Encouraging a diverse legal profession

The LSB and the regulators we oversee share a statutory objective to encourage an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession. Our work focuses on the role regulation can play in helping people from all backgrounds enter the profession, progress and thrive.

Our approach

In October 2026, we announced that we would not proceed at this time with the statutory statement of policy we consulted on between November 2025 and March 2026.

There was strong support for a more diverse profession, but respondents raised practical concerns about applying the proposals across different regulatory frameworks and their potential impact on resources, particularly for small firms. Having reflected on this feedback, we have decided not to pursue a statutory statement of policy at this time. We also accept that to achieve meaningful change, we need to enable regulators to develop a range of approaches which are better suited to different parts of the profession.

Our 2017 statutory guidance remains in place. We will continue to hold regulators accountable, contribute to joint work and make our research available to support action across the sector.

Read our full statement: Our approach to encouraging a diverse legal profession through regulation.

Guidance and regulatory oversight

Our guidance on encouraging a diverse workforce, published in February 2017, sets out the outcomes we expect regulators to achieve. These cover understanding the diversity of their professions, using evidence to inform and evaluate their work, collaborating with others and reporting on progress.

The guidance gives regulators flexibility to develop approaches suited to their professions. We assess their progress through our regulatory performance framework, looking at the barriers they identify, the action they take and whether they can demonstrate that it is making a difference.

We have also agreed principles for tackling counter-inclusive misconduct with regulators and disciplinary tribunals, to support more inclusive workplaces across the profession.

Working with others

We are a member of the Judicial and Legal Diversity Board, launched in May 2026 and jointly chaired by the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice.

The Board brings together government, the judiciary and organisations across legal services to address barriers to judicial careers. We contribute evidence and learning from our work, recognising that a more diverse judiciary depends on opportunities for people to enter and progress through the legal professions.

Research and resources

These resources are available for regulators, professional bodies, employers and others to use when developing and evaluating their work on diversity and inclusion.

The lived experiences of legal professionals: barriers to getting in, being in and getting on (2023)
Research exploring the barriers people experience when entering and progressing through the legal profession.

Mapping systemic barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal professions (2024)
Research examining how barriers within the profession connect and reinforce one another. An accompanying interactive map helps users explore those connections.

Profiling the diversity of the judicial talent pipeline (2024)
Research into diversity at different stages of the career paths leading to the judiciary.

Strengthening the evaluation of Judicial Diversity Forum partners’ diversity initiatives (2022)
Research and recommendations on designing diversity initiatives and assessing their effectiveness.

Blogs, discussions and events

Over several years, stakeholders have shared research, personal experiences and examples of work to encourage a more diverse and inclusive profession. Explore their contributions below.

These pieces reflect the views and circumstances at the time of publication. Earlier articles about the LSB’s policy work should be read alongside our latest statement above.

Using evidence to understand barriers and improve practice

Entering and progressing through the profession

Building inclusive workplaces and professional cultures

The role of regulation

These articles and speeches explain approaches and proposals discussed during the development of our work.

Events, recordings and reflections

Past invitations and research calls

These posts record earlier opportunities to contribute. They are included for reference.

Consultation on policy statement on ‘Encouraging a diverse legal profession’ (2025-26)

We consulted on a draft statement of policy on ‘Encouraging a diverse legal profession.’ The draft statement contained a series of outcomes and expectations for legal services regulators to pursue in support of equality and diversity across the profession.

The consultation ran from 27 November 2025 to 2 March 2026 at 14:00.

The following respondents indicated that they we could share their responses here: