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Discrimination & bias affecting legal candidates from certain ethnic backgrounds

05 June 2024
Issue: 8074 / Categories: Legal News , Education , Training & education , Discrimination , Bias , Profession
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Research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has identified multiple factors explaining why candidates from certain ethnic groups perform better than others in professional legal assessments

The study, by the University of Exeter and published this week, uncovered: discrimination and bias in education settings; decreased access to work experience opportunities in law firms; lack of ethnic diversity among academic staff, resulting in classroom bias; students’ sense of belonging; funding issues; and lack of role models.

Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, said: ‘This is a wakeup call for the legal and education sectors.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
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The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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