SRA Diversity Data - questionnaire now available

COLPs, just a reminder that you will need to collect, report and publish your firm’s diversity data this summer.

You can find the Firm Diversity Data Questionnaire 2025 here.

The questionnaire was published by the SRA on 2 April, and the submission deadline has now been confirmed as 4 July 2025.

Why do we need to provide our diversity data to the SRA?

The SRA monitor the diversity of the firms they regulate and collect diversity data from law firms every other year. The latest law firm diversity data was collected in 2023 and covers solicitors and others working in SRA-regulated firms. The findings from 2023 shows a slow but steady increase in diversity among all lawyers since the previous survey in 2021

Diversity in law firms – 2023 data

The results of the 2023 diversity survey revealed the following:

• Gender: Women now make up 53% of all law firm staff, up from 48% in 2015. However, they remain underrepresented at senior levels (32% of equity partners vs. 62% of solicitors).
• Ethnicity: The proportion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers has grown from 14% in 2015 to 19% in 2023. One-partner firms have the highest ethnic diversity (39%), which drops sharply as firm size increases.
• Disability: Disabled lawyers now represent 6% of the profession (up from 3% in 2015), still below the 16% seen across the UK workforce.
• Sexual Orientation: Lesbian, gay and bi representation has risen slightly, from 3% in 2015 to 4.4% in 2023.
• Socio-economic Background: Lawyers from professional backgrounds make up 57% (down from 60% in 2019). Those from lower socio-economic backgrounds have fallen slightly (18% in 2023 vs. 21% in 2015). State school attendance among lawyers is rising (64%, up from 59% in 2015).
• Firm Size Impact: Larger firms (50+ partners) show lower diversity across all categories. They have fewer women and minority ethnic partners, more privately educated lawyers (28%), and a higher proportion from professional socio-economic backgrounds (65%).

Don’t forget to publish your data to your firm’s website.  If you need any assistance with this you can contact Cara Bartlett.