This report presents the findings from a series of focus groups conducted by The Law Society with BME practitioners, in October-November 2009.
The research was initiated in response to findings of the Law Society 2008 Salary Survey, which indicated a pay disparity between BME and white solicitors.
The focus group research probed pay levels and mechanisms for deciding pay. It also examined other variables in the experiences of BME individuals which could be seen as contributory factors to the pay disparity.
Factors explored were:
- access and entry into the profession
- transparency of pay structures
- measurement of performance,
- and the criteria and opportunities for career progression.
In addition to the focus group participants, BME solicitors who were unable to attend the groups in person submitted their experiences via the web. These data supplement the focus group findings throughout the report.