Our next steps

We will develop and finalise a collaborative action plan that is informed by the research findings and by working with others across the sector.

We will also invite people and organisations to reflect on and share views on the research before agreeing a collective way forward. To achieve this, we plan to bring together law firms, education providers and representative groups later this year to agree how we can work together to address the issues identified in the report.

We note the importance of representation, assessment preparation and the value of paid work experience and networking opportunities. Therefore, our action plan will likely include updating and more widely publicising our:

• law firm diversity data tool, so that the current diversity of the profession is more visible to those in education and the profession
• information about qualifying as a solicitor
• apprenticeship information for aspiring solicitors and employers
• SQE assessment information which includes the assessment specification and sample questions for both SQE1 and SQE2. Along with information on what to expect on the assessment days and how to get a range of help and support.

Our Corporate Strategy for 2023-26 highlights that one of our aims for the SQE is to open up access to the profession to aspiring solicitors from every background. Findings from this will help inform our SQE evaluation programme, phase three of which is starting this year.

We publish the SQE results data. In due course, our SQE data collection (and publication) will allow us and others to examine a larger body of data, across a single assessment that is centrally marked. Over time, this will allow us to develop a more nuanced understanding about the results by various diversity characteristics.

And we will progress our action plan to significantly improve ethnic diversity at senior levels in the SRA.