Law Society publishes guidance to support Black or minority ethnic students entering the profession

To coincide with Black History Month, the Law Society of England and Wales has published new guidance to support black or minority ethnic students entering into the profession.

The guidance provides advice on:

• challenging assumptions and overcoming barriers
• securing a training opportunity, and
• funding opportunities

Aspiring solicitors are encouraged to obtain a training opportunity by being proactive and building a network, making connections and utilising their background.

As law firms search for the unique insights and experiences, minority ethnic solicitors can provide cultural and regional understandings as well as an additional language or anything else unique to their background.

The guidance also provides a range of funding opportunities available to black or minority ethnic students. This includes the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which has supported 300 talented trainees pursue their career ambitions since 2004.

Freshfields’ scholarship has also helped 28 scholars accept training contracts at the firm and 84% of vacation scheme holders that attended the Aspiring Solicitors’ headstart workshop secured a training contract.

Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The journey to a legal career can be a daunting experience for all aspiring solicitors. For a minority ethnic student, the extremely competitive environment may feel even more overwhelming, especially with the added challenges of having to overcome barriers often based on assumptions and lack of knowledge.

“As we celebrate Black History Month, I urge aspiring solicitors to make use of our guidance in order to enter the legal profession and widen the talent pool to help shape a dynamic and diverse workforce.

"Those looking to enter the legal profession should not feel shy about promoting their abilities and insight as valuable assets, both at interview stage and through their career progression."

Notes to editors

Find out about Black History Month

Find out about the Diversity Access Scheme

Other funding opportunities available include:

• the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship
• Rare/Herbert Smith Freehills
• the Aspiring Solicitors’ scholarship
• Dentons’ Now to Next scholarship

In 1990, there were 709 minority ethnic solicitors. This rose to 21,000 in 2022.

There is a higher representation of minority ethnic women in the profession compared to minority ethnic men.

In terms of representation by ethnic group, Asian solicitors are more represented than Black solicitors.

The proportion of solicitors belonging to an minority ethnic group was notably higher than that found in the working population of England and Wales (18% compared to 14% respectively).

Read the becoming a solicitor as a black or minority ethnic student guidance

About the Law Society

The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.

Press office contact: Naomi Jeffreys | 020 8049 3928