Diversity information FAQs

We have a regulatory objective to promote equal opportunities within the legal profession. We can only do this properly if we know how our membership reflects the population it serves. We do already have some relevant information (i.e. sex, age) but our data about race, sexual orientation, social background etc relies upon entirely optional surveys every few years. It is our view that this data will allow us to better perform our statutory duties. Your co-operation in improving our understanding of our member demographic is hugely appreciated.

The information you submit will not form part of your membership information. When you submit this information it will be pseudonymised so we will not be able to see your personal information or answers to the questions e.g. we would not be able to see the selection of an individual solicitor.

We will be able to see aggregated data:

• For each question. For instance, whilst we couldn’t see that an individual solicitor has selected a particular ethnicity, we would be able to see how many solicitors have selected a given ethnicity.
• Including data we already hold. For instance, we would be able to see how many BAME solicitors are partners in private practice.

The information will be used to allow us to see how the solicitor profession compares to the Scottish population as a whole and, also, to measure our progress towards a more inclusive profession.

Solicitors should fill in the survey. For each question there is a "prefer not to say" option. If you do not wish to have the data collected – even in the pseudonmyised way above – we recommend that you answer "prefer not to say".