The Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) has launched a survey to better understand the challenges faced by legal professionals with disabilities and to identify ways to improve accessibility and inclusion within the province’s legal profession. The initiative seeks input not only from those with lived experience but also from friends, family, and colleagues who…
What is on the journey to practice and what drives them?
A joint study by US non-profit organisations, the Pennsylvania-based Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and Illinois’ Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP), profiles the backgrounds, motivations, and career aspirations of today’s law students. The findings reveal that the 2024 first-year cohort is the most diverse yet, with 41.8% from racial or ethnic minority…
Wisconsin Bar redefines ‘diversity’ to settle discrimination lawsuit
The State Bar of Wisconsin has revised its definition of “diversity” in response to a two-year legal challenge brought by the conservative legal group, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), which alleged the bar’s leadership programs discriminated on the basis of race. The bar will now define diversity more broadly, focusing on “differing characteristics,…
Canadian Bar Association on measuring diversity
The article Measuring Diversity highlights the growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion (D&I) within Canadian law firms, reflecting the increasingly diverse nature of the national workforce. In recognition of this shift, many firms are integrating D&I considerations into their talent management strategies to foster more inclusive and high-performing work environments. To support these efforts, the…
Continued suspension of diversity standard suggested by American Bar Association legal education committee
On 2 May 2025, the Standards Committee of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar issued a memo recommending that enforcement of Standard 206, which governs diversity and inclusion in law school accreditation, remain suspended until 31 August 2026. This recommendation comes ahead of the Section’s Council meeting scheduled…
Equal Pay Day: large salary gaps continue to exist in the legal profession in Germany
On March 7, 2025, Germany observed Equal Pay Day, symbolizing the persistent gender pay gap, which stood at 16% in 2024—a decrease from 18% in prior years, marking the sharpest drop since 2006, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Adjusted for factors like industry, qualifications, and working hours, the gap remains steady at 6%. This…
The role of regulation in promoting diversity – or why the regulator should not stay out of the way
In a recent blog post, Mark Neale, Chief Executive of the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales, rebutted the suggestion from the Chair of the Bar Council that the regulator should “stay out of the way” concerning issues of equality and diversity within the legal profession. The Bar Standards Board very different stance on…
Legal Services Board unveils interactive map and research to drive action to enhance legal sector diversity
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published an interactive map along with two comprehensive reports aiming to break down barriers within the legal profession that hinder individuals from diverse backgrounds from achieving successful legal careers. These initiatives pinpoint critical stages in legal careers where barriers such as elitist perceptions, undervaluation of non-traditional entry paths, workplace…
Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: Challenges and Solutions
The Alameda County Bar Association, a representative local Bar Association in California has published a helpful summary on diversity and inclusion issues in the legal profession and how these can be addressed. In “Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: Challenges and Solutions”, the ACBA highlights the urgent need for increased diversity and inclusion within…
Potential causes of differential outcomes by ethnicity in legal professional assessments
The University of Exeter has published the results of a study commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales, which seeks to explore the reasons behind varying legal qualification outcomes among students of different ethnicities. The research revealed that these differences are likely to stem from a complex interaction of factors including social,…