The Guardian newspaper published an article on 12 October 2025 highlighting the continued underrepresentation of Black talent in the legal profession in the United Kingdom and the resistance faced when initiatives aimed at improving diversity are introduced. Pauline Campbell, Chair of the Race Equality Network, argues that the legal industry must stop acting as if opportunities are equal when data shows otherwise.
The article focuses on the Bar Council’s participation in the 10,000 Black Interns programme, which provides paid internships to Black university students and graduates. The initiative is lawful “positive action” under the Equality Act 2010 and is intended to improve access and visibility for Black candidates, particularly in pathways leading to senior positions such as King’s Counsel. Despite this, political backlash emerged immediately, with critics falsely labelling the programme as discriminatory.
Campbell cites data revealing the extent of systemic inequity. A 2022 study, The 1% Study, found that fewer than 1% of partners in major UK law firms are Black, equating to only 90 out of 13,403 partners. Research by Nuffield College shows ethnic minorities must submit 60% more job applications than white candidates for the same opportunities—a barrier unchanged in half a century. The Bar Standards Board also found that Black candidates are less likely to secure pupillage even when they hold equivalent academic qualifications.
The Legal Services Board has warned that the profession may already be breaching its duties to protect minorities. Campbell argues that meaningful equity—not merely the appearance of fairness—requires structural intervention, and the discomfort some express toward such initiatives reflects resistance to real change.