it was reported that:-
(A) in 2007 there were 134,378 solicitors on the Solicitors Roll in England & Wales.
(B) 108,407, or 80.7%, held Practicing Certificates (PC) & 76.2% of these were working in private practice.
(C) 10% of all solicitors & 8.3% of those holding a PC were from a black or minority ethnic background.
(D) ¼ OF BME solicitors on the Roll resided abroad.
(E) The figures were predicted to increase as more BME’s entered the profession.

PROFESSOR JOHN GUSS
Then, in February 2014, Professor Gus's infamous Report, (Independent Comparative Case Review ), which apparently was supposedly to be a follow up of Lord Ousley’s Report, did not bother to mention any statistics of overall numbers (or maybe I missed them - in a hurry to reply to you).

LAW SOCIETY
A more updated version on statistics can be accessed at http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/policy-campaigns/research-trends/annual-statistical-reports. The ‘‘key statistics’’ mentioned for 2014 are that there were
(A) 160,394 Solicitors on the Roll.
(B) 130,382 Solicitors with Practicing Certificates.
(C) ‘‘Minority ethnic groups’’ (page 2 of the report) with Practicing Certificates accounted for only 17, 831.

Interestingly on page 2 of the Report there is no reference to the usual terminology of ‘’’BAME’’ (Black, Asian & minority) groups - so unclear whether the statistic (regarding PC’s) reflects all such groups.

But on page 3 there is a reference to ‘‘BAME’’- but confusingly unclear as to whether the term is being used synonymously with ‘‘minority groups’’ or not.

There is however a blurb at the end of the Law Soceity's report occupying all of page 6 which reads:
‘‘All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by photocopying, scanning, downloading onto computer or otherwise without the written permission of the Law Society except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to the Publications Department of the Law Society. Any unauthorised or restricted act in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution’’.

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