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14 October 2022 / Simon Blandy
Issue: 7998 / Categories: Features , Profession , Regulatory , Diversity
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Diversity: Regulating for change

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Simon Blandy discusses the role of the regulator in increasing diversity & inclusion in the legal profession
  • Legal regulators have an important role in improving diversity and inclusion in the profession and ensuring the legal sector reflects more closely the communities it serves.
  • Current initiatives include increasing the accuracy and effectiveness of data collection, constructive engagement and support to ensure the routes to law are open to all, and collaboration—with partners from within and beyond the legal profession.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) concluded in its ‘State of Legal Services 2020’ report that, even though there had been some improvements, overall progress in improving diversity and inclusion within the legal services sector had been slow.

A number of different initiatives and approaches have been employed across the legal sector in an attempt to improve diversity and inclusion. Law firms of course are often held up to scrutiny, more so recently, to ensure their workforce is diverse and accurately represents the client base the profession serves.

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Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

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NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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