A new steering group is to examine ethnic minority representation in the
legal profession in a bid to attract a wider pool of candidates and dispel the
sector’s Oxbridge old-boy network image.
The group has been established to advise on diversity in the sector and it
intends to focus on two key issues: ethnic minority representation in the
profession; and flexibility in working practices.
It also hopes to produce a new model for recruitment best practice that will
enable firms to be more inclusive and bring more consistency to the process.
The body includes HR practitioners from some of the legal sector’s largest
companies and will look to share knowledge from similar schemes in other
industries.
Chairwoman of the steering group Brenda King said: "We are very excited
about the formation of this group and the prospects of working to promote
diversity in the legal profession. The members represent a real partnership
between the practitioners in the firms, the recruitment specialists coupled
with ACDiversity’s experience and knowledge of promoting diversity."
The group wants to promote diversity access schemes and encourage mentoring
and enrichment programmes.
