SRA in random equality and diversity swoop
Regulator will also check whether firms are giving data to LSB
The SRA's supervision team is to contact 100 randomly-selected law firms this month to find out if they are obeying the rules on equality and diversity.
The regulator also aims to check how solicitors are responding to the LSB's diversity data requirements, which oblige firms to provide data about every member of staff by the end of this month.
A spokesman for the SRA said the regulator would 'arrange visits, sometimes accompanied by colleagues from diversity and inclusion, with a view to finding out both how they are meeting their responsibilities in this area, and how the SRA can offer support'.
The visits are part of a pilot scheme starting this month to determine whether law firms are keeping to Principle 9. Providing the data required by the LSB is an 'indicative behaviour' within the principle.
Mehrunnisa Lalani, the SRA's director of inclusion, said the project would enable the SRA to carry out 'targeted work' with firms on meeting their equality and diversity duties.
'We will then establish how firms are managing the requirement to collect diversity data, the reasons why some are not collecting it and why some are experiencing difficulties,' Lalani said.
'As a result, we will be able to assess what support and guidance firms need to comply and help us to identify key issues and good practice.
'In the continually changing legal services market, firms who have in place sound quality and diversity practices should find it easier to attract a diverse applicant and client base.'