The importance of diversity in the legal profession

By Illka José.

Reading time: four minutes

For National Inclusion Week 2024, taking place from Monday, September 23 to Sunday, September 29, this year’s theme is #ImpactMatters, building on last year’s #TakeActionMakeImpact. Illka José has written an insightful piece on the significance of diversity in the legal sector.

The legal profession, by its very nature, represents fairness, justice, equality, and equity, all of which are undermined when there is a lack of diversity within its ranks. The ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic variety of the cultures they represent is still a challenge for law firms and legal institutions around the world, despite all the recent progress made within their systems. So, can a legal system be truly fair if its professionals do not reflect the diversity of society?

Read this article on how to create lasting change in the legal profession: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/09/19/national-inclusion-week-2024-how-to-create-lasting-change-in-the-legal-profession/

Ensuring equal representation

One of the main reasons as to why diversity is essential in the legal profession is to ensure that everyone is equally represented. When solicitors, barristers, judges, and legal professionals come from varied backgrounds, they often bring about unique perspectives that can heavily influence case outcomes and legal representation. This diversity will ensure that the experiences and needs of all communities are considered, leading to fairer and more equitable legal actions.

Jemma Smith believes that everyone should experience equality in their workplace, but according to recent statistics, not all do. She believes that while there is still a long way to go in improving diversity in the employers have made massive positive changes. Moreover, equal representation in the legal profession fosters major trust between the system and the public. When individuals see and talk to professionals who reflect their own backgrounds, they are more likely to feel understood, valued and represented. This trust is essential for encouraging people to engage with the legal system, seek professional legal assistance and comply with the law.

Read this article to find out why diversity in law firms remains a a key issue: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/01/02/are-law-firms-truly-embracing-diversity/

Broader perspectives for better legal outcomes

In addition to ensuring equal representation, diversity within the legal profession enriches the practice of law itself. Legal professionals often deal with complex issues that require a deep understanding of diverse cultural and social contexts. A diverse team is most likely to approach problems from multiple perspectives, which promotes innovation and encourages creative solutions that might otherwise be overlooked in a homogeneous environment.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) asserts that adiverse and representative profession means improved choice and a better experience for the public in using legal services. So diverse perspectives allow legal teams to anticipate a wider range of legal and social consequences, leading to more effective strategies and better outcome for clients. For example, a legal professional working on a case involving immigration may benefit from having lawyers on the team who are immigrants themselves or who come from immigrant families.

Read this article to find out why culture competence is important in law: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/03/30/the-importance-of-cultural-competence/

Addressing the changing demographics of society

As societies worldwide are shifting to encourage more diversity, the legal profession must keep pace with these demographic shifts to remain relevant and effective. In the UK, the population has grown increasingly diverse in the last few years, as immigration and social changes are reshaping the face of modern society. Despite these demographic changes, the legal profession remains predominantly white and male, especially in positions of leadership.

According to the SRA diversity data, 53% of lawyers are women, 19% are black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers, while 6% are disabled. These statistics indicate that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to promote diversity in the legal profession, seeing as firms are more aware of where improvements can be made, and are striving to implement these changes where possible.

Read this article to find out if the legal profession is fit for people with disabilities: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/05/01/is-the-legal-profession-fit-for-people-with-disabilities/

To bring about the relevant changes, the legal profession must make a concerted effort to recruit, retain, and promote legal professionals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that they have equal opportunities for leadership roles and career advancement.

Essential reminders

• Law impacts every facet of society, making it vital for the profession to reflect the communities it serves.

• A diverse legal workforce fosters fairness, equity, and access to justice for all.

• Diverse representation brings new perspectives to legal arguments, enhancing the quality of legal advocacy.

• Addressing unconscious biases in legal practice can help reduce disparities in the justice system.

To find out more about diversity in the legal profession, you can read my other articles on:

• The burden of being the only one in the room; and
• The importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.