Birmingham law firms ‘need greater diversity’
LAW firms in Birmingham need to more closely reflect the ethnic diversity of the city’s inhabitants, says the head of a leading race and business forum.
Mohammad Nazir, chairman of the West Midlands Minority and Ethnic Business Forum (WMMEF), says that the make-up of the legal profession isn’t representative of the surrounding area and this is leading to problems for law firms.
He also believes that unless the issue is directly addressed it will only worsen, particularly as the Legal Ombudsman is moving to the city in May, creating an additional 350 jobs.
“At the moment, the make-up of the legal profession in the city isn’t really representative of the local population and there is a need to readdress the balance within these firms,” said Nazir.
“Birmingham has a cosmopolitan workforce which includes many talented law students from a variety of diverse backgrounds. But only a small proportion are deciding on careers in the city.”
Nazir is concerned that the lack of diversity will have a negative effect on Birmingham’s law firms, as they will not be eligible for some contracts.
“Many clients in both public and private sectors, but particularly the public sector, will only work with organisations that have up-to-date equality and diversity policies,” he said
In a bid to address the problem, the WMMEF is chairing a one-day diversity workshop at the offices of the law firm Hammonds on Edmund Street for members of the legal profession and the city’s university law faculties.
“The objective of the event is to explore further how employers can recruit and retain these talented professionals so they are not lost to Birmingham,” added Nazir.
